The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-18
FOR 4 PUBLIC LAUNDRY.
The Improvement for which mr.. william ~.
Toimnn IL Working.

" SDDAN
The Improvement Tor which Dr. william n.
Tolmnn Is working.
DR.. William II. Tolman, general agent Of the
Now York Association for Improving tho Con-
dition Of tho Poor. has another new scheme on
hand. This is DIR. Tolman's chronic condition.
AS soon as ono good idea becomes a reality up
hobs another in his mind. This time he wants
TO establish n public washhouso and laundry.
About this plan he said: 1.-THE idea Is new in
this country, though the public washhouse
and laundry plan has boen In successful opera
ton In England and Germany for some
time. Some people seem to havo gathered the
idea that the movement is toward education in
laundry work. Not so ut all. This laundry is
designed especially for the women OF tho teno-
ments, so that they can have n place TO do their
family washing. Every one knows how utterly
Inadequate water facilities arc in the tenement
districts. and ofton the homo Is too small and
overcrowded for the mother to do her washing
with any degree OF ease or comfort.
The general plan Of the public wnshhouse
and laundry which the association desires to set
up will be about the same as that of st. Mary
lebone, London. Tho washhouse and laundry
are contained In one largo area, divided by two
partitions into a washhouse and ironing. dry
ing, and mangling rooms. The washhouse is
arranged with six rows OF separate washing
compartments. Each compartment contains two
washtubs. with hot and cold water and steam
supplies, and the necessary pals. scrubbing
boards, and 30 on. Centrally situated is
q set of four steam-driven centrifugal
wringing machines under the control Of a spe-
cial officer. These make 1000 revolutions q
minute, which insures c%ffectual wringing OF
each load in throe minutes: The drying room Is
four s n a drying h horses. They "a are heated
by fues from two large coke furnaces in the
basement, over which mir is driven by means
contains two stcam-driven mangles. large iron
ing tables, two radial dryirTE, horses and two
for the exclusive benefit OF the working classes,
hour. may nh have 'SS full / use Of the appliances and
conveniences already described. All are OF the
1--WE propose to have q scale OF prices incroes-
ing every hour. For instance, more will be
s SaSr ,Sa fof fh ,sf sr sse oD of t sim 'I mora for tn the se tSird
than the second. This is to keep out professional
where and when do you propose to establish
this washhouso for laundry purposes = asked
when depends" said DR.. Tolman. "Alaw
ture OF 100000 for public baths and public
nothing nothing has 81 been done. The association eH.
pected soon to have a public bath and wash
pie objected on the ground that already they
didn't have enough park room to
the population. And they we're quite right. too.
public parks for public lighthouses. just where
and when this new one will go up is hard to tell
Are these washhouses self-supportinR where
they heye been tried :, asked the reporter.
there is always a small deficit to pay ut the end
OF each year; but tho people ought to be glad TO
pay this, for the chances OF spreading contagious
diseases are bound to be much lessened when the
very poor arc enabled to have thoroughly clcen
clothing; and thus the general sanitary condi-
ton OF q city is improved. Several years ago
the Committee OF Seventy. on baths and lava
tories, realized that the pressing need of the
system of baths that would offer am.
pile facilities for cleanliness. AT the same
time II commended to the earnest consideration
Of soino public-sp!rited man or woman OF means
the establishment of IA great bathing institution.
to be equipped with swimming and spray baths.
and also provided with "a washhouse for laundry
purposes. So far no generous citizen has erected
such n monument to his name: Pittstarc is
ahead Of New York in this. Mrs. William
Thaw, IT., has given that city q public bath as
Recently l wrote to Bishop Potter asking
for his opinion on the subject OF public baths.
He replied: Every consideration Of sanitary
safety and deccncy demands some provision for
are wage earncrs. But ] do not believe in FREQ
baths any more than in free soup or any other
dolc which helps to degrade men by destroying
their independence and scl:-rcspcct ami educat-
great mass OF our working people believe in IT
either That struck the keynote. Tho dcmnnd
is not for free baths but for public baths, and
plenty OF them, where the working people cnn
bath, with a wRshhouse for laundry purposes.
will be established within a short time and we
hope it will be the forcrunner OF others"