Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-24
T H E B AT HIN G EACH
Memorial Accompanying the Bill for Its
Proposed Improvement
1t fs Officially Endorsed by Presidents
of the Citizens Associations
and Board of Trade.

1t fs Officially Endorsed by Presidents
of the Citizens Associations
and Board of Trade.
Accompanying House bill 1878. in regard
to the repair of the bathing beach. which
has been referred to the District Commits
sioners for their approval, is the following
memorial, signed by Superintendent Stevens:
BY the superintendent of the free public
bathing beach, and other signers. accom-
panying a bill which they ask Congress to
enact for increasing the facilities of the
beach to meet public requirements, to rem
der it absolutely safe, and to place it on a
self-sustaining footing.
Bathing in the waters around Washing
ton is prohibited by law. Respectable peo-
pie are fined because their sons 30 in SWIM
ming. You and l enjoyed swimming when
we were young and probably would do SO
yet with suitable opportunity. That OPP
portunity should be within the reach Of
every man, woman and child a stimu-
liant to healthful vigor. The intense pleas
ure of open water bathing among friends
in hot weather induces many to partici-
pate who are TOO indolent to use their own
bath tubs.
Many thousands have no bath tubs, yet
cleanliness is known to be the greatest
safeguard against contagious diseases;
therefore, with cholera threatening US, what
greater safeguard can there be devised than
this inducement to cleanliness.
Twenty-SiX thousand five hundred and
thirty-seven bathers, and over 10000 spec
tators, in carriages and on foot, enjoyed
the bathing beach last summer. These
numbers would have been increased many
fold Ii the accommoda atoms were such as
people of refinement desire. In the five
years since this project was first introduced
in Congress there have been 1871 persons
drowned in Washington. Four or five Of
those were suicides and all the rest drown
ed by accident because they could not
swim.
All Could Learn to Swim.
With the proposed inclosed lake, kept at
an even depth of four and half feet in
all tides, all could learn to swim and prac-
tice swimming in safety. During all the
summer months the schools are closed
turning thousands of venturesome children
loose, and nothing has so much attraction
for this class as the water vet since tn.
opening of the beach 1t is noticed 10y police
men that they have less trouble from BOYS
whose idle time naturally runs to mischief
Hundreds of them spend all day at the
beach, under the restraining care Of enc
police officer, who has not had to arrest one
in the past three years. Expulsion from the
beach is more dreaded than the Police
Court. rather can pay fine, but he can
not provide u swimming place where hun
dredS can have fun together. Public charity
repaired the beach and ran 1t for the past
three seasons. 1t is now a wreck again
storms have destroyed one wharf and Isrt
OF the other, and have washed Iowa the
bank and broken doors from their hinges
Such viii be the condition every year
until the plan Is changed, as suggested
thus making it worth while to keep a man
there to take care of it. Because l started
TINS project the people look to ME to push
its claims before Congress for their relief
L have carried the burden upon my shoul-
ders alone for five years and it is becoming
heaVy. 1 have spent much time, and
obtained promises only, from three former
congresses, still the appeal from many
mothers rings in my ears: MIR. Stevens, for
Gods sake, don't give it up
Though many lives have been saved by
1t. it were better never to have been started
than to be stopped now. Thousands who
cannot yet swim have had taste of its
pleasures and without its protection there
Will be more drownings than before
Benefit of the Proposed Improvement.
II this bill is passed by Congress a mere
dumping common will be converted into a
beauty spot. a carriage drive will be formed
between the lakes, Offering on one hand an
enchanting view of Arlington and the Viz
ginia highlands across the broad Potomac
with a clean and healthy foreground, and
on the otner hand WINE seated in Jour
carriages You may watch the exciting sport
VI Ol II Will provide
good batnlng accommodations, and an am
pnltheater Ter physical culture. ana pubic
entertainment for the whole city, and
absolute safety will be insured.
BY making bathing free to all under six
teen, and charge OF tive cents for all over
that age, also a charge OF five cents to use
1t as safe ska1ing place in winter, this
institution would be self-supporting. Is not
that economy?
Where was that amount OF public money
ever expended or invested which would
give so much healthful enjoyment to so
great number OF people every year?
Some may say 1t is not a necessity. Then
what is the measure of the word necessity?
Washington will lose about fifty lives
next year from drowning if we don't have
1t, and more and more every year until we
do have 1t. 1t is no longer an experiment.
Practical experience has shown an over
whelming demand for it's completion and
how ii should be completed. 1t has shown
the dangers and how to guard against them
IT should be done before next June, If
possible, to save life this summer 1t is
used as a baptizing place. and clergy.,en
ask for its completion. Old and young
fathers. mothers and children all ask for it,
and business people ask for it as an added
attraction to Washington as a home.
Passage of the accompanying bill is there
fore respectfully requested.
OH:ciai Indursement.
The following gentlemen officially indo-se
the foregoing memorial to Congress asking
for Improvements in the public bathing
beach.
The desirability and necessity of this
ba thing beach is appreciated by every
parent 1t has received and still receives
the earnest support of the East Washing
ton Citizens Association.
j. W. BABSON,
Pres. East WASHINGTON Citizens Asso
r. Il. Buckley, president Anecostia Citi-
zens Association: j. Harrison Johnson, presi-
dent of Southwest Washington Citi=ans'
Association; Jas. w. Somervlle. president
Mount Pleasant Citizens Assocla ton:
Louis w. Richie. NJ. D.. president West
Washington Citizens Assocat ton; B. H.
Warner president Board Of Trade.
Tae Dream Came True.
From The Portland tMc.) Transcript.
The following remarkable recent expert
ence of a Portland lady is a fact: She hal
been absent from her home ali day, and
that night she had dream. She thought
that she mad started to descend the cellar
stairs when 4 great snake came gliding up.
1t reared it's head close to her and stood