Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-29
STATE HOUSE.
For Establishment Of Public
Comfort Stations.
State Board Of Health Working
for Needed Convenience,
Election Ordered for Co. E, Second
Infantry.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
Friday, July 20, at 10 A. M.

Accompanying the July Bulletin of
the State Board of Health, which is
now being issued from the office of the
secretary of the board at the State
House, is a supplement entitled "A
Sign for Public Comfort Stations" the
text of which advocates a plan which
should meet with the approval of
everyone in every city of the State
On the back of the supplement is
shown a sign to be used to designate
the stations. and which is a green cir
Gle enclosing red cross on white
ground This sign is referred to in
the text of the supplement- which is
as follows:
1.-THE condition of things in many
cities all over the country which is
due to the absence of public comfort
stations is none the less outrageous
because it has been long existent
Their absence not only causes suffer
ing, but serious and long lasting di-
.seases are thereby caused diseases
which may and do often shorten life
"In many cities there are provisions
which partly remedy the evil. but
many of these stations are in places
hurrying crowds. and their location is
unknown to the stranger within the
city
'"The sign which is shown in the
colored cut accompanying this was
first suggested in New Jersey. 1t has
recently been put into use in Pasa
dena, California. The inspector of
plumbing of that city made a canvass
of the merchants and banks to see if
it were possible to get them to CO.
operate with him in furnishing toilet
accommodations for the public. The
scheme was that they were to have
placed on their windows an emblem
without wording, that would signify
that toilet accommodations were
available. and that they would make
arrangements to take care of thcir own
customers. Mr.. Shaver. the Inspector.
was crafty encouraged by the way IN
which the merchants took hold of the
proposition. Forty different business
men agreed to display the emblem and
they included the leading business men
and all of the banks of the city. The
newspapers were Very generous in
giving space and attention to the mat
ter. so that people very quickly be
came educated to the significance of
the sign.
"Where the accommodations are for
men only a white letter IN" is placed
in the center of the red cross: if for
women. letter wv" is used and il
there are accommodations for both
sexes the cross is left blank.
at the last meeting of the state
Board of Health it was voted that the
board use it's influence to interest the
business men of the various cities ana
villages in the state of Maine to pro
vide stations such as are indicated
in this circular and to adopt this sign
to indicate their location to their own
customers and to visitors. 1T was
thought that business firms which APP
prove and put into use the suggestion
will not only benefit the public. but VIII
themselves be benefited in some de-
gree.
aside from the comfort and the CON
servation of the health of the people
of our own state there are other CON
siderationS in favor of TINS move
Very numerous touring cars are at
this season passing through tn" state