The Washington herald., 1909-03-07
SHOULD Be ARTISTIC
Large Cities Need Public
Comfort Stations.
COMING INTO POPULAR FAVOR
American Civic Association Urges
that Alteration Should Be Paid TO
Aesthetic Figures as Well as Prae-
teal UtsIity-WOuId Build Above
Ground and Surround with Parks.

With the recognition OF the need Of
public comfort stations in American cities,
the American Civic Association urges
that special attention be given 10 estab-
fishing these stations with particular re-
gard for sanitation and appearance as
well as for convenience. Few American
cities have these stations. and in this
respect European municipalities are in
the lead.
It is not necessary to argue the need
Of public toilet facilities. equally for the
convenience OF a city's own citizens as
well as for visitors. Under existing con-
dltions. general use is made Of the pri-
vate accommodations provided IN Office
buildings. railroad stations. shops. and
the most common resort
That there is a moral side OF the ques-
ton Of having public comfort stations is
shown by the result OF an inquiry made
by Victor c. Hart. jr., of Chicago. who
found that many saloonkeepers actually
depended upon their toilet facilities as
a means OF getting new business.
There are large numbers Of persons.
either by employment Of for other rea-
sons. who are coupeIied TO remain away
I from their homes for many hours Of the
day. and their comfort demands some
public provision.
No Novelty in Europe.
! In London and in cities OF Continental
Europe the pubic comfort station is not
novelty. IN London each parish has
/ It's stations. and most OF them are models
Of construction. not in the least Offensiv,
20 the surroundings In Berlin and other
German cities the stations are constructed
with a vlew-to artistic appearance and
| convenience. In Copenhagen and other
/ places in Denmark conveniences Of this
KIND are 70 be found without difficulty.
! or American cities. New York has erect
ed recently many public comfort stations
giving attention TO equipment and appear
ance. In Cleveland. Chicago. ST. Louis
and other icties. the need OF such place:
Is recognized. and IL Is only a question
Of a few years before no city viii b'
without such provisions.
select Best Locations.
In a recent article in Domestic Engi
neering. John K. Allen, member Of IN,
American Society Of Inspectors Of Plumb
ing and Sanitary Engineers. discussed
the character OF the public comfort sta
ton Mr. Allen said:
Perhaps the first element which en-
ters into the problem is that Of situa
ton. Bearing in mind that comfort sta
tons are for public use they should b
placed where the public congregates fl
the largest numbers. Consequently. IN
most congested parts OF a city shoul,
receive first attention. Market places
public squares. street railway intersec
tions. parks. and congested retail dis
tricts all afford opportunities for placinl
public comfort stations.
"As there Is always a sense Of fear Up
on the part OF mercantile establishment
and private buildings that the erection o
such couveniences will prove depreciator,
TO the property. II is well 10 place then
wherever possible upon property belong
Ing 10 the city. II is proper, indeed
should be considered obligatory by
municipality 10 construct such station
IN connection with its public buildings
police stations. court buildings. and III
Ike.
should BE Built Above Ground.
while the practice in London ha
seemed 10 make It desirable that station
be constructed underground. the opinio
OF sanitarians always must be that sue
stations should be built above groun
wherever possible, but II Il Is not possible
their construction should not be neglecte
because Of that fact. They can be bull
. and operated satisfactorily below the SUI
face Should they be erected abOv
ground. great care should be taken Z
make their ARCHITECTURAL appearance sat
isfy the demand for beauty.
There Is no reason why structures Q
this kind should not be artistic Eve
, when the stations are constructed under
! ground the approaches thereto should re
: ceive artistic treatment There alway
. should be substantially and specially de
signed railings protecting the stairway:
either Of stone or bronze or wrought iror
and there is great oppO-'upltg- in cOnnec
! ton with ventilating shafts, for the con
} struction Of clock towers and ornaments
! lamp posts. Indeed. 1t should be require
that anything OF this character should b
especially designed and rot be a stoc
pattern
should Have ParkIn=S-
Wherever possible these structure
, should be so embelIished with shrub
! and flowers that the eve Will Re draw
) 10 them as points Of beauty. rather tha
: shun them as repulsive objects. tn
practice in European cities teaches tha
this is feasible. and the result in som
German examples is very satisfactory.
The rights OF contiguous property owr
ers should be consulted and the design {
the exterior be open to the least. possibl
/ Fro--, Tf,-f corrr~o