The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-06
BATTLE ON new BEACH
Boys to Get Fish Ponds for
Their Swimming Hole.
WORK IS TO BEGIN AT ONCE
Holes 10 BE Drained and Lockers 20
He BuiIt-Separate Ponds for
Blacks and whites-Over 10000
Patronize Beach Last Year-Ten
Thousand Dollars Available.

or interest 10 the boys of Washington
is the announcement of COMMISSIONS
West yesterday that the old site of the
bathing beach is 10 be abandoned, the
fish ponds hereafter TO be used for swim
ming purposes
Col Charles S. Bromwell. superntend-
ent of public buildings and grounds. has
notified the Commissioners that in pur-
suance OF the plans for the establishment
of Potomac Park. the inner basin. which
has been used as a bathing beach, is to
be filed in with the material dredged
from the tidal basin. IN view Of this In
formation change is necessitated in
the bathing beach plans for the coming
summer.
Commissioner West yesterday conferred
with Col Bromwell, the result being that
a transfer of the fish ponds to the Com
missioners for use for bathing purposes
will be arranged. Commissioner West
and W Y. Stevens. superintendent Of the
bathing beach. yesterday visited the new
/ location and formulated plans for making
it Immediately available.
How Pools VIII BE Divided.
The large pond nearest the river viii be
divided, one side being maintained at q
shallow depth for children and beginners,
while the west side viii have a greater
depth for those proficient in the art Of
swimming.
An adjoining pond viii be placed at the
disposal of colored people, who win be
given ample locker facilities.
Commissioner West yesterday gave di-
rectiOns TO have the water drained from
the ponds Immediately, i'm order that the
bottom can be cleaned and covered with
fresh sand. Preparations for the building
of the locker houses Will proceed as rap
idly as possible, and every effort made
TO have the new locality ready IN time for
the opening of the swimming season.
The bathing beach owes its origin prin-
cipaly to ". y. Stevens. the present
superintendent, who. in 1850, with FIVE
others. associated themselves into an un-
incorporated association styled the Wash
/ ington Bathing Beach Association and
/ requested the Commissioners TO grant
them the privilege Of constructing bath
/ ing beach along the shores of the tidal
/ basin adjacent to the Monument grounds.
Appropriation for Bathing Beach.
/ The municipal authorities had no power
] ~ AIT int USE Vi tilat pa VI tiAN tAALA
! basin as requested. nor We're any Of the
executive officers of the general govern
mcnt vested with such authority. There
/ upon the association resorted TO Congress
with the result that on September IS, 1850,
/ the bin providing a free bathing beach
/ became a law.
BY appropriation Of Congress $4,000 is
Immediately available for the construc-
/ ton of lighthouses WharVes. and floating
baths. The superintendent receives 500
a year, Waterman $3.50, and for tempo
rary service, maintenance, and repairs an
I appropriation Of 81 $50 is made
/ The attendance at the bathing beach
last year was $780, the receipts amount
ing 70 S2S4A
1 No charge is made al the beach for
/ those who bring their own suits. but a
/ charge Of 10 cents is made for boys under
sixteen and Is cents for those over that
/ age for the use of suits.