Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-01-28

school buildings. But the City COun-
Gil of 1897 contained many members
who were disposed, mainly for parti-
san purposes, to offer obstruction to
Mr.. Quincy's plans, and he was forced
to make hast slowly in the develop
ment of his public bathing system
Despite this obstruction, a depart
ment of Public Baths was established,
in accordance with his recommended
ton, in the spring of 1898, and the
Dover Street Bath house, which was
planned two years ago, was formally
opened the middle of October. On the
occasion of the opening of the first per-
manent public bath house in Boston
for all the-year-round use, Mr.. Quincy
delivered a significant speech. He re-
ferred to the fact that Boston now
possesses the finest establishment on
this continent, and that the building,
which cost upwards of $4,000, is of
SO substantial and ornamental a char
acter as to be an architectural nOnu-
ment worthy of the city which owns
tone which might we'll have been in
tended for a private club of men and
women of means. The building, which
was designed by a leading firm of ar
chitects, is 10 feet wide and 40 feet
deep, with separate entrances and
waiting rooms for women and men.
1t is three stories high, the first story
being of granite and the two Others of
brick. The waiting rooms are sur
rounded with benches and have mo-
sale and marble walls. On the entrance
floor are drying-roOms, laundry, and
a store-room for all the towels and
bathing-suits of all the municipal
baths. The mems waiting room con-
tains thirty enclosed shower baths
and three enclosed tubs. Each show
er cabin consists of dressing alcOve,
with a seat, beyond which is the bath
ing alcove. The partitions and backs
of the compartments are of marble.
Each bath alcove contains a heating
apparatus which permits the bather
to regulate the temperature of the
water. The WOmen's bathroom con-
tains eleven shower cabins and six
bath-cabins.
In his second annuel address to the
City Council, in 1897, Mr.. Quincy had
many new things to talk about. Be
side the matter of public baths, he
gave much attention to the subject OF
providing Fairgrounds for the children
of the city. He spoke of the greatpub-
lie interest in extensive park areas in
Boston and other cities, and said that
in his opinion if one-tWentieth of the
sum which Boston has spent on her
magnificent park system could be de
voted to the acquisition, in proper
localities throughout the city, otnu-
merOus areas to serve as local play
grounds, the investment would bring
in a large percentage OF return in
healthful physical development and
social well-being. He thought that
every ward of the city should be pro-
vided with some place where children
could play and where outdoor sports
and contests could be carried On. The
city of Paris, he mentioned, had
board Ofdirectors Ofpublic sports, and
he had faith that Boston could he
made the first city in America in its
facilities for public exercise and athlet-
les. To this end several large spaces
have been taken for public play
grounds and for purposes of public re-
creation, and two open-air gynnasla
have been provided i'll thickly popu-
lated districts of the city.
For a playground at the North End,
one ofthe most densely settled districts
of the city, 100000 had been appro-
priated, but the Mayor recommended
that 5000, 900 additional be spent DIT
ring the year forplaygrounds, adding,
Il am thoroughly satisfied that IT
would be far wiser for the city to eX-
pend the sum of 100000 during the
coming wear for public baths ndplay-
grounds than to devote that amount
of money to any other purposes, OF
however pressing a character. The
adoption ofprogressivea and distinctive
municipal policies of this nature raises
the reputation and standing of the
city and tends to bring its government
closer to the people and to promote a
civic spirit which will Weld valuable
results in many directions W He re-
commended also that Improvements
be made in the public squares and
grounds, such city property conprls-
inc l43 acres, and that sand-plts be
supplied for small children to play i'm,
with places of shelter for mothers and
nurses.
The children have b cen an especial
object of Mayor Quincy $ interest and
effort. At his suggestion, the Bath