The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-06-27
THE BALTIMORE PUBLIC BATHS

During the past few years she has
avalled herself more and more of hel
harbor situation for the installation OF
public swimming parks and tastcfulIy
appointed baths for the use of heI
poorer public.
1t was about fifteen years ago that
Baltimore began this movement in an
humble way, by erecting at the har-
boris edge several hundred dressing
cabins, where bathers might use the
harbor water for recreative swimming
Since the use Of these harbor baths
was begun the harbor water has be.
come somewhat polluted. This was oh.
waited in the first place by divertine
the drainage to points below the swim.
ming pools, until the water was pro
nounced wholly objectionable. Four
years ago, also, bathing pool was
opened in one OF the public parks, pure
water being supplied from the city
mains. This Patterson park pool cost
perhaps $4,000 III construction, and its
maintenance is somewhat expensive
as fine instruction in swimming is pro
vided, both for men and women. Such
is the efficiency of the teaching that
no drowning or even any serious acci.
dent has ever occurred at the pool.
Besides these summer baths, in 1898.
lo99 the city began to provide for per
manent indoor cleansing baths, supplied
with hot and cold water. and open
the year around. These houses are
erected in congested neighborhoods
where bathing facilities are lacking
zach house contains separate cabins
for men and women. Hot water is sup
piled from the boiler room below. \
feature of each bathing station is
M; lI,s dry ,t-b INV
ther family washing, cleanse, wiring
dry and iron it before going home. AT
Walters baths No. l n number of men
come to wash their own clothes; they
"re chiefly oyster dredgers and men
from the poorer classes, who, after tax
'ng bath, spend an hour or two IN
washing and drying their soiled under
clothing, No class of patrons are bet,
ter pleased or more appreciative than
these dredgers, Their appreciation o.
The laundry privilege is such that 2l0-
uSed the tubs and dryer this past year
and the commission has decided 10
open the laundry three days week to !
these men, instead of two days, as
heretofore.
\ special rate of one cent was |!
granted TO school children on Satug
days. This resulted IN bringing a larg, |
number of such children TO use the |
baths. 1t also became evident that n |
still larger use of the baths would be |
promoted if the cooperation of the |
school board could be secured. in ac-
,ordance with this idea Il letter was al |
lresscd to the school board Offering to
give free baths to any children sent b.
heir teahcers at any time The hope
was entertained that IN this way the
children attending school from homes
where bathing facilities are limited
night be sent by their teachers to the
public baths, The school board entered
heartily into the plan. and the children
IAN now be sent by their teachers at
my time and receive, without cost
he privileges of the public baths.
These indoor baths and laundries cost
!bout $4,000 each. There are four Of
hem in Baltimore, three complete. aud
me in the process Of building
Since 1900 the number of patrons
'as increased from 4S,S27 for indoor
paths and 42,O34 for outdoor baths,
o 376,549 and 2l3.712, respectively
The annual receipts have grown from
bout $4,000 in 1901 to about Sl3.00C
II 1908, with fee ranging from 3
ents through three a8d one cent even
o nothing. If any further proof were
eeded, a glance at the beaming faces
# the boys and girls swimming and
FLASHING around the toboggap slide in
'atterson park pool would amply con
ince one of the effectiveness Of the
Baltimore bath system.
The results Of physical cleanliness
pom the poor of cities cannot be over
stlmated The prevention OF sickness,
of loathsome skin diseases.
he toniDg up of the whole system and
he healthy recreation IL indoor show
r baths and outdoor swimming pools,
lake these public baths a vital factor
. the training of good citizens for
baltimore.
FLORENCE ELLINWOOD ALLEN.