CITIZENS' BUSINES BUREAU OF MUNICIPAL RESEARCH OFFICENT PHILADELPHIA, More Comforts in Our The New York Public Library, 476 Fifth Ave., No. 368 N June 12, 19 Do we want Philadelphia to be lacking in moder conveniences? If not, then we should provide at once more publi comfort stations. A Flaw in Philadelphia's Hospitality It is the duty of every municipality to look after the comfort of its people, and in that respect Philadelphia is open to criticism. This city is not a thoughtful host, in that it does not provide the required hospitality for its citizens and guests. We refer to the absence of public comfort stations. Have you ever realized how inadequate are the facilities which are offered for the necessary comfort of the people, particularly those who are visiting the city for only a day at a time? Just recently, on the day when Philadelphia gave such a rousing welcome to the boys of the 28th Division, the lack of comfort stations was very noticeable. The department stores were closed and the railroad stations were open only to passengers, access to the waiting-room floors being denied unless transportation tickets were shown. True, that was an exceptional day, but a somewhat similar condition exists every Sunday and holiday, when countless transients are in the city. A Lesson from Our Neighbors, Abroad and At Home This need is not one newly recognized. A great many European cities have realized the urgent necessity for providing comfort stations for their citizens, and they have met the situation by establishing these stations at frequent intervals throughout the congested areas. cently the movement has spread in American cities and such cities report great satisfaction with the plan. Some of the European cities use the fee system, thus making the stations at least. Re partially self-sustaining, but this plan has not usually been considered feasible in the American cities. The Ideal Public Comfort Station The ideal comfort station is one that is equipped with drinking fountains, toilets, telephone booths and rest rooms. Under proper supervision stations of this kind would be a real asset to a city. They should be placed at intersections of main streets, in city squares and parks, playgrounds, recreation piers, all public buildings, libraries, market-houses and entrances to subway and elevated railway stations; and their location should be indicated by some distinctive sign. Wherever possible the entrance to the comfort station should be separate from the entrance to the building in which it is located, in order to facilitate access from the street. Blending Comfort with Beauty To overcome the objection of stations being possibly too conspicuous in the congested sections, it might be found advisable to have them underground with entrances similar to those of the subway. In the less congested sections, parks, etc., the buildings could be of an attractive design that would add to the appearance of the vicinity. What We Can Do Immediately Philadelphia must face this problem promptly! It is so acute at the present time that immediate action ought to be taken; but when the saloons are permanently closed, and as a result over eighteen hundred private comfort stations are discontinued, the situation will be even worse. It is true that something has already been done. In January, 1895, an ordinance was passed by councils providing for the installation of public lavatories "on the premises of Police, Patrol and Fire Stations that are hereafter to be erected," and we are informed that this provision is being carried out. This, however, is not sufficient and more public comfort stations should be erected at once. Steps should now be taken to have comfort stations placed in the entrances to the subway and elevated lines now under construction, instead of the present practice whereby one is compelled to pay a fare in order to reach the elevated waiting room or subway platform where a lavatory-often locked-is located. This would entail no great change in the present plans and would greatly relieve the situation. May not the ultimate management and development of our system of public comfort stations be one of the important activities to be undertaken by the proposed new Department of Public Welfare? MENDICANCY Once again the streets are thronged with professional beggars. Doleful ditties are solemnly, slowly sung by blind vendors who receive a shock when someone accepts the wares exposed for sale. That old atrocity, the barrel organ, drones its hymns over and over again to the musical accompaniment of tinkling coins. What's become of the law on this subject? |