New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-21
TO TEACH CITY ECONOMY.
ASSOCIATION OFFERS TO RUN PUBLIC
BATHS FOR HALF KEARNY'S
APPROPRIATION.

Mayor Van Wyck received yesterday from the
New-York Association for Improving the Condi-
ton of the Poor plain business proposition as
to the management of the new free bath in Riv-
ington-st. which is in effect Indictment Of the
administration of Commissioner Kearny of the
Department of Public Buildings. Lighting and
Supplies. The association pretends TO some
knowledge of the right way to run free public
bath. based upon eight years experience in the
management of the Peoples Baths. at No. 9
Centre Market Place.
In the communication to the Mayor the record
Of the Peoples Baths is given. That plant as it
now stands represents an expenditure of about
$4,000 1t Is erected upon land belonging TO
kindred organization for which no ground rent
is charged Its only revenue is derived from the
charge of Eve cents made to each bather for
soap and towel. The city furnishes the water
free of charge In the first year the expenses
amounted TO S5.O7T 30. and the receipts from
59.440 bathers amounted to S2.T94 Last year
the expenses amounted to S5.775 80 and the re-
ceipts from 130,477 bathers TO S6.2O3 %
The communication to the Mayor states that
the bath in Rivington-st-, for which ground was
broken in 1897. is not quite finished yet, and
will cost 100000. Commissioner Kearny asked
for appropriation of S51,94T 90 TO run the
bath in 1901 The Board of Estimate and APP
portionment granted an appropriation Of $4,000.
The association deals with Mr.. Kearny's de-
mands follows:
The Commissioners estimate calls for ar in
dendent engineering. force Of engineers, I fire.
men, l oiler and 1 electrician, with salaries
aggregating SS,422 30 a year, and for S4.9OO Tor
fuel. yet, notwithstanding these large estimates,
the enormous sum of S10.100 is asked for gas
and electric lighting. Although this is new
city in complete working order. $1,000 is asked
for general repairs to building, including water
steam, electric plants" etc
Moreover a further examination of the items
of the appropriation asked, reveals the singular
omission OF most important item OF expense
Nowhere in the statement OF items necessary 10
conduct the Rivington-st. bath, footing up the
large total of $4,000. is single cent asked for
TO provide soap and towels If it should be con-
sidered that the law does not require the bath
mana agement to furnish soap and towels free.
provision should be made for furnishing them
at the smallest possible price.
Bathers must have towels; they should have
soap. 1t is our experience that almost all bath
ers demand both. These articles should. there
fore, be furnished by the city. They should not
be left 10 individual enterprise and profit, and
the smallest possible price for them should be
charged
The association declares to the Mayor that
"the expenditure of any such sum as $4,000
for one years maintenance of the Free Public
Bath in Rivington-st. is unnecessary, unwar-
ranted and prejudicial to progress in extending
the public bath system" The association there
fore makes TO the Mayor the following PROPOSE
ton:
If the city will turn over the Rivington-st-
bath in good working order to this association
for administration it will undertake the man
agement of said bath and conduct the
cording TO the high standard which has made
the peoples baths at No. 9 Centre Market
Place so successful, and will guarantee that the
cost TO the city of operating said RivingtOn-st-
bath during the fiscal year 1901 shall in no
event exceed the sum OF 1880. exclusive OF the
cost Of supplying water. If the cost of operating
said bath during said fiscal year according 10
the above standard, including a fresh piece OF
soap and a newly laundered towel to each
bather, shall exceed the said sum Of S1I.5OO
the association will meet such excess from its
own funds AS protection to the city author
tiles, the association will give a bond for the
faithful performance of such agreement
The association further offers. in case it should
be decided by the city's legal advisers that the
term free public bath" does not contemplate
that soap and towel should be furnished. 10
make a charge Of 3 cents TO each bather for
soap and towel and to turn the entire sum
received into the City Treasury.