The times., 1901-03-30
AFFAIRS OF The DISTRICT
Recommendations of the Superin-
tendent of the Bathing Beach.

Suggestion nS to Safeguards Against
DrowDings-Ndvice To Reckless
immerS-Strcet Work Ordered to
BE 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 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
vouturesome or reckless swimmers. In
his communication Dir. Stevens says:
There are quite a number of loug-dis-
tance swimmers who patrouize the bath
ing beach regularly for the purpose OF
practice. and they persstently object 10
being kept within the bounds where as
sistaGce could be rendered by the life
guards. Besides these. there are many
who try 10 swim across the basin and
frequently they get so far ont 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 10 seem ovCrbearinS. But II
* evident that the lifeboat should never
BE- faT from the crowd in bathing hours.
Now If we were to locate one OF two
of our spare floats as a wharf on the
south end Of the beach is could readily be
rented for nominal sum. as boat land
ing. under an agreement that the tenant
or his attendant should 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 or in
his boats.
Then. if the regulation were made that
40 one shall swim farther 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
teriaHy to the safety Of many bathers.
II 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 colorest batflers, their usual bathing
place being close to the location of the
said boat house.
Boats have been rented from this To-
sality 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.
-'On the plan suggested, a great many
boats would. I'm case Of emergency. be
AT he disposal Of the officer in charge of
the Beach the bathers and the general
public would he better served. and 4
seems to me unGucstionable that the Com
Jnissioners 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 vel
fare I therefore recommend
That one or more floats be located as
wharf az the south end of the Bathing
Beach.
~ for the rental of the said wharf "A
boat landing for renting boats and that
the wharf b" rented for the present sea-
son on substantially the conditions above
stated, 10 the highest acceptable bidder,
the Commissioners reSerying the right To
reject any and all bids, and u remove
the tenant at any time AT their own dis
erection.
Commissioner Macfarland. TO whom the
acceptance Of the invitation to name 4
date for District Of Columbia Day ut
the Pan-American Exposition, 10 be- held
g. Buffalo this year, was assigned 10y his
associates. has received a few sugges-
tions relative to the day. Several promi-
nent people OF the city have given their
views on the subject. These are accepta-
BILE 10 the Commissioners and auy one of
the dates mentioned would be appropriate
for the occasion. But there is, as yet,
little interest manifested in the matter.
a.. ng.Ts ton Of h..
facts connected with the invitation from
Buffalo would bring to the Commission
ers 4 larger expression of public senti-
ment than has vet appeared. MIR. 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 a day set apart in the pro-
gramme of the Exposition and, second,
that a considerable number Of Washing
tonians would he present TO make the oc-
casiou a success.
Referring 10 the request for a suitable
commemorative day for the District of
Columbia at the Pan-American ENposi-
tion. w Y Cox has written TO Mr. Mac
farlaud suggesting that the date on which
the fight at Fort Stevens took place
should he chosen for the purpose. Mr.
Cox calls the attention Of the Commits
sioner TO the fact that bin has recent
Is been introduced in the New York Leg
islatur-. 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 gave their
lives for the defence Of the Capital Mr..
Cox thinks that il would not only De
courteous thing TO the Empire State but
that ii would be especially appropriate
for the District to celebrate the auuiEer-
SaTy Of the battle of Fort stevens i'm the
manner mentioned.
AIr. Cox suggests that the saving of
tic Capital from capture is by far the
most important event that has ever oc-
carred in the local history OF the Dis
triet OF Columbia. Continuing. MI Cox
sIys: 'Thirty-seyen years ago. on July
J. and T. the only battle in the District
or Columbia took place. That event
when Cen. Jubal A Early came 50 near
capturing Washiugton-also marks the
hi-h tide OF the COnfederacy. North and
South can join together i'm those days at
Iuffalo. as the old soldiers are now doing
iu Washington and elsewhere, for The
F'rpose Df saving Fort Stevens as part
o. battlefield park. extending from Fort
Reno uesr Teulcytown. on the west 20
ort Tntten, near the Soldiers Home oH
I'll cast
III wil bc of special Interest TO recall.