The evening times., 1902-06-02
BATHING BEACH OPENS
FOR SEASON OF 1902
Resort Placed in Condition
for the Summers Sport.
A CHANGE OF SITE PROPOSED
Congress Asked by the Commissioners
70 Appropriate $4,000 to Fit Up Suit
able Place FOX These Who Like Aqua
tic Diversions CT Kind IN Question.

The work of putting the Washington
Bathing Beach in order for the season.
though somewhat delayed on account OF
uncertainty rs 10 whether II would be
allowed TO remain longer on the tidal
reservoir. Is now completed and the
beach opened yesterday ro- the accom-
mediation of bathers. The sundry civil
bill now pending in Congress carries an
item loT the Improvement of thar part
Of Potomac Park west of. and adjacent
10, the Monument Park. northwest To
Maryland Avenue The bill also repeaIs
the act Of Congress allowing the Com
nisstcners TO make use of the present
site for the purposes of q bathing beach.
This bill has not passed Congress- aEd
the uncertainty about The status of the
beach caused the committee which has
II in charge 10 move cautiously in the
way OF ilcurrinE expense TO fit it uD
for The summer \ conference with Col
Theodore Bingham. III charge Of DubIf-
buildings and grounds. resulted ir4 the
announcement that whether the Bill
passed CT not in its present shape he
would allow the use Of the reservoir IN
I'll the IsJ OF August, ana the committee
proceeded 70 sPut the beach and bath
f2Cses II shape fer use during thai pc
Rod
Funds for Few Bathing Beach.
ForeseeinE that the bathing beach
would le moved from It's present Ioca-
tim IN ru1r-e r-.---- f-- H. =-------
OF Potomac Park. the Commissioners in
eluded in their estimates TO Congress
loF the ensuing year an item os 81 coo To
n I'd new bathing beach on the inner
basin. west OF the present location.
On the ground. therefore that the
Suna-y civil hiH VIII cause the beach
10 Ee removed. it IS expected that the
appropriation fer removal to the new
location VIII also be authorized. and the
two months allowed by Colonel Bing-
ham VIII cn&GIc the committee il charge
10 make preparations for the removal
so that the pleasures of the bathing
season need not be interfered with.
The history o. Ihs bathing beach i
interesting. L Is located in the tidal
reservoir just south CT the Washington
Acnument- This tidal reservoir was
intended as q pool for the accu-nular ton
C water al htSh tide IRON The George
town channel 10 be used 10 flush the
Washington channel between the Long
Bridge and Arsenal Point
Mr Stevens TIE Originator.
The bathing beach owes It's origin 10
Mr. " X Stevens. who. with five others
in 1883. organized an association called
tae Washington Bathing Beach Asso-
ciaticD, and requested the District Com
I1iszic-e-s to grant them the privilege
OF constructing and operating d beach
aicnS the shore Of the l-1aI reservoir
adjacent TO the Monument grounds. Il
was also requested that the District
Government should provide suitable Do
lice surveillance 10 protect bathers and
the property Of the beach
Ihe municipal authorities had no
power &c grant the use OF any portion Of
the tidal reservoir TO the uses suggested.
EoT vas such authority vested N a1v Of
the officials CT the United States Gov
ernmenL IN consequence the Bathing
Beach Association appealed to Congress
and through an act approved September
70 1880, authority vas granted to es-
taoiish the present bath-Dg beach
4 Commission in Charge.
It's operation is intrusted to com
mission appointed By the District Com
TaissicHers and 5Ir Stevens is the super
inteEdent and executive head # the
commission The beach has been IN op-
eratf1n each season since 1881 Il is
fairly well pstroaized and the annual
closing Of the season with acc1muanyiug
contests for which small prizes are Of
feTed is 4 popular event n the city
Il is expected that the new beach and
lighthouses Cn the finer basin. for
which site has already been selected.
VIII be authorized in the District ap-
preparation bill. and the bathing beach
committee IS ready as soon as July to
begin work and put TIE rev premises
in condition fer occupancy Tno use
Of the present beach until August / is
regarded as ample tiEae 20 make prgDar-