The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-06-25
THIS Would BE- 4 BOON
Public Baths and Washhouses
Advocated for Jersey City
Practical Scheme.

1t has often been a matter of criti-
cism by visitors to Jersey City that
this place, with a population of nearly
two hundred thousand Inhabitants, should
possess absolutely no bathing accommo-
dations for the public. 1t has no big
plunge bath nor private baths where
the great unwashed of the city can at
least cleanse their skins once a month.
''Why, you surprise me!' remarked a
Boston man after spending a day Wis
iting the city last week, ito hear that
your municipal boards pay no attention
to such a vitality important subject. You
in Jersey City are infinitely better locat-
ed, geographically, than we in Boston
for the establishment not only Of fresh
but salt water baths, and yet your peo-
pie don't realize It."
As this visitor was a civil engineer
and versed in matters of public con-
struction, he at once started in to sug-
gest a scheme which, he declared, was
simple, practical and could be made a
source OF revenue to the city treasury.
WOULDN'T THIS BE NICE?
AT the outset. he said, the city shout
purchase a few lots on the fats. in the
vicinity Of Jersey avenue, east of the
canal, or in the neighborhood of John
ston avenue, in Lafayette. and there
build a combined plunge and private
b bhtna aa this p saais be lau one hun pHr t bs
fifty feet, surrounded by bathing tents
and supplied with water direct from
New York Bay or High Service. He
five cents fer his plunge and n cent
for. every extra towel supplied. a nice
little revenue would accrue sufficient,
fitted up with shower apparatus and
the resources from the laundry, to pay
off the expenses and interest on any
erection of the building.
The plunge bath, he contends, would
be a. great advantage for the public
d day could idl'h BE- set a apart TT for Saae each f''s School i
and under the guidance of proper men
the sw chi ldayN coyla s lsarn e eE syimi
I'm many cities Which / Visited" he
said, the public. ~bathhouses are under
the direct supervision Of the Committee
on Public Baths and Warehouses. and
vices of a swimming master, who at
tends a few hours daily to give i%nstruc-
lions in swimming to anyone in the
any charge"
Private schools. for both girls and
ladies, can nave the public bath to them
arrangement, n in this way not q
boy or girl in this city need be ignorant
of the important art of swimming.
Then, as to the laundry" he said,
poor women who have no accommoda-
ton at home for washing clothes can
take their bundles to the public wash
houses. These could be fitted up. as in
other towns, coppers for boiling clothes,
wringing machines and drying rooms,
ant the women can use these at a very
small cost of a few cents per head. In
one city, which I have in mind. the
women provide their own soap and pay
ten cents for the use of the machines.
"All these improvements could easily
be effected. and the receipts from the
several departments Of the PUBLIC baths
first cost. to say nothing about the en-
ormou benefit to your citizens. Get
your paper to push this matter before
the attention of the Street and Water
Board or whatever board has power to
advance tn