The Washington times., 1907-08-19
BATHING BEACH
OPENS IN DROUGHT
Only One Pool Ready, and
Lockers Not Fully
Equipped.
Commissioner West Angry
at Conditions Dueto
Old Piping.
The new bathing beach is open at

The new bathing beach is open at
last!
At least, one-half of it is In operation
Superintendent Stevens gave the word
this afternoon at / o'clock. and with
wild shout OF delight large representa-
ton Of Washington's youthful popula-
tion made the initial plunge into what
were once the Government fish ponds.
on the west side of the Washington
Monument.
Only the pond that is to be open to
the general public without charge was
! in condition to be opened today. All the
lockers of this portion OF the beach are
not completed, and IL was decided 10
allow the bathers 70 use without cost
the lockers for which a small charge
IS to be made when the beach Is In
full operation.
BOYS began TO gather at the beach by
10 o'clock this morning, ana from tnal
time until the magic word plunge" was
given the throng was augmented every
minute.
Water Famine at Pool.
When Commissioner West went down
To the beach this morning to inspect 1t
+, he found a two-inch pipe bravely spurt-
ing water into the boys and mems
pools. which is about half an acre IN
area, and that this water was running
out through two trenches into the
was hardly enough water for even
small dog 10 swim in.
~ Thereupon the Commissioner became
Angry. He had promised that young
4 ashington might take its first dip IN
le new bathing pools TODAY. and when
arrived on the scene, expecting 10
III> spia shine away. ne found a fair
zed spring house puddle ana some
venty disconsolate youngsters looking
IN and wondering when thef run was
= He Immediately sized up the situation
- md issued orders to dam up the
ytreaches that were allowing the water
pool TO flow into the others. and that
the lockers be opened for the use OF
those who desired to take advantage
of what water there was.
Feed Pipes Leaky.
The circumstances connected with the
preparation OF the bathing beach have
been very unsatisfactory and disap-
pointing to the officials Of the District
government who have had the construc-
lion of the pools in charge. w X.
Stevens, who mas charge OF the beach.
said this morning that the pipes are so
leaky that il is almost impossible 10
get water into the pools
To provide properly for the supply
OF water for the pools" said he, 1T
viii be necessary TO install whole
new system OA water pipes W MUaCus NA
course, cannot be done this season. The
water pipe system mere is an old one
and entirely inadequate for a bathing
beach.
Then. again. the work on the bath
houses has been poorly done, and is of
such fiinsy character that we have
found no end Of trouble in adjusting
the springs to the lockers. Ny assistants
and l have been working night and day
and all day Sunday in order TO have the
baths ready for the people today, but
4 the unsatisfactory character OF the old
pipes and the scant allowance OF money
given by Congress for the beach. has
made IL impossible for us 10 present
better conditions than we have today.
Should Have Been Delayed.
Il regret very much that the time of
opening the beach was set for this sum-
mer. If IL had been allowed TO go over
: until next year, 1t would have been pos
sible to nave things in very much better
shape, and the opening. even though de-
lsyed a year, would have been then un-
der circumstances which would need no
apology. AS il is. batners will have 20
be content with the conditions as they
find them FOR the present"
The opening Of the beach was an
nounced for the 4th of July but has
been postponed from time 10 time for
one cause or another until today Now
although the beach has been thrown
open 10 the public, the pools are only
half fun Of water, and only part OF
the lockers are ready for use.