The times., 1898-08-08

If the ideas of Superintendent Stevens,
of the free bathing beach meet SSitai the
approval of Congress and the Board of
District Commissioners, Washington will
have a new bathing beach which will be
the equal of any in the country
The plan of the superintendent has. been
unfolded to the Commissioners. -E
Superintendent Stevens has prepared a
colored plat which gives, at "a glance an
excellent idea of the general shape and
arrangement of the proposed beach, and
several days ago, upon the OCCASION of a
visit by him to the District Building, the
drawing was submitted to the Commits
sioners for their approval
The intention is to have the Commits
sioners discuss the advisability of the
proposed change and if they give it their
sanction the attention of Congress will
be invited to the matter next Winter. An
appropriation of $4,000 would probably be
required for the consummation of the
project, although there is a possibility
that when the cost has been more closely
figured, smaller sum may foe necessary
The principal expense will be for sand.
1t is not expected that the beach can be
completed in time for use by bathers
next year, for the reason that the work
cannot be begun very well before the lat
ter part of next July. This is because any
possible appropriation by Congress can
not be available until the beginning of
the next fiscal year.
The site of the proposed beach Will be
at the foot of Seventeenth Street upon a
public reservation, which has already
been promised TO the bathing beach au-
thorties- The proposed site contains
about eighteen acres of ground and wa
ter, the latter being a flushing lake about
eight acres in extent 1t is northwest of
the present beach, and Immediately west
of the propagating ponds of the Fish
Commission, west of the emonument
grounds. The lake was originally intend
ed for use in flushing the Seventh Street
sewer, but other arrangements We're
made when the outlet of the sewer was
constructed and the lake was not util-
ize. No portion of the sewer runs near
the place and if the proposed site is i'm
proved with a beach, bathers Will not
have any fear of the pool being contami-
mated.
The pond is in the center of the reser-
walton, which has been made available
through the courtesy of the War De-
partment 1t is oval in shape. The ma
Jor axis OF the oval extends from north
east TO southwest and the northwestern
side of the lake is practically straight
A row of beautiful shade trees extends
all around the edge and good roadway
runs parallel to the trees, thus affording
fine driveway all around the lake. The
circumference Is about half mile. The
trees stand upon an embankmeut several
feet above the water. Just below the
trees is a sandy beach, which stretches
ali around the pool.
The plan contemplates the erection of
an office building on the south end of the
oval. 1t viii be two stories high and
of simple though attractive design. Pro-
vision has also been made for the erec-
ton of 500 modern and well ventilated
bath houses Immediately behind the main
office. The number of bath houses at
the present bathing beach is slightly over
200. Nearly thousand bathers frequently
visit the resort in a single day. In order
to accommodate them two persons must
occupy one bath house, and frequently
bathers are called from the water and
forced to give up their houses TO new
comers Should Congress make the neces-
sary appropriation the bath houses at
the old beach will be re-erected on the
northeast bank for the accommodation of
colored bathers
The chief difficulty at the old beach is
the rise and fall of the tide and this va
riation in the depth of the water is fire.
quently responsible for drowning acct
dents The new beach will be separated
from the lake upon which the old one
IS situated by a lock dam. The inten-
ton is to construct this dam and then
pump the water ouc and fill In the bed
of the pool with sand which will keep
the water at a certain depth at all hours
of the day This depth will be four and
a half feet in the center. The dam will
be closed so that the tide will not cause
any variation in the depth Of the water.
During the night the locks will be opened
and the lake flushed so that the water
will be fresh every day. Surface water
will not be admitted and an arrangement
will be made whereby only under cur
rents of clear water will be admitted.
In order that there may be deep water
for expert swimmers four diving pools
will be ser apart. The pools will be sepa-
rated from the beach by piles. Three of
these deep pools will be in continuous
line with the major axis of the pond and
the fourth will extend at right angles to
the other three and run in a southeast
erly direction towards the outlet at the
dam The latter course will be two
hundred feet in length and will be an ex-
cellent course for deep water swimming
Provisions will also be made for two
diving boards at the ends of the three
smaller pools. Between the diving boards
trapeZes can be erected. Nobody but
good swimmers will be allowed in the
deeper pools.
The roadway which skirts the lake is
practically completed and the lower
branches of the trees have been cut
away so that a good view of the entire
pond may be had by persons driving and
on wheels.
About one month ago my child. which
is fifteen months old, had an attack of
diarrhoea accompanied by yornitinp