Evening star., 1902-08-26
BIG REGATTA PLANS.
President Doyle Reports Enthusiastic
Progress at All Points.

U.
the auspices of the Potomac River Regatta
Association, which is composed Jointly of
| the members Of the Potomac and the
Georgetown University Boat clubs cannot
pe questioned in the least. The interest of
| all the local lovers of the boating sport has
| peen evoked and the indications are that
the event will be one long remembered by
| all who attend II
Most encouraging and enthusiastic COM
munfcations are being received daily at the
headquarters Of the regatta association
| from boat sportsmen all over the country
@ @E-acn communication brings the best wishes
LOT the regatta'S s success, and expresses the
ueslre OF the writer to be present when
the contests are pulled off
various boat clubs of the country are
| pelng heard from. All express q willing
ness to enter crews and scullers in the con-
| tests. The promoters Of the regatta are
| very much encouraged over the manner In
w Tiaiin IN their project has been received at
| the hands of not only Washington but the
| country in general. Donations of medals
| and banners, which are always considered
a great item of expense in such events
nave already been surprisingly generous
Inc merchants of the city are Judging
from their contributions to make the re-
eatta memorable one, much interested
| as the boat sportsmen themselves
| That the heads of the local government
are much interested in the coming event Is
| evidenced in the following communication
received by Mr. Hadley Doyle, president Of
| the regatta association, from Commissioner
Henry B. F. Macfarland:
| Executive Office.
commissioners Of District of Columbia.
WASHINGTON, August D. 1902
j. Hadley Doyle. esq, president Potomac
RIVER Regatta Association.
| , MY Dear Sir: | am very glad to learn
| that under the direction of your associa-
| ton we are once more to have a regatta
| on the Potomac, and I beg leave to sub
scribe SO toward the fund for that pur-
| pose 1t is very much to be desired that
| the people of the District should make q
| great deal more of the advantages which
| the Potomac river offers for aquatic sports
| than they do. The decline in the use of
| these advantages since the period of some
| years ago when there was much boating
| on the river is regrettable for many rea-
| sons, and it IS to be hoped that the coming
| regatta will bring about a change.
| washington is almost the only city which
| has such river as the Potomac that does
| not utilize it for pleasure purposes con-
| stantly and In many ways. 1 was much
| impressed when al Detroit with the amount
! of recreation obtained by the people on the
| Detroit river. All classes of boat clubs and
! of boats are there including many boats
| belonging to the city of Detroit which can
! be hired cheapy at the beautiful Belle Isle
| Park on an island In the Detroit river, con-
nected by bridge with the city. All kinds
| of people avail themselves of the pleasures
| of the Detroit river to their great advant-
| age. Regattas are frequently held and ev-
| cry pleasant day and evening hundreds of
| people are out in boats, which after dark
are sometimes Illuminated with picturesque
| effect. | hope that some time we may
have on Analostan Island on smaller
| scale another Belle Isle Park. But long be-
fore that time we can have the same gen.
eral of the Potomac as the Detroit
people have of their river. Your associa-
tion is promoting the health and the hap
piness of the community in bringing it
back to our beautiful river.
(Signed) Sincerely yours,
HENRY B. f. MACFARLAND"
President Doyle acknowledged Commits
sioner Macfarland's letter by the following
reply:
Mr. Henry B. F. Mcfarland
President. Commissioners of the District
of Columbia.
MY Dear Sir:
"Your letter of the ODD instant to hand
and / note its contents with more than
usual pleasure, from the fact that 1 am
glad that you, as the chief executive of the
District government, appreciate and ap-
prove what the members of the Potomac
River Regatta Association are doing In the
way of reviving the interest In rowing-the
| manifest. truest and purest outdoor sport
whether applied for pleasure or the rivalry
1t occasions between organizations. 1t is
the sport that, far removed from all forms
of dissipation and gambling appeals to all
lovers of outdoor exercise. and the pity is
that 1t has been allowed to decay here on
the Potomac, which is beyond question the
prettiest stream for pleasure rowing and
of stretches Of Straight-away courses for
regatta purposes.
Your observations Of Detroit could be
reproduced in the same way in reference
to many other cities-Boston, Philadelphia
and Worcester, Mass. for instance-for in
each the municipal government every year
sets aside a sum of money for a regatta.
the one at Philadelphia especially, on July
4, being the best Of the kind he'd each
year.
Belle Isle is an ideal spot; it is the great
pride of Detroit and the famous Detroit
boat club, with the finest boat house in
America and a membership of l 600
Il have often thought of Analostan Is
land In the same light. as the home of our
rowing organizations, and hope some day
to see it realized, for 1 assure YOU that
could the club of which 1 am a member
and honored with its presidency, secure
lot over there, we would jump at the op-
portunty.
1T takes money to run regattas and IT
is unfortunate that there is but one club
here with the progressive spirit necessary
to place its shoulders to the task and make
the one great effort to promote the health
and happiness of the community by hold
ing the regatta, and hence your unsolicited
and strong letter, with Its substantial Of
fering, has afforded the members of the
committee and the clubs more satisfaction
than you possibly could have imagined
when you wrote it, and in their names I sin
cerely tender you the thanks of all
Sincerely, ]. HADLEY DOYLE"
The association designated October as
the date for the regatta, for two reasons
first, 1t is the first day of the G. A. R. en-
campment and, secondly, because the G.
A. r. committee has accepted no other pro-
gram for that day. Both are very good
for all the veterans in the city on that day
will have an. opportunity Of witnessing the
boat exhibitions without being drawn away
from other features of the enca mpment
The association has received communi-
cation from the Analestan Boat Club of
this city in which 1t was stated that that
club would Do unable TO narficinate in ha
events, owing to the absence of a large
number of the club members.
The official program for the regatta has
not as yet been formed, but it has been de-
cided that the card will include Junior in
termediate and senior singles, junior dou-
bles, junior four-oared gigs, junior and
senior fours and junior and intermediate
eights.
The officers of the association are hope
full that there will be be big ten-oared
cutter race between the Naval Reserves Of
Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia,
to be rowed during the regatta The Wash
inpton reserves have issued challapon