St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-10-23
Some Needed Improve
mentS.
BIZ PROF. J. HANNo DEILER.
Covinxton. La, Oct. 20, 1897.

OSAAS OAsW VOAu6 6A~~S s~..0A'
salabrious climate, its healthgiving
springs and its good people, ! have
often tried to persuade some Of my
friends in New Orleans to follow
my example and come to Coving-
ton, instead of spending eheir vaca-
tions in the Gulf Coast places.
Twas invariably told that they
would certainly prefer Covington
to any other place, if it were not
for one thing: the lack Of facilities
for bathing and fishing. This,
they said, was the only reason why
they preferred to go to the Gulf
Coast.
II seems to me then, that some
thing ought to be done here to
provide such facilities-as far as
IL is possible-for if it is not done,
and not done at once, then the
people Of New Orleans will begin
again to seek the Gulf Coast
places, after the first scare is over,
and Covington will then not derive
those permanent benefits from
its immunity from yellow fever,
and from its other attractions, to
which it Is entitled.
We need, first of all, places
where people can battle without
being exposed to the public gaze.
In other words, we must have bath
houses. The principal objection
the people of Covmgton seem to
have to building such is, that there
is no use trying to build any, be-
cause the first high water would
destroy them again. This objec-
ton should not stand, because the
trouble here is not greater than on
the Gulf Coast, where the Septem-
Der and March storms carry off the
wharfs and bath houses almost
every year. Nevertheless they
are there when the summer guests
arrive. Why? Simply because over
there they rebuild and repair them
whenever it is found necessary.
Can this not be done here too? ls
this such heavy expense? And
as we have no severe storms here
simply occasional high waters
would not floating bath houses,
chained to trees on the river bank,
serve the purpose? l know of
places where the people even have
floating saw mills, although the
danger from high water and the
damage to be feared on that ac-
count is much greater there than
here.
And if floating bath houses
would not do, why not excavate .
basin on the bank of the river and
build a levee around it, as they
have done around the spring at
Abita: The basin could be lOOx5O
feet, divided in two sections, one
for the ladies and children, with a
water depth of from 2 to 4 feet, the
other for gentlemen, with a depth Of
from 4 to 8 feet. One or two ar
tesian wells would furnish the
necessary water for bathing, which,
when becoming unfit for further
use, could be drained of into the
river and constantly renewed by
the water from the wells. And q
number of little dressing rooms
could be provided within the board
Enclosure, and IL the crown oe the
levee were planted with siade trees,
We would have asplendid promenade
1t al times, but especially SO when
our streets are too dusty to enjoy >
w,lk. Put the whole establishment
in charge Of a reliable man and
wife. Who could rent it for the Sea-
son, charge . little fec for bathing,
and make something besides BY tax
ing care Of the towels and bathlng
garments OF the patrons.
Men in charge Ut such establish
ments usually give also instruction
ia swimming to those willing 70
pay . little extra fec.
There are two excellent places
for such an establishment, one be
low the schooner landing, right at
the bend, and the other above. in the
neiQhborhood Of the pottery. They
are both centrally located.
This great Improvement should
be undertaken by the corporation
OF Covington and rented out for the
season. 50 ss to be sure OF its ale
ways being conducted in . proper
manner. and under such regulations
and at such prices for the baths .
the Council may direct.
1 am sure that such an establish
ment would pay, directly as we'll as
indirectly, by increasing the attrac-
lions already offered by Covingto ton.
Neither would this be the first bath
owned BY local authorities.
Furthermore, give the lessee OF the
Public Bath the privilege TO keep
); dozen skiffs for hire, and add =
naphta launch to the "Fleet OF
Covington," or . little Steamboat.
to give the people . chance to 60
down to the Lake for fishing and
bathing.
Aud Why NOT inaugurate regular
tallyho liaes through the woods.
stopping on the way. say one hour
each It the different hotels, and
changing directaons on every trip.
so as to bring the 'much-scattere1