Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-06
THE FREE BATHING BEACH.
An Interesting Report on the Past and the
Future.
Improvements Needed mt n Popular
gestiOns-COngress Called On.

Late yesterday afternoon Superintendent
Stevens of the free bathing beach submit
| ted to the Commissioners his annual report
of the operations of the beach for the sum-
mer of 1888. The report is interesting and
is follows:
The books of registry opened June and
closed September 80 show the names of
1851 bathers. There has not been a life
lost. no one hurt and no one arrested. Col
ored bathers have been less than one Der
cent of the whole. and more than one-half
OF the houses at the color end of the beach
were never yet occupied. Among the white
bathers have been a good many ladies'
every one of whom came again and some
quite often. all surprised and enthusiastic
over the discovery that Washington has
a good bathing beach, and that II Is kept
orderly and respectable, while being free
to every conner.
There has been no appropriation for the
beach for three years, and for want of care
during the eight idle months of each year
the whole property Is wasting away. The
storm In August practically destroyed the
south wharf The fierce dashing of the
waves at high tide tore away the whole
midway portion and so lifted the remaining
portions that IL is a wreck. You authorized
me to repair the damages of last winter
to wharves and houses and to run the
their own suits for six days In each week.
at my own risk and without cost to the
District of Columbia, and permitted me to
look. to public donations. the rental Of bath
ing suits and the receipts of Thursdays for
remuneration. AS a test of public feeling.
whether favorable or unfavorable to the
beach. small contributions only were ask ed
for. and yet the amount required for re-
pairs. according to my estimate, was re-
ceived on a partial canvass of the city.
Only one man was found who opposed the
beach. He was asked to come and see II in
operation. He has often done 50 and Is
now an enthusiastic convert. l was disap-
pointed in my estimate of pay day receipts.
AT first about 10 per cent came on that
day. but they gradually fell of to nothing.
and the whole season will not average over
per cent who came on pay days or who
rented suits On the whole have not lost
money. but the pay for services does not
invite very lively competition for my office.
improvements Needed.
"As yet the beach is able to accommodate
only a very small portion of the residents
and visitors of Washington who wish to
battle. We have been obliged to put from
three to six in each room only three by five
feet. at crowded times, and this has entire
ly prevented a very large portion of the bet
ter class from using the beach at all Few
people Of any refinement like to disrobe ell
bow to elbow with a stranger. The rush
comes after business hours In the after
noon. and at that time the beach has al
ready become one of the most attractive in
sututions in the city. The beach bank Is
always crowded for standing room. and the
carriage way Is frequently so blockaded
that pleasure drivers must alight far away
and mingle with the crowd on foot to see
the sport. All this should be changed. The
beach has proven itself to be a popular
favortte, and its facilities should be in
creased tenfold.
There ought to be before next bathing
Ia nfY1c
wharves. more springboards, more bathing
room always breast deep, more carriage
space. and seats for a thousand spectators.
All this can be obtained In only one way
and that Is by the tde-locked pool or lake
plan which / have before recommended
The dam should be thirty feet wide on top
making boulevard wherein carriages may
drive or stop for the occupants to watch
the antics of bathers on one side or on the
other to enjoy the glories Of the declining
sun as 1t gilds the masts and towers on the
horizon OF Georgetown, shedding a dreamy
haze on the bold heights of historic Airing
ton, and melting away in distance DER the
far of hills of Fairfax. The grounds at the
beach are how a rough common; they
should be beautified in harmonious keep
ing with the view here disclosed to lovers
Of nature. The only approach to the far
famed Potomac should be made worthy of
Its place at the nations capital The people
nave had taste this summer. especially
In the successful tournament of two days
at the beach. Of what might be fully en-
Joyed by thousands every Summer IL this
bathing place Is made into the great safe
amphitheater proposed. II 1t is left open as
now to the rise and fall of the tide no
amount Of expenditure can ever make II
either safe or convenient at all tides and
the wharves will be destroyed again by ice |
In the winter and by storms in summer.
Other Cities.
Another advantage Of the tide-locked
lake will be its perfect safety as a skating
place. and Ice will be serviceable on 1t
longer. More than a hundred mothers have
plead with me to push this pro- |
tect before Congress. asking permission to
use money enough to complete it. Some
time ago 1 wrote to the mayors of a num- |
Der of cities. Philadelphia, New York, and |
Boston, for Information, and their replies |
show that those cities have free or nearly |
free public bathing places, either one cost |
Ing great deal more than 1 ask for |
W ashington. and not one of them having |
one-tenth part of the facilities that / pro-
pose. They all have mere floating boxes |
from which spectators are excluded. Here |
We have the fathers and mothers and friends |
spectators, insuring propriety and add |
Ing hundred fold to the enjoyment Of the |
bathers.
His Plan.
This has been proven every day |
he past summer. 1t has been often sug-
sested that four OF five thousand dollars |
should be appropriated annually to i'm
prove and maintain the present beach, but |
think there should be a radical change in !
he direction before suggested, and IL Con- |
yress will make Immediately available |
twenty thousand dollars, the amount that |
I is suggested to spend for five years re- |
,airs and keeping, 1 will undertake to make |
hat change in full according to the late |
plan proposed, the new two-story office, |
he four hundred new rooms, the seats, |
xharves. grand stand. and all In good style |
70 the satisfaction of the Commissioners,
md I will run IT for the five years to pub
&c satisfaction without further cost to the |
District and almost free to ALL as follows:
3athers under fifteen years, with their own
'ults, free; over fifteen years, five cents an |
hour, or ten cents. unlimited. Neat suits
or rent, Is to % cents. Seats for spectators
free. but for people who wish to
,e more exclusive 10 cents admission to the |
,rand stand. Admission at q tournament