Public Baths

Throughout history, man has enjoyed public bathing. He has delighted in laying back at a pool, stream, river, hot spring, or ocean, getting clean. The Roman public baths must have been wonderful. America could use the idea today.

Plenty of hot water and heat are available at our power plants. Because of the nature of the electricity-producing cycle, 65% of the fuel used to produce electricity is wasted as heat. That’s a lot of waste heat. Clouds of steam can be seen rising above our power plants on cold mornings.

So, at a steam plant, we make a nice little park with free showers and washing facilities for clothes. Cost would be negligible.

Travelers would use the spas. People living in motor homes would. Kids would. The homeless would.

Public baths are very civilized things. They are right in line with the President’s idea of a gentler, kinder America.

ROGER DURHAM

Glendale