Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-29
USE OF THE LIFEBOATS
DISCUSSION OF BATHING BEACH IN
TEREsTs BY SUPERINTENDENT.
Spare Floats as Wharf on South End
Rental of Privilege Rec
commended.

Mr.. W. x. Stevens, superintendent of
| the District bathing beach, writing to the
| Commissioners relative to the granting the
| privilege Of renting boats at the beach
| says there are quite a number of long-dis-
| lance swimmers who patronize the beach
| regularly for the purpose of practice, and
| they persstently object to being kept
| within the bounds where assistance could
| be rendered by the life guards Besides
| these, he says there are many who try to
| swim across the basin, and 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, he de-
| clares, others of the ordinary class ask for
| the lifeboat to go along with them, and
| many times this has been permitted rather
| than seem overbearing. But it is evident
| to him that the lifeboat should never be
far from the crowd in bathing hours.
Now. says Mr.. Stevens, IF we were
| to locate one or two of our spare floats
| as a wharf on the south end Of the beach
it could readily be rented for a nominal
sum as boat landing, under an agree
ment that the tenant or his attendant
| shall render prompt assistance with
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 intoxicants on
the premises nor in his boats.
Suggested Regulations.
IF the regulation We're made that no one
shall swim further beyond the outer float
than the length of that float unless accom-
panied by a good swimmer in a boat, and
then wholly at their own risk, this ar
rangement would add very materially to
the safety of many bathers; it would
lieVe the beach management and the Dis
trict from all responsibility for venture
some swimmers, and 1t would add partic-
ularly to the means for safety to colored
bathers, their usual bathing place being
close to the location of the said boat
house. Boats have been rented from this
locality almost ever since the beach
opened and while heretofore the business
has been badly conducted by parties not
particularly friendly to the beach, yet very
material assistance has been received
therefrom by bathers. On the plan sug-
gested a great many boats would, in case
of emergency, be at the disposal Of the
| officer in charge of the beach, the bathers
and the general public would be better
served, and 1t seems to me unquestiOnable
that the Commissioners are fully author
lied under the organic act, which places
the management of the beach in their
hands, to do this If they think best to,
for the public welfare"
Wharf Rental.
Mr.. Stevens, therefore, recommends first,
that one or more floats be located as
wharf at the south end of the bathing
beach: secondly. that bids be advertised
for Immediately for the rental of the said
wharf as boat landing for renting boats
and that the wharf be rented for the
present season on substantially the condi-
lions above stated to the highest accept
able bidder, the Commissioners reserving
the right to reject any and all bids, and to
remove the tenant at any time at their
own discretion.
1t is understood the Commissioners will
refer the matter to their attorney for his
opinion.