Evening star., 1902-01-15
Swimmers May Have No Place to
Disport Themselves.
ESTIMATE FOR PARK IMPROVEMENT
A Change to the "lnner Basin
Already Urged.
IFS VANTAGES NOTED


ington will be without bathing beach
next summer. Through the Secretary OF
the Treasury an estimate for an appro'
priation of 100000 was forwarded to Con-
gress for the improvement Of what is
known as Potomac Park, the area of which
includes most of the ground occupied by
the bath houses and pavilions Of the bath
ing beach. In the estimate as transmitted
was the provision that the law establish
ing a free bathing beach on the tidal res
ervoir near the monument should be re-
pealed the District Commissioners relin-
gushing all rights in the premises.
For some time past the Commissioners
of the District have been in correspondence
with the officer in charge of public build
ings and grounds on the subject Of the re-
linquishment by the District authorities OF
the control of the present bathing beach
property. 1t Is understood that the Com
missioners interposed no serious ob1ectlon
to the proposed abandonment Of the bath
ing beach site, provided an appropriation
might be secured from Congress for i'm
proving what is known as the Inner
basin," lying immedia tely to the northwest
of the present bathing beach site on the
tidal reservoir. 1t Is understood that the
Commissioners will urge that with the re-
peal of the act establishing the bathing
beach at it's present site Congress Will pro-
vide funds for making the inner basin suit
able for bathing beach purposes.
The Inner Basin Preferred.
The occupancy of the inner basin has long
been urged upon the Commissioners by Mr..
W. X. Stevens, the superintendent of the
bathing beach. He has pointed out the ad-
vantages of the basin over the present site
and in each of his annual reports has
asked that some steps be taken toward Sc
curing from Congress an appropriation sur
ficient to make the basin ready and to con-
struct the necessary houses. The inner
basin would have to be graded and sand
placed on the bottom to bring it to the
standard desired for bathing purposes.
Houses would have to be erected and a
great deal of general Improvement work
done. Thus 1t will be seen that even IL an
appropriation for the purpose be secured
at this session of Congress the new beach
would not be ready for use during the COM
ing summer. 1t is barely possible that the
officer in charge of public buildings and
grounds would not want to take possession
of the present bathing beach site until next
fall. In that event the small boys and the
lovers of aquatic sport would not be de-
prived of their annual season of enjoyment.
The matter Is as yet in an indefinite shape
and will be SO until Congress acts and the
Commissioners can give some consideration
to the subject At present the District au-
thorities are occupied with the financial
situation Of the District and little else is
being talked of.
In his last annual report Superintendent
Stevens again renewed his recommendation
that the inner basin be occupied. The inner
basin was given to the city by Congress
five years ago for a bathing beach. Speak
ing of the proposed change of location, Mr.
Stevens says
More Bathers Could Be Accommodated
''In planning for improvements in the ad-
jacent parking the officer in charge of pub
lie grounds has discovered that the present
beach was given limits by the law that es-
tablished it, and that our fence trespasses
twenty feet beyond the land side limit and
our buildings are against the fence. On
the present plan four times as many houses
are needed to accommodate the patronage,
and l am sure that the present patrons are
not one-Quarter of those who would use
the beach if 1t were as it should be for
Washington. After long study of the con-
ditions and requirements 1 have devised
plan that Will accommodate unlimited
number, will keep personal tab on each
bather and yet leave him independent of
others. 1t will hold an absolute check on
all in the houses, preventing theft bad lam
guage and all improprieties. At an expense
of $500 this plan could be nearly carried
out on these premises, but it would cost
three times that If we had to move twenty
feet nearer the water and rearrange eyery-
thing. In building new it would cost less
per capita accommodated than the present
houses did, and the current expenses would
be very little more to give entire satisfac-
tiOn to 200 900 bathers in season than they
now are In poorly accommodating $4,000.
Objections to Present Pool.
1.-The chief objections to the present To-
cality are: First, there Is nothing to show
how far out any one can wade, nor to pre-
vent wading into deep water, nor how far
one must swim to reach wading depth from
the floats. This is the cause of nearly all the
M Lo
where the tide rises and falls four feet
twice a day. Second. the reflection of the
sun on the water in the afternoon makes it
difficult and tfresome to see the bathers
from the shore. Third, the open water Of
the river is usually very muddy and is fire.
quently covered with a very uninviting
scum Fourth the ice, the tides and storms
of winter have many times broken the
Wharves, so that 1t Is almost impossible to
maintain such gymnastic appliances as are
desired and as might we'll be freely used by
the public for health and vigorous develop
ment. 1t Is impossible to remedy these OBJ
jectionS at the present location, but the
inner basin, which was given to the city by
Congress five years ago for a bathing beach
at the recommendation Of the Commission
ers, meets every requirement. A dam and
all bathing hours. While there is plenty of
deep water for diving and long-distance
swimming, there is also a great area of
water deep enough for swimming and vet
not over nead In depth, ana a wharf would
separate this wading area from deep water
so that no one could ever get into deep
water unexpectedly. The area of the So
called little basin Is SO great that water
need never be let into 1t from the river un-
less it was better in the river than in the
basin, and no scum would ever be let in.
The position is such that in bathing and
driving hours there would be no reflection
from the water toward the spectators on
shore, and the surrounding trees not only
provide shade enough for thousands of
spectators, but with this lake they form a
veritable beauty spot, and the drive around
it from 18th street. viewing the antics of
the bathers and gymnasts, would form an
enchantingly romantic loop in the proposed
Washington boulevard. The fact that the
capital Of the nation is far behind all pro-
gressve cities in the matter Of public bath
ing places. while for mere nominal ex-
penditure 1t might have a more commodious
and attractive bathing place than can be
found near the center Of any other city
leads me to strongly recommend that you
ask the coming Congress for an appropria-
tion, to be made Immediately available and
sufficient to carry out this project at the
| earliest possible time"
History of the Bathing Beach.
The present bathing beach, as stated, is
| located on the tidal reservoir near the
| Washington monument. This tidal reser.
| voir was intended originally as a pool fol
| a n at h{ph