Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
FREE PUBLIC BATHS,
DEMAND FOR THEIR INSTITUTION IN
MANY CITIES.
Puhiic Health and Good CItizenshIp
Are Encouraged and Advanced by
Cleanliness "A Helpful Movement
For Mans Retirement.

! 'ienhiincss Helpful Movement
For Mans Retirement.
Free public baths was the subject OF
a paper read recently by h. +. Tilling.
hast editor of The Democrat. before
the Contemporary club of Davenport.
Ia. Mr.. Tillinghast said:
According 10 all the light have
been able 10 find. the world and the
! particular part of il we live in is al.
mu't IL not quite as much in need of
baths as OF hooks. of water and soap
IN liberal quantities. as of art CALLER.
les. of swimming pools where all NAV
! plunge as of parks which are available
for Use but half the time
Il am not Indifferent to any institu.
tiou which makes for the public good.
1t Is not easily possible TO overestimate
the value to community of free libra.
rles and reading rooms of public parks
| with free concerts in them. of all the
| expressions that show the kinship of
the people. They are all worthy and
absolutely essential to the higher social
| balance.
"But who would think of building
museum before provision had been
made for an abundant supply of pure
water or of putting the peoples money
into driveway before the establish
ment of fire department? So when it
comes TO paying out the revenue deriv-
ed from municipal taxation there must
be discrimination between necessities
and luXuries 1t does not follow, how
ever, that all necessities-those of the
more practical sort, mean-are to be
acquired before considering the cul
tural, the ornamental and those which
look toward the cheerful side of life.
a symmetrical city is like well bal,
anced man. Ii is not given to one sided
development.
"ln further explanation of the posi-
ti0n taken in this paper it should be
understood from the first that the pub
lie bath advocated is not a summer
plaything for children or a winter char
ity for their elders. 1t is given the dig.
nifty it deserves. that OF an educational
institution. one which may properly be
made a part of the public school sys-
ten, one which would not he inconsist-
ent or incongruous if brought under the
same roof with library. The ultimate
as well as the immediate aim is the
public health and its preservation. If
any municipal function transcends this
in vital interest, must plead igno-
rance of it,"
Concerning the needs of Davenport
Mr.. Tillnghast said:
"The population of Davenport today
nears $4,000. and the growth is not less
than 1000 annually. We are advancing
beyond the country town period and
entering the progressive city stage. We
want to increase materially, but not by
fakir methods. How can it be done
best and most permanently?
by providing those means which
make for better citizenship-by i'm
proving the schools, by charging the
parks. by building and using the libra
ry and so conducting 1t that 1t will be
increasingly patronized. To these edu-
cational and recreatve advantages let
us add free public bath in the name
of health comfort and content. Let 1t
be open every day in the year to men,
women and children-to the young wo-
man who works for her living and can
not afford the necessity she is often de-
prived of. to the mechanic, the artisan
and the workngman of every class.
I'VE have thousands of toilers who
spend their days in the shops and fac
tories. They live in modest too often
not the most cheerful, homes. bath
will upift them. make them more self
respecting, A plunge after the day In
their dingy working places will be an
inspiration. 1t will invigorate, it Will
stimulate ambition. All this can be
demonstrated beyond any question. 1t
has been proved as often as 1t has been
fairly tried.
'.The well to do citizen in building
his home provides for his bath. This
often comes before the library. But 1t
is a fact that here in Davenport, with
an abundant supply Of pure water.
there is nothing better than the pri-
yate tub This is inadequate even In
the best of homes. The private home,
however well appointed, cannot have
the swimming pool. And this city is
poorly supplied with the simplest OF
bathing facilities. The best are utterly
unknown The exact number of build
ings in Davenport Is not material, Dut
the board of health gives it as 1888
and the number of families as 7,l5I.
The number of houses taking water is
9.574. one half the dwellings without
the public water supply and conse-
uuently without any but the most
primitive bathing facilities. The total
number of bathtubs registered is but
1.133. and the total number using these
bathtubs, estimated very carefully, is
5.G65, or less than 10 per cent or the
population. This more than sustalns
nv contention and shows condition
not nj all creditable so far as sanitary
opportunities go. The need OF i'm
nroyed conditions Is urgent. Th0u'
sands among us suffer the personal
discomfort and moral degradation OF
want of cleanliness, at the same time
rendering themselves the more liaDie
to disease. So | put my claim on the
fourfold basis of wise public policy, or
health of physical development ana OF
wholesome recreation.
"Nothing more appropriate to cut IN
stone over the entrance to such an III
stitution as Davenport ought soon 10
have can be found than this, when
annears above the archway or the