The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-13

Standing at the head of Bridge square,
only most convenient for those to be ben
Gifted most by such an institution as pub
lie baths, but also where it will be to the
incoming stranger one of the first indi-
cations that Minneapolis stands for clean
liness. AS an indicator of municipal al
far more to the. city than the grass plat
monument suggested for the city hall tri-
angle in case it were deemed best to
tear down the building. ~:
The city council meets this evening in
special session and the proposition viii!
undoubtedly come before the aldermen in
some form.
Until it seems assured that the oppor-
tunity will be welcomed by the aldermen
the philanthropic citizen who makes the
offer prefers to remain unknown. The
citizen in question, when the enterprise
was first broached to him by'T e o u r
| n a this morning, expressed his willing
ness to subscribe several thousand dol
lars-not specifying just how much
toward remodeling the building and put
ting it in such shape as to give Mime
apolis one Of the finest public baths to be
found in the country. "..
It is enough to say that the amoun
>needed will be Immediately Forthcoming
the moment the city accepts the offer ant
| satisfies the donor that the proper main
tenance will be provided for such an In
stitution. 80. - , Il
Health Commissioner P. M. Hall. Sani-
tary Inspector Joseph McDermott and a
Journ man waited on the man who
stands ready to promote this great prac-
tical philanthropy to-day and explained
in detail the plans for remodeling the old
city hall along the. lines proposed. He
said at the conclusion of the interview
that he was satisfied as to the entire feas-
ibility of the idea and expressed the be.
| lief that in no city in the country could
a location be secured SO admirably suited
to the city's needs. T.. Z. ..
An Expense of $4,000.
"My only fear,'' he said, -"is that tn,
city council will not rise to the occasion
and consent to the coversion of the build
ing into a bathhouse, which is by IA
the best purpose to which 1T can. b.
turned, If it is allowed to- stand. realiz'
that Minneapolis is sadly in need of sucl
an institution, and If the city will agre'
to make satisfactory provisions for tn
maintenance of municipal baths, 1 will
contribute an amount sufficient to cove
the necessary alterations in the presen
building. provided such changes can b
made at fairly reasonable figure" -
He was told that the building could b
thoroughly equipped with baths, withou
carrying out the larger plans contemplate
| in the way of municipal lodging hous
and employment bureau, for $4,000 at th
outside. He agreed that, considering tn
| benefits to be derived~from such an ex
penditure, that was a moderate figure.
After the gentleman had consented t
give the project his liberal financial sur
port, even intimating that several thou
sand more would be forthcoming if neces
sary to insure its success, DR.. Hall calle
on Alderman Leighton, who has vigorous
ly championed such disposition of til
city hall. He told Mr.. Leighton whs
had been accomplished and the latter in
mediately began to figure. Being pra,
tical builder, Mr.. Leighton's estimate
to the probable, cost of remodeling tt
building cannot be wide of the mark. H