The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-02
Weekly Letter on
Municipal Hffairs
XXXV.-AMERICAN AND ENG
LISH PUBLIC BATHS.

| N OSTONIANS took more than a half million
X baths in the public lighthouses last year =
- about one bath to each one of the popull.
tion. London did pretty nearly as WELL
and yet il more than likely that the residents
OF Boston, on the average, are much ceanlicr
than those of London. The principal reason
for this is found in the fact that Boston has a
larger per cent of the population that is able
to have private bath.
Nearly one hundred cities of Great Britain
have from one TO score and half of publ !,
baths. London alone has thirty; more than
will be found in the whole United States. More
than 4,0oo000 baths were taken in the public
baths of London last year, while the wash houses
were used by more than dlj 900 people.
Most Of The baths which ere run in America
are free to the public, while nno.tenths of those
of Great Britain are almost supported by the
receipts ftom the small fee that is charged for
the bathing privileges.
The cities across the water, in this regard at
least, look after the welfare Of the people to
greater extent than is done on this side
fact which is undoubtedly due to the greater
age and experience of English municipalities
The sentiment is rapidly increasing in this
country, and before another decade il past there
will he several scores Of public baths run upon
more generous principles than any that are found
in Great Britain.
There is one thing, however, that il will take
longer than dccadeto teach the American pub
lie what has already been learned by our Eng.
lish cousins; lGmely that there is no use in
building the public baths after the penny wise
and pound foolish policy Over there it is no
uncommon thing to put $1,000 into public
baths, and it is seldom that one is built which
costs less than Gl0,0O0, while on this side Il is
diihcut matter 20 induce a city to put more
than $1,000 into public bath. And even then
many OF the citizens are Inclined to look upon
the sum of money expended as squandered.
Magnificent structurs are built in England,
and they are not tucked away in some dark and
obscure portion Of the city; or, II they happen
70 be located in the most thickly populated por.
tion OF the city, great pains and trouble are
taken TO make the surrounding, as bright and
attractive as money and good taste will permit
Lambeth, one of tho forty.two corporations Of
which London is made up Of has a bath that
Is only used in the summer. Connected with
1t Is large swimming pool (Which in the
winter is used, together with the rest Of the
hath-house as public aultorium). 1t has a
seating capacity Of several thousand
Among the Canadian cities that have taken
mp the public bath question. Toronto leads Last
summer a small appropriation was made by the
city council for the purpose OF establishing free
public baths at a nearby point in the river
IN the months Of July and August, the height
OF the season, moro than Il7,OO0 bathers ayalcd
themselves OF the privilege SO generously provid-
cd by the civic authorities. There is a pan
on foot at the present time TO convert the bath
Of the Athletic club an institution lately put.
chased by the city, into an all the year round
hec public bath, together with the maintenance
of the swimming pool
The city of Buffalo claims TO have been the
first city in the United States to construct and
operate an all the year round public bath for
the free use OF the general public This was
accomplished no longer ago than 1896 before
the passage Of the law in the legislature re.
curing all cities OF the first and second class
to construct and maintain free public baths.
That enterprising city has Just opened for the
public use a second bath, about double the ca.
patlty OF the first one. The city OF Rochester
only obcyCd the law last summer, and provided
a free bath for the use of the public. Among
the other second class cities that have still 10
comply with the law are Syracuse, Albany and
Troy. The last three have taken steps for the
erection OF free baths, but the enterprises have
been retarded by partisan obstructioDists.
The bathing institution in this country that
comes nearest TO that In operation in European
and English cities, is that which was inaugu.
rated by Health officer ohlge, of st. Paul, last
summer. The previous summer Mr. ohage oh.
tained control, through the generous donations
OF some Of st. Paul's citizens, Of the B0.acre
island which lies in the Mississippi river, right
opposite the most populous part OF the city.
Until last year IL was covered with marsh grasses
ara tangled mass Of low'branching poplas and
Wild undcrgrowth, II laws between two of the
To,t led bridges over the river, and was
within Hutes walk Of city hall. Within
few l.,' men, women and children were
crowded into tenemcrts.
With the mean placed at his command by
the public subscription the doctor had the island
cleared of, dead trees cut down and new ones