The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-16
BATHS ARE IMPROVED
MANY POWERFUL ARC LIGHTS ARE
TO BE INSTALLED
Boulevard Being Made, Which Will
BE Rallied In-Gymnasium Space
Is Also to BE Enc1osed-E. l.. Muir
PLY Delighted With Transferring
tons Ohage Has Accomplished.

Harriet island, on which is located the
public baths, has undergone such a
change that few will recognize the place
when it is again opened for the season
next month. Between new pools, shelters
for those who desire to battle, a cOmmo-
dious pavilion that Will seat several thou
sand people and the almost complete re-
surfacing of the island, the place has
undergone Transformation that is sur
prising.
AS the result of a visit of the men,
bers of the board of public works yester-
day, the grounds are to be supplied with
twenty-five arc electric lights, eighteen OF
which will be used in making the POOLS
as light as day DR.. Ohage at first con-
templated the use of two powerful search
lights to be located at points across the
river, but owing to the cost this Elan
has been dropped and arc lights will be
used, placed on top of the bathing pavil-
ions and assisted by powerful ref1ectors.
The remainder of the arc lights, in
Guiding 100 incandescents, will be scat
tered over the grounds and through the
buildings.
Last week Health Commissioner Ohage
unearthed from a lot of rubbish stored
away in the city yards at L'Orient street
the iron railing and supports that once
did duty along the entire length of the
high bridge. This was hauled to the ISL
and, where a portion of it forms a sub .
stantial hand rail for the sea wall that
skirts the pools, while the rest has been
used to inclose a section of ground,
175X125, which will be used as the gym
nasium. Here the ground has been rolled,
and the apparatus, which is to be sta
uOnary, receives support from q lot Of
excellent timbers obtained when several
of ST.. PauPs old bridges were dismantled.
All this old iron and timbers had been
consigned to the junk pie and DR.. Ohage
estimates that as a result of Tie lot be-
ing reclaimed and given over to him he
from the high bridge cost the city s., 900.
1t was to have been sold for old iron
Sand Pump Is Busy.
For the convenience of those who use
the pavilions and to allow their being
cleaned daily water is being piped from
the artesian well which supplies it under
pressure The big steam dredge is now
pumping tons of sand from the bottom
Of the river to the low places along the
island and as soon as completed the
island will be SURROUNDED With a prom
enade. Ever since the spring opened, the
wagons owned by the health department
have been carrying refuse and street
sweepings to the island and filing UP the
witt rich black loan and the whole seed
ed in grass.
Among those of the board of public
works who visited the island yesterday
was Commissioner Murphy, who express
ed surprise at the C-Iange This is the
first time I was ever on the island.
L always associated it with the days
Of my early youth when it was a scrub
covered sand bar. The doctor has GER
tainly done we'll and he can rest as
sured that if our department can do any
thing to help him it will be forthcoming.
1 certainly sympathize with Dr. Ohage in
his efforts to keep the Omaha tracks away
from the entrance to the island. Had I
known the place was what it is, the rail-
read company would never have obtained
my vote to put its spur tracks where they
are. 1t was a mistake and L regret my
part in the deal. Every member of the
council should visit the island and ac-
quaint himself with the place before again
granting any rights
If conditions are favorable the island
will be opened to the public next month.
A score of men are now engaged in MAX
ing paths, painting the buildings and
making the island look presentable.