Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-28
Public Bath Facilities.

Washington is behind other cities in the
matter of public bathing facilities. accord
ing to the annual report which Henry B.
Davis. inspector of plumbing in the Dis
trict. submitted to the Commissioners Sat
urday. Mr. Davis makes the point against
the adequacy of the bathing beach that
1t is open to the public only three months
in the year, and says it is not strictly a
municipal bath place inasmuch as there
is a charge for bathing suits and towels.
He believes that the bathing beach Is
inaccessible and unsatisfactory.
The bathing beach Is open only three
months. is comparatively inaccessible and
is inadequate. Yet it fills a good Office. 1t
would fill a larger place in the needs of
the people If it were better and longer
open. Bathers, as a rule, if given oppor-
tunity will overcome repugnance to cold
water. The bathing beach facilities should
be enlarged and improved.
According to Mr.. Davis, the Washington
bathing beach is not ideal. He says:
With a water front such as this city
has, II seems a shame that it is not pro-
vided with a decent bathing beach. in
stead of the mud hole. which is unfit for
a swimming pool, being better adapted
for the propagation of mosquitoes, water
lilies, snakes and frogs than a bathing
pool" He says, truly, that Washington
needs a first-class beach. provided with
permanent buildings, with artistic ap-
proacnes and handsome grounds.
The matter of Transforming the tidal
basin into a safe place for skating also
engages the attention of the plumbing in
spector, and his suggestions are worth
considering. He says that If flood gates
could be erected at the entrance to this
basin at the Georgetown channel the
muddy water could be kept out. and be-
sides. would prevent the rise and fall of
the tide during the winter when ice forms,
and by this means an ideal summer beach
could be formed, and safe skating basin
provided for winter use for those who en-
Joy this fascinating and exhilarating
sport
1t would be a wise plan to supplement
the Potomac river as a swimming place
with public baths and inland swimming
pools. This is urged by the proper COM
mittee of the Washington Fairgrounds
Association. as well as by the inspector Of
plumbing. If the charge is true that
Washington is behind other cities in bath
chances for the public 1t ought to be
brought abreast of the times.
Water is cheap in Washington. A great
river rolls by the city. Water Il a great
aid to health and comfort. The city would
promote the public health by encouraging
bathing. Generous public bathing facili-
ties would probably result in an immedi-
ate improvement in public health. This
would not altogether be due to the bath
itself. but to the object lesson in cleanli-
ness 1t would teach. Its influence would
extend from the individual bather to that
bather's home. A person whose skin is In
good condition is more resistant to disease
than one whose skin is clogged and in
active.
The swimming pool in schools or as an
adjunct to schools would add to the at
Effectiveness of those places in the eyes Of
the boys and the girls. They would learn
to swim and other benefits would accrue.
The public bath proposition is good
enough to be pushed along to consumma-
ton.