Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28
A SWIMMING LAKE
Superintendent Stevens New Plans
for the Bathing Beach.
TO Be PRESENTED TO CONGRESS
Proposed Use of the Tidal Reservoir
for the Purpose.
A SAVING OF NEY

In accordance with plans which have for
some years been maturing, Superintendent
Stevens will present to Congress within
few days a petition asking that the little
lake of the tidal reservoir be assigned and
equipped as a bathing beach instead of the
present premises.
The Illustration given herewith is from
pen sketch copied from photograph of
the lake in question, looking west from
window of the Washington monument. In
the immediate foreground is the west pond
of the fish commission. The further side
of the west pond lies against 18th street
extended, and the side to the left Is about
200 feet from the present bath houses.
All the trees shown are now full grown,
forming fire shade and n beautiful fringe
to the lake. but the bath houses, the office,
the wharves, the bridge and gate across
the inlet to the left and the roads around
the lake not yet in existence. They
represent the plan of Improvement srg-
gested. The line crossing the lake near its
center represents a fence. which, according
to the general plan proposed. is to separate
the free side from the pay side.
This plan may or may not be adopted. 1t
will be for the Commissioners to decide,
but Mr.. Stevens says that after five years
experience he thinks the only way the
beach can ever accommodate the best peo-
pie and be self-supporting is 10 humor the
wcil-to-do people, who prefer to pay for ac-
commodatons for the sake of being some
what exclusive, by assigning to them a
portion Of the lake and one set of dressing
houses and let them pay but to make the
other portion of the lake and another set
of dressing houses entirely free to the gen.
eral public, who provide themselves with
towels and bathing suits, and that the re-
ceipt of the pay side and the rental Of
bathing suits and towels for all who wish
to hire, shall pay the running expenses of
the whole.
Bathing in the 'BuR.'
Another feature of the plan Is that two
small yards, say, one hundred feet square
each, be surrounded by high board fences,
within which all who wish may battle
naked One yard is for the white and one
for the colored boys. An office for this
purpose is shown among the trees to the
right of center. Mr.. Stevens thinks this
will save eight or ten lives every year of
boys who would otherwise be drowned by
going to dangerous and unguarded places
because they cannot afford bathing suits
Nine boys were so drowned this last sea-
son, and there have been about that num-
Der drowned in far-off places around the
city every year from the same cause. 1t
is planned to build wharves from the shore
each thrty-two feet long and about one
hundred feet apart, reaching into the wa
ter four feet deep. Along the middle and
extending to the inlet IS deep water, about
>.
water is bordered everywhere by wharf
about three inches above water level, and
outside of this wharf the water is four and
one-half feet deep, so that no one can pos
sibly walk or swim from shallow water in
to deep water. The great swimming area
of the whole lake will be from four to four
and one-half feet deep, SO that you may
swim far as you please, and vet put your
feet down and stand on the bottom when
tired or If caught by cramp. This will per-
nit the life guard to give his whole atten-
ton to those within the deep-water In
closure, and that is so narrow that he can
Jump from the wharf almost to any point
where a swimmer could be In danger and
carry the unfortunate one quickly to the
wharf. At the south end Of the lake ma
tive amphitheater awaits the location of
benches, wkereon an audience of five thou
sand could be comfortably seated in the
shade of fine trees, facing the water on
that side where the suns reflection casts
no glare. At the extreme left is the gate
that Is to stop the rise and fall of the tides
In the lake so as to hold the water at one
constant level in bathing hours. and
through wi ich gateway the tide is to be
permitted to change the water in the night
whenever the water in the big basin Is
clearer than that in the lake.
Mr.. Stevens says that there is great mis-
apprehension as to the purity of the water
In land-locked ponds. If the bottom and
shores are entirely of sand or gravel. and
there is no filthy inlet such ponds will be
kept pure by the winds and the sun until
surrounding vegetation drops into them
matter to decay, and that the impression
that open-water bathing Is unhealthy in
dog days is based only on the fact of decay
Ing vegetation, which begins about that
time, and If that be kept out there Is no
unhealthiness in the water.
The green scum that appears on the
water in early summer is the fallen pollen
of Towering trees and weeds. The latter
will not be permitted around the lake, and
the attendants will be required to skim
the water by means Of floating boards
every morning when 1t is required. No
dead animals and none Of the floating mat
ter of the river need ever be permitted
to enter the lake, because the gate may
be arranged to open far down under water
lake by bathers in the sunshine will tend
more to purify 1t than their washing will
to contaminate it, SO that while 1t Is de-
signed to let a foot or two of water of
the whole level run out to be replaced by
fresh water every day, yet Mr.. Stevens
feels quite sure that the water in the COM
paratvely great area of the lake will, very
soon after N bottom is all sanded over.
be found pu{ef than that in the open river,
and a change will not be desirable very
The Record of the Beach.
Those who have the impression that all
this is for the accommodation of poor peo-
pie only have great surprise in store
If they will go and see 1t on any hot sum-
mer evening from until the closing hour.
sand bathers have registered on the beach
books, and over one hundred thousand
spectators in carriages and foot have
thronged the shore to enjoy the spectacle,
and to add ZeSt to the enjoyment of
friends in the water. Very many ladies