The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-12
THAT $1,000 DEBT.


the people of st. Paul will once more
seek access to the public baths establish
ed by DR.. Ohage. 1t is generally known
that these baths were not, during the
first season of their existence, at all
adequate to the demands made upon
them. Their enlargement is now a mat
ter of as great need as was their estab-
iishment. Never was a public enter
patronized; and rarely has one been at
tended by any such gratifying and BEN
efcent results to the community.
While the movement for public baths
was being advocated, or even while the
enterprise was in the experimental
stage, if it ever could have been said
to have occupied that stage since the day
of the opening, there might be some ex-
cuse for hesitation on the part of the
city or it's representative citizens looking
upon it without any special interest.
But now, that the public approval has
been expressed in terms of such un-
qualified enthusiasm, there is not a citi-
zen of st. Paul of whatever rank or sta
ton that ought not to be personally in
terested in the completion of the grand
undertaking.
Unless there Is $1,000 forthcoming by
the opening of the coming season to
clear the debt from the baths the price
of admission will have to be doubled and
the public will have to continue only
half supplied in their desire to resort to
them This is bad enough. But the
failure of the community and it's peo-
pie to wipe off that debt is itself even
more lamentable. 1t shows such sad
lack of public appreciation as to be dis
cCuraging. 1t leaves a great enterprise
IT. state of suspended animation. The
transfer to the city of the institution
must be withheld, Improvements must
be denied, and those who inaugurated
the enterprise will be thrown back on
their resources for the maintenance of
that splendid public pleasure-ground and
health resort.
Every effort which public devotion
could suggest has been put forward by
DR.. Ohage to secure the moneys neces-
sary to clear the debt from the baths,
and make their extension and improve
ment possible He has let no grass grow
under his feet He has appealed in every
way in which self-respecting man
might to secure the cooperation OF those
who have the means to enable the fun
purpose of the undertaking to be re-
allied; but thus far in vain. lit is doubt
full at best whether there is enough of
the sentiment to which he appeals ex-
istent in this community to make any
further effort in that direction worth the
pains
We have as municipality spent some
thing between $15,e00 and $4,000 for the
entertainment of conventions and other
more or less useful public undertakings
within the past few months These
moneys are understood to have been
expended to advance the interests Of
the city ana us people. HOW Idr Cney
have gone in that direction there is no
means Of knowing and never will be.
The G o b does not assume to critt
else such expenditures but it does pre-
sumo to say that if the public funds are
to be utilized for such purposes and for
results which must be infinite in them,
selves, there is thousand fold higher
warrant for expanding the city funds tor
the purposes represented by the public
baths. If there is not enough public de-
Votion among our well-to-do citizens to
enable the money to be raised necessary
for removing the debt of the public
baths and completing their transfer to
the municipality, it is quite time, with
ont further delay that the moneys
necessary to that end should be ad.
Vanced from the treasury of the city
The mass of the people who in the last
event pay the taxes and provide the
means of maintaining the municipality
Will gladly give their approval to such
action
There is public thanks and popularity
in sight for that one member of the COM
mon council who will take this subject.
up and push it to a conclusion.