by Laurel | January 4th, 2012
04 January 1905
Bath-house keepers are to be trusted implicitly there were 99,255 men, women, boys and girls who took baths at the bath-houses in wards 1, 2, 4 and 6 last season. The records of the various keeper have all been turned in, and from the reports ward 4 holds the laurel wreath as the part of the city where the bath-house is used with the most untrammeled freedom. According to the figures submitted the ward 4 bath house must have presented the appearance of circus day a good part of the summer. In June there were 13, 800 men and boys who enjoyed the privileges; by July the glad tidings had spread to 18, 700 persons; in August 13,350 scrubbed themselves happily in the bath factory, and only in September was there a material falling off, only 1650 taking advantage of the opportunity. Besides, there were 3825 girls and women who became splash artists. Ward 2 comes next with a record of 21,000 bathers, of whom an even 2000 were women. Ward 6 produced 15,500 altogether who went to soak, of whom 1800 were girls and women. Ward 1 modestly brings up the rear with 12,030 happy ones. These figures beat all the former figures by the traditional mile, and there are fears that the spirit of emulation among the keepers has got beyond bounds the past season, and that some of the figures must be taken with a grain of salt.
From The Springfield Republican.
