1900s

The subway system had 1,676 toilets and employees conducted regular inspections.

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1897

New York Mayor sends committee to Europe to assess various models of what Americans call ‘comfort stations’. London facilities impress them but the street urinals of Paris offend.

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1894

National Purity Congress finds no toilets or urinals in Chicago and only a few in parks in St Louis and Brooklyn but 500 in Birmingham and 800 in Liverpool and urges US to follow Europe.

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1894

Tout a l’égout campaign in Paris hooks buildings and businesses to sewer. London initiates inspections of WCs for workers in bakeries and food establishments.

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1893

Chicago World’s Fair has 3,000 toilets with washbasins, most installed by the Chow Sanitary Company, at 32 locations around the fair. Simple ones are free to users; fancier ones cost 5 cents.

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1892

Overall progress in British sanitary system is a source of civic pride – waterborne sewerage combined with new public health laws.

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1890s

The number of facilities for women lags behind those of men. Many feel that public conveniences will bring women to city streets in ways not congruent with contemporary ideals of femininity.  Advocates such as George Bernard Shaw point out that working-class women cannot afford the penny charge.

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1889

London’s first municipal public convenience for women is built underground in Piccadilly Circus

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1870s

Ladies’ Sanitary Association campaigns for public conveniences for women in the face of popular sentiments that women had more self control and could hold it.

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1875

Thanks to James Moir’s activism, Glasgow builds nearly 200 urinals. George Jennings and Walter MacFarlane both were passionate about the civilizing properties of sanitary appliances.

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