The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-30
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
Recommendations of the Superin-
tendent of the Bathing Beach.

Suggestion N to Safeguards Against
Drowpings-tdvice to Reckless
swimmers-strcet Work Ordered to
De Done-Other Local Matters.
w Y. Stevens. Superintendent of the
Bathing Beach. has addressed the Com
missioners relative to certain matters
connected with the conduct of the Beach
during the coming summer. He thinks
it wise to establish a wharf for the rem
tai OF boats on the south side of the
basin. and is of the opinion that some
changes should be introduced relative to
the management of the lifeboat and the
watchmen to lessen the responsibility of
the District in the case of casualties to
Vcnturesome or reckless swimmers. In
his communication Dir. Stevens says:
There are quite number of loug-dis-
tance swimmers who patronage the bath
ing beach regularly for the purpose of
practice and they persistently object to
being kept within the bounds where as
sistauce could be rendered by the life
guards. Besides these. there are many
who try to swim across the basin ana
frequently they get so far out before they
are noticed that it is more dangerous to
call them back than to let them go on
And yet others of the orderly class ask
for the lifeboat to go along with them,
and many times this has been permitted
rather than TO seem ovcrbearinS. But 1t
is evident that the lifeboat should never
be FAR from the crowd in bathing hours.
Now If we were to locate one or two
of our spare floats as Il wharf on the
south end of the beach is could readily be
rented for "A nominal sum. as boat land
ing, under an agreement that the tenant
or his attendant should render prompt
assistance with q boat if help is called
for; that he shall loan boats when called
to do so in an emergency, by the officer
in charge Of the beach; that he shall
maintain good order and not permit the
use of iutoxicants on the premises or in
his boats.
Then. if the regulation We're made that
10 one shall swim further beyond the
outer float than the length of that float.
unless accompanied by a good swimmer
in boat, and then wholly at their own
risk this arrangement would add ma
teriauy to the safety of many bathers.
1t would relieve the beach management
and the District from all responsibility
for venturesone swimmers. and it would
add particularly to the means for safety
to cooresf bathers. their usual bathing
place being close to the location of the
said boat house.
Boats have been rented from this To-
cality almost ever since the beach opened
and, while heretofore the business has been
badly conducted by parties not particu-
larly friendly to the beach, yet very ma
terial assistance has been received there
from by the bathers.
ION the plan suggested, great many
boats would in case of emergency. be
at the disposal Of the officer i'll charge of
the Beach the bathers and the general
public would I've better served, and II
seems to M. unquestionable that the Com
Inissiopers are fully authorized under the
organic act which places the management
Of the Beach in their hands, to do this
il they think it best for the public wei
fare. | therefore recommend
THAT one more floats be located as
wharf at the south end of the Bathing
That bids he advertised for Immediate
~ for the rental of the said wharf IS a
boat landing for renting boats and that
the wharf b. rented for the present sea-
son on substantially the conditions above
stated. To the highest acceptable bidder,
the Commissioners reserving the right To
reject any aud all bids, and to remove
the tenant at any time at their own dis
cretion.'
Commissioner Macfarland. to whom the
acceptance of the invitation to name
date for District of Columbia Day ut
the Pan-American Exposition, to be held |
a. Buffalo this year, was assigned by his /,
associates. has received a few sugges-
tions relative to the day. Several promi- |
nent people Of the city have givea their |
views on the subject. These are accepta- |
BILE to the Commissioners and any one of
the dates mentioned would be appropriate |
for the occasion. But there is, yet
little interest manifested in the matter.
II was hoped that the publication of the
facts connected with the invitation from
Buffalo would bring to the Commission
ers a larger expression of public senti-
mert than has vet appeared. Mr. Mac
farland. in speaking of the matter yester-
day. said that IL would be impossible for
the Commissioners to accept the invi-
tation and name a date unless IL WAS
made certain, first. that the people of the
District want day set apart in the pro-
gramme of the Exposition, and, second,
that a considerable number of Washing
tonlans would be present TO make the oc
casion a success.
Referring to the request for a suitable
commemorative day for the District of
Columbia at the Pan-American EXPOSE
tion. W. V Cox has written TO NJ. Mac
farland suggesting that the date on which
the fight at Fort Stevens took place
should be chosen for the purpose. Mr..
y
sinner to the fact that a bill has recent
Is been introduced in the New York Leg
islature at the suggestion Of Hugh Hast
ings. the State Historian, for the purpose
of erecting a monument to the memory
of the New York soldiers who gav.. their
lives for the defence of the Capital. Mr..
Cox thinks that il would not only be "a
courteous thing TO the Empire State, but
that ii would be especially appropriate
for the District to celebrate the anuiNer-
sary Of the battle of Fort Stevens in the
manner mentioned.
Mr.. Cox suggests that the saving Of
the Capital from capture is by far the
most important event that has ever oc-
Cured in the local history OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia. Continuing. Mr. Cox
says: 'Thirty-seven years ago, on July
II and J.. the only battle in the District
OF Columbia took place. That event
when Gen. Jubal a Early came so near
capturing Washington-also marks the
high tide OF the confederacy. North and
South can Join together in those days at
EunaIo, as the old soldiers are now doing
ia Washington and elsewhere, for the
furpose Of saving Fort Stevens as a part
Of battlefield park extending from Fort
Reno near Tenleytown. on the west. TO
ort Totten, near the Soldiers Home, on |
thr east.
1t VIII DC Of special interest to recall. |