The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-09
A new BATHING BEACH
Walter J. Douglass Report TO the
District Commissioners.
stevens Recon-
mendations Gone Over-A scheme
for n BETTER Circulation of Water
and Improvement of the Pool i'm
Hot Meather-DctaiIs of the Plan.

The question Of constructing a new bath
ing beach in the inner basin, which would
not be affected by tide and storm, has been
frequently discussed by the District Com
missioners Accidents have not been many
at the present site, but the cost Of inspec-
ton and maintenance are considerable and
the variations of the tide are such as to
make the bathing beach in the outer basin
a little uncertain and trea eherous.
". X stevens, Superintendent q The
beach. has given the subject much aJten-
tion. and favors removal TO the inner
basin. At the request of the Commission
ers that the matter should be submitted to
a competent engineer, with view 10 OBJ
tanning an expert opinion on the Feasibility
OF the plan. Walter J. Douglass, of the
Surface Department, was detailed TO go
over the plans prepared by Mr.. Stevens and
the specifications for the proposed i'm
proyemeDt
The report Of Mr. Douglass has just been
received by the Commissioners, and is be-
ing carefully considered by them. In gen
eral he approves of Mr Stevens plan. but
has worked out a new scheme founded
upon the original plan. which he thinks
will give better circulation Of the water
improve
hot weather. Mr.. Douglass pan in brief
contemplatos a construction Of the bottom
which will ensure i.25 feet OF water with
several diving pools having depth OF 10
to y feet. The latter will be clearly de-
fined and marked so that the element Of
danger viii Dee removed.
Mr. Douglass speaks at length with ref
erence to the circulation and change Of
water in the basin. The area TO b. utilized
for bathing purposes is "a acres, and the
estimated volume of water Will be 10000
GOO gallons. OF which 100000 gallons can
be changed daily IL desired. This in Mr.
Douglass opinion. will ensure the purity
of the water and keep 1T from becoming
uuduly warm beneath the rays Of the sam
mer sun.
Regarding the sewer canal along the
northwest line of the basin. Ii is remarked
that il viii not affect the purity Of the
water in the swimming pool, and that it IS
the intention Of the Engineers Depart
meni 10 remove the canal within few
years
The cost Of constructing a beach as pro-
posed in the inner basin, and OF one OF
equal capacity in the outer basin. Mr..
Douglass conceiyes 20 be about equal He
thinks however. that the maintenance Of
the beach on the outside would involve
greater cost and produce less satisfactory
results Attention is called to The fact
that the outer basin is an important ele-
ment in the development Of Potomac Park
in consequence Of which a larger bathing
beach near the present site, would be OBJ
jectionable and would finally have TO be
abandoned From this consideration Mr..
Douglass deduces the conclusion that il
would be better economy 10 improve the
inner basin at once.
The opposition TO the scheme put for
ward by the Capital Yacht Club is disposed
OF in few words Mr. Douglass says the
winter anchorage for this club affects very
few citizens while the bathing beach may
lay claim 10 being a deseryedly popular in
stitution
The plan for changing the water in the
inner basin coutemplates using the tide
for that purpose. Variation 10 tide
in The outer basin is four and a half
feet daily. To cleanse the swimming pool,
therefore it is proposed 90 construct a
| double 1umc. The upper chamber Is at the
| level Of the inner basin and 50 constructed
| as TO draw down the pool about two feet.
| The lower chamber is four feet below low
| tide and leads into the bottom Of the pool
| By drawing down the pond at low tide by
| opening the upper chamber Of the hume,
will remove the surface water Closing this
| and opening the intake gate. while the tide
| is flowing fills the pond again from the
| bottom. thus changing and circulating the
water by purely mechanical means.
The cost Of the project. including labor