The Washington times., 1901-08-03

ington hesitates to occupy it freely. while
her climate and conditions demand it. 1t
is the promise of that elyS1um for~path-
ers that restraints our patrons from re-
volt against present conditions But even
this beautiful lake does not solve the
whole problem of free public bathing
place. Breaking of locks and doors,
thieying and bad conduct in the dressing
great trouble at the beach and various
expedients have been tried to remedy II
without success.
Now. after long years of study. l have
devised means for doing this economi-
cally and at the same time giving every
bather more legitimate liberty and con-
veniences than ne now has rms pian
cannot be set forth in detail without ref
erence to drawings, but in general terms
it gives an individual locker for every
person and Keeps tab on ms movements.
The keyroom is across the END OF the
aisle where every locker can De seen
by the clerk. No person can enter or
leave the aisle except through turn
stile. and then only one at time. when
the clerk raises latch. Ihere may De
500 lockers in one aisle, but no TWO Keys
alike The upper tier of lockers is marked
/ to 100 and extends along both sides OF
the aisle The second row is marked b,
the third c, and SO on. Ihe irst boy
that is admitted through the stile hands
the slip with his name, etc, on 1t to the
clerk and receives key Al, and the clerk
impales that slip on the nail in his office
around the Al00 But before this letter
is reached many of the first entries have
locked up their clothes and gone to the
water. each being obliged to leave his
key with the clerk before he could get
out, and the key is hung over his slip
until he returns. Now, as boys continue
coming and going, the line keys are
given out, and the second hundred boys
occupy the same place that the first hun
dred did but each has his own locker.
In this way one clerk can let 5V boys
into the water in twenty minutes.
Now. supposing crook comes back
from the water and asks for key AS.
The clerk, seeing he has not been In long,
hands him paper and pencil to write his
name and If it corresponds with the snip
on A25 all right; If not, the clerk calis
in the policeman to investigate. Another
aisle with larger lockers and dressing
stalls would be for men and boys who
show home culture; another aisle for
those who rent bathing suits, and another
with a private room for each one who
prefers to pay for entire privacy. Also
a separate block for ladies, each person
having an individual locker. On this plan
every persons actions are under check.
If he is called out of the water or wants
to come out alone no one else Is dis
turbed, and he cannot steal from any
absent person. Everyone In the aisle is
in sight of the clerk, who Will put out
all loiterers.
THE cost of constructing the new
buildings for the inner basin on this plan
will not be materially different from that
of the plan formerly presented. but L
have not had time since | thought out
this plan to itemize the details of cost.
| will do so at any time when you think
favorably of recommending an appropria-
tion to complete this inner basin. III an
approximation were made it would become
available July l. so that the present beach
must serve for at least one more season.
/ have therefore, studied to adapt the
new plan as far as possible to the old
houses, and l think 1t can be done in a
way to dispense with the old doors that
are broken. | think this would nearly
dnnble the attendance next season. and
it would prepare the houses to be used
economically after being moved to the
new beach.
ITO carry out this plan / estimate the
exnenses Of the next fiscal year at $3.50,
and an appropriation Of 1880 should be
granted"