Penarth Chronicle and District Advertiser

Penarth Public Baths JOINT REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BATHS COMMITTEE (R. BEVAN, ESQ.) AND THE SURVEYOR, NOVEMBER, 1895. Gentlemen,—In accordance with your resolution of the 23rd of September last, we now submit our re- port on the working of the above Baths during the season ended 31st October last, also the result of our visit to the baths at Swansea and at Newport, and our recommendations with regard to various im- portant alterations and additions to the Public Baths of this town, by which, the increased attendance- which the past season's working may reasonably be taken to foreshadow for coming seasons—may be better provided for, an well as a means of revenus d*i?ing the at present profitless winter seasons. The past summer season, 1st April to 31st October, 1895, has proved to be the best of any during the eleven years these Baths have been open. Total receipts from April 1st to Oct. 31st, 1895 £ 249 13 9 Ditto for whole season 1887-1888 237 6 3 Ditto for whole season 1894-1895 158 1 6 Total number of bathers from April 1st to October 31st, 1895 .13,196 Ditto Season 1894-1895 7,703 Ditto Season 1893-1894 .10,560 As the total receipts for bathing dresses and drawers, amounted in the Season 1894-1895 to X16 10s. for 7,703 bathers, we find by adopting that ratio, our receipts for these articles, if charged for during the past season, would have amounted to L28 5 6. This would have brought our total receipts for the past season up to L277 19 3, and should for the purpose of comparison be added. This improvement is ppfobably due to (1).—The success of the Swimming Club. (2).—The great care exercised to prevent the recharging of the swimming baths with water which has not been allowed a proper time in which to settle. (3).-The more careful management brought about by periodi- cal visits paid by the members of the Baths Com- mittee and the Surveyor. The weekly returns of the pumping done, have brought about a more careful state of working in the Engine House, but the fact of the suction rose being some 8 feet below half-tide level, prevents a thorough check being kept on the working and the accurate calculating of the cost of pumping per 1000 gallons, on account of the man in charge having an average range of 8 hours per tide for working, instead of a fixed one of 6 hours, as would be the case were the suction rose raised about 7 feet 6 inches. In order to get in his six hours pumping, he would then be obliged to start and finish at a fixed time and state of the tide. A few examples taken from the pumping returns will show that his pumping during the past season, although a remarkable improvement on previous years, is still irregular, owing to shirking a consecu- tive tide, being up late, or other avoidable cause. Honrs Ne of Height DATE OF PUMPING RETURN. Wkd. Strokes of made. Tide Week ending May 17th, 1895 6 10,752 26.8 6 9,300 25.10 6 11,001 25.1 2 4,412 24.10 Week ending May 31st, 1895 6 10,815 34.1 6 9,915 33.3 6 10,140 32.11 ï 1,430 32.1 Week ending June 21st, 1895 6 9,333 26.4 6 11,435 25.10 6 12,211 26.11 3t 6,487 28.0 Week ending Aug. 9th, 1895. 6 10,612 339 6 10,292 33.4 4 7,881 33.1 It 2,995 33.4 2 Weekending Sept. 20th, 1895. 6 11,895 28.8 6 11,902 30.9 6 12,235 32.3 Week ending Oct. 4th, It95 6 9.732 27.3 6 9,714 28.10 4 6,984 29.7 1 1,548 31.3 The improvements carried out by Mr. Monroe, may be best pointed out by the fact that 39-1 tons of coal have been used during the past season, 2 as compared with 47 tons during a like period of the previous season, and again by the fact that the two tanks can be pumped full in three tides, whereas they could not be filled previously under four full tides working and were seldom done under six tides, but this was in a great measure due to a want of energy on the part of those in charge. As the water requires at least five days in which to settle the dirty condition of the water in previous years, is not to be wondered at, for pumping was never carried out 'by pumping $he two tides øeach day, therefore the water was kept ('°;1 :==-===.=.=--= in a constant state of unrest for five or six days each week, leaving one or sometimes only a part of a day in which to settle. The want of sufficient means for storing water is a great drawback, and in the busiest part of last season prevented the water from being changed as often as was necessary, while in the event of an accident to pumps or engine, several having I taken place, was a source of great anxiety to the i person responsible for repairs. The improved methed of heating the water in the 1st class swimm- ing baths, has enabled the heating to be carried as high as 75°Fah. without difficulty, whereas under the old condition of things, it was difficult to get the water above 60°Fah. .1 SWANSEA BATHS. These Baths combine Swimming, Turkish, and Slipper Baths and Steam Laundry, and are the pro- perty of a Limited Company. We did not see any- thing at these Baths which would be an improvement if adopted, with the exception of a comfortable waiting and refreshment room, and a fine storage tank, capable of recharging their 1st and 2nd class swimming baths three times over, its capacity being about 200,000 gallons. This tank is kept at as low an elevation as possible so that no unnecessary duty is put upon the engine and pumps. We were unable to obtain any information as to the cost of pumping, NEWPORT BATHS. These Baths are the property of the Newport Corporation, and are subject to the Baths and Wash- houses Act. They consist of two fine swimming Baths (fresh water), Turkish and Slipper Baths, and small Laundry for their own immediate requirements. These Baths are a model of cleanliness and good management. During the winter months the 2nd class swimming bath is converted into a very fine Gymnasium, by throwing a timber floor over the bath. The whole of the necessary appliances are the property of the Corporation, who provide first- class gymnastic instructor, and classes. are arranged for the winter seasons 1st October to 13th January at the following rates :— LADIES' CLASSES Tuesday Evening, 7.30 to 9.30. Fee for Term, 4s. Wednesday 10 to 11 „ 4s. Thursday „ 4.45 to 5.45 „ (fencing) 5s. _In GIRLS' CLASSES. Wednesday evening 6,30 to 8, Fee for term 2s. 6d. y Z5 GENTLEMEN'S CLASSES. Monday & Tuesday evenings, ,7.30 to 10- Fee for Term 5s. BOYS' CLASSES. Friday evening 7 to 9 Fee for Term 2s. 6<1. Mixed Juvenile Classes over.6 and under 12 year*. Saturday afternoon 3 to 4 Fee for Term 3s. Special course may be arranged for Private and Elementary Schools. Baths Report-Gal.-2 The 1st Class Swimming Bath is converted into a public or private assembly room, as the case may be, and is let for public meetings, concerts, private dances, etc., at the rate of £ 2 2s. per night, with 5s. extra for each hour after midnight. This room yields a clear profit during the season of £ 40 The Turkish Baths are very fine, and are the most profitable of all their baths. The Slipper Baths hardly come up to ours. As a considerable sum of money was lost last season, owing to perhaps one or two ladies occupying the 1st class swimming bath, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Mabon's day and general holidays, it would be well that the baths on these special days should not be set apart for the ladies. PROPOSED ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS. New Storage Tank.—This is a most necessary piece of work. The combined capacity of the existing tanks being; 90,067 gallons, and that of the two swimming baths 105,320 gallons, or 13,253 gallons more than our storage capacity. By raising the overflow in the larger of our storage tanks, it would be possible to store just sufficient for the two Baths, but as previously stated, we are unable to make use of water for at least five days after it has been pumped (unless it be specially treated with c riain chemicals, at a cost of about L30 per annum) we are therefore quite unable to change the wat( r more than once in seven days under the most favour- able conditions, but should any hitch or slight accident occur to the engine or pumps, the water sometimes remains, unchanged, for ten, or even fourteen days, a most undesirable condition of things during the busiest part of the season. To get over this difficulty, it is proposed to construct a new tank on the vacant piece of land immediately at the back of the Baths, capable of storing 141,575 gallons, and to retain, if necessary, the existing tanks, this would give a total of 231,642 gallons, or a little more than double the capacity of our two swimming baths. By placing a tank at the level suggested, the pumps would be required to force the water 33 feet high, instead of as at present 66 feet, 3l inches high. The, upper tanks would only be made use of whfni absolutely necessary. A considerable saving in the cost of pumping and in the wear and tear of the pumps and engine should also result. The approxl- mat-esost would ba as follows • < T -S- Cement Concreto £ 135 0 0 Exeavation 122 10 0 Fencing 32 18 0 Pipes, etc 13 3 6 303 11 6 Add 10 per cent for contingencies 30 8 6 .£334 0 0 About half this amount is for wages, and as fhe work could be done by the unemployed during the winter months, we should receive better value for money paid to unemployed, than during previous winters. Raising Suction Rose.—In addition to the advan- tage to be gained by raising this rose to half tide level, as already pointed out in this report, we should pnmp water from a point some eight feet above beach level, instead of from beach level as at IrS311t, the water thus pumped, would be much freer from sand and mud than at present, more especially caused now by the swirl brought about by the tide setting against the column, of the pier, the cost wou!:i bo about X6 0 0. Flooring over 1st Class Swimming Bath.—'The cost of carrying out this work in order to convert the Bath into a hall for the purpose of a gymnasium or for other use, would be X76, and the cost of furnishing same with the necessary gymnastic appliances would be £57 0 0. ff Galleries for Entertainments.—Two galleries cap- able of seating 56 and 144 persons respectively, could be erected at a cost of L26, this would enable the building to accommodate nearly 500 persons. Urinals and Water Closets.—These should b. placed outside the buildings, instead of inside, as at present, approximate cost £ 15. Summary of Estimates :— New Storage Tank Y,334 0 0 Raising Suction Rose 6 0 0 Floor to Swimming Bath 76 0 0 Gymnastic Appliances 57 0 0 Galleries 26 0 0 Water Closets ..< 15 0 0 £;514 0 0 R. BEVAN, Chairman of the Baths Committee EDGAR J. EVANS, Assoc. M. Inst., 0 E*, Surveyor-