Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-13
A Beach for Washington.

A Beach for Washington.
To the Editor of THE EVENING SrAn:
In improving the Potomac flats a beautiful
beach could be formed without dollar of
extra expense.
In the tidal basin on the north side beyond
the point west of the ponument there is now
quarter Of a mile of beach that is yet incom-
plete for its original purpose and it would re-
quire no more labor or expense to finish it for
bathing shore than for its original design
The dredges have thrown up abundance of fine
sand that could be easily graded to "a safe in
cline for any desired width. say 100 feet FROM
deep water to the base of the bluff. which rises
abruptly about 10 feet to the general level of
the flats
The rise and fall of the tide is between two
and three feet, and the inlet to the great basin
is SO narrow that there would be no current
whatever to endanger bathers or to wear the
beach. We can have no mad and roaring
breakers, no hidden jagged rocks, no ravenous
undertow no dark caverns. no spouting chasms
to vent old oceans pent-up fury. In fact
don't see how we could, consistently with
the object in view, get up anything on
which wild romance could be based
But, on the other hand, we can have at
our own door safe and respectable
bathing place in which we may teach our BOYS
anu auQ lnelr mOtncrS ana cousins TO SWIM
In the same water that they are liable to be
drowned in on any of their frequent excursions
II they don't learn to swim. There are drains
to discharge surface water from the monument
lot that empties into the basin, but don't fluid
the outlet of any sewer. The water is
| as clean as that of any large river.
l have bathed in it several times
this summer, and from accidental mouthfuls
find nothing Objectionable in that respect So
far as presented to my acquaintance this idea
of having public bathing place meets with
universal favor. and by general request make
this appeal merely az an initiative step. hoping
the matter will be talked up until our object is
attained
DETAILS.
That it may not seem far away and imprac-
ticable let US consider few details: Naked
bathing must be banished from the vicinity
Every bather should dress and behave with
the decorum due to such a place, considering
it a free and easy playground Each family
or group OF acquaintance may carry their own
dressing tent and freely pitch it in any open
spot within the limits, which should be on
the sand near the bluff. Or, if We could
have 1t perfect on a plateau Of green
sward raised a foot above the sand along in
front OF the bluff, which might also be grassed
over on an incline like one side of an amphi-
| theater, and be dotted with shade trees to ac-
commodate spectators.
yards square will accommodate four persons
at once, watering-place style. and it can be
made out of 20 yards of yard-wide cotton or its
equivalents clothesline cut into four parts
and a center pole feet high. All this need
| not weigh over Is pounds, and any man can
carry it easily as a fish pole.
OF course a more elaborate tent that would
| serve also for picnics would answer as we'll, and
| 1t may be large and curtained into rooms for
| your guests. Then you want a rubber or oil
cloth satchel in which to carry home your wet
| suit and towels.
There should be police boat stationed Just
| outside of wading depth to go to the assistance
| OF any one requiring it. and raft or two along
| shore to dive FROM with seats on which to slt
while rinsing the sand from your feet II
dressing houses were erected they should be
| free TO the first conner No money to be made
anywhere on the premises. Roughs and Der
sons Of known bad character should be ex-
| claded.
| ALL SUMMER LONG
the daylight lasts until o'clock. That would
give all department employees plenty of time
for bath after dinner has had an hour to set
tie. and residents, visitors and tourists stopping
| at hotels could select their own hour There
are thousands OF people in Washington whose
duties prevent their leaving the city in GUNNER,
to whom the cooling water would be an intense
| luxury. fEt
| cannot think Of anything more enjoyable
than romp on the sand and in the water with
our friends and little ones, freed from the
bonds Of formality, after the trials of hot
day. But this cannot be done by one or two
families. 1t must be an acknowledged institu-
ton or nothing. Why cannot Washington
beach be as gay and enjoyable as any expensive
watering place? Who votes for Washington
beach? Speak out w. ks.
Suing the District for $5, 600 Damages.
DIR. A. A. Marstellar, by Mr.. W. A. Cook, has
entered suit against the District Of Columbia
sor $4,000. He claims that the defendant, Oc-
tober 81, 1888, claiming that he lad not paid
his water rent, shut of the water from his