Evening star., 1900-10-02
REPORT OF BATHING BEACH
sUPERINTENDENT STEVENS SUBMITS
HIS ANNUAL STATEMENT.
Estfmated Expenses for Year Ending
June 80, 19O2-Operations
the Past Year.

Mr.. w. x. Stevens. the superintendent Of
the District bathing beach, today submitted
to the Commissioners his report for the is-
cal year ended June 80, 1000. together with
an estimate Of expenses of the beach during
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1902.
During the season just closed the beach
was kept open from May 80 to September
16, 11O days, during which period there were
1884 white males who bathed there. 400
colored males and O2O ladies: in all. Al. .434.
Mr.. Stevens says the e-saving service res
cued thirty-nine persons and could not have
been more efficient. even: though two lives
were lost. The unfortunate ones were VIM
L. Gaskins, who had resided with his par
ents at 34A Rock Creek road. and John
Fitzgerald of $40 Florida avenue.
The receipts from rental Of bathing suits
and the refreshment stand amount to
$S54.O2 The appropriation was $Z,UVV. Ine
only current expenses from now to June l.
1901. are the salaries of the superintendent
and the watchman, which amount to $3.50,
to be paid out Of the above named receipts
This will leave about $500 to prepare for
next seasons opening
Greatest Number of Bathers.
'"The greatest number of bathers." says
Mr.. Stevens, entered at the beach In any
one season was 5S 1S1, In 1898. Last year
there was falling off of 3,271, and this
year there was the still greater falling of
of 6.G06 from the record of 1898. From
what hear people say, it seems that this
falling off in the patronage Of the beach
may be attributed to a lack of confidence
in the safety Of the beach, which has been
engendered in the public mind from two
causes. First, for the past three years
some OF the daily papers have recklessly
published drownngs as at the bathing
beach that did not take place there, nor in
any connection Herewith. One paper has
made two such. statements this season.
Secondlys 1893 was the second year of the
basket pools, and they were highly appre-
ciated as furnishing bathing room, though
very limited in size, where the novice could
learn to swim without any possibility Of
getting into deep water Unexpectedly, and
gretted. Yet. now that bathers have be-
come accustomed to present conditions. /
would not recommend rebuilding the bas-
kets at this beach. but cannot too forcibly
express my opinion as rejecting public de-
sire that the inner basin should be imme-
dfately completed, whereby swimming room
will be furnished to all corners, where the
novice and the stranger will be safe. be-
cause no one can get into deep water at
any tide without climbing over wharf,
beyond which 1t Is known to be Deep"
At His Own Expense.
Explaining that for several years he car
ried the bathing beach at his own expense,
Mr.. Stevens says the District, in equity.
owes him fair salary for the years he
has devoted to the beach without recon-
pense. or else, he contends. the District
should stick to the tacit understanding that
he should have the income of the beach on
condition that 1t be kept free to all who
provide their own bathing suits. and that
the District shall pay for repairs and run
ming expenses. but no salary to him and
nothing for bathing suits or suit tickets.
This would. he believes. relieve the beach
management and the District office Of
great deal of routine now demanded daily
through the season to account for money
and tickets, equivalent to one clerks SER
vices at least at the District Office, and it
would be fair to the superintendent.
Mr.. Stevens recommends the same appro-
priation for the next fiscal year, 81 900.