Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-01
FINE BATHING BEACH
u.,nt Chas. Kaufman Sons, 431=433 9TH St. 9th %
REGARDED BY SUPERINTEND-
EMIT AS A MAIN ATTRACTION.

w. x. Stevens. superintendent of the
public bathing beach. predicts that the day
will come when this beach will attract WIS.,
itors to Washington as summer resort.
This forecast was contained in Mr.. Stevens
annual report for the past fiscal year,
which he has submitted to the Commission
ers.
In reviewing the work OF the bathing
beach he said that account of the con-
struction of new lighthouses and other i'm
provements the beach was not opened to
the public until August 10. and was closed
September 10 During this short season.
however. 7.241 persons used the beach. OF
this total number were women and girls.
6,268 white men and boys. and 967 colored
men and boys. The receipts were $56 for
rental of bathing suits.
He said that the new switchboard locking
system has shown evidence of being an i'm
provement over any system of locking with
keys. both as to the safety and as to the
rapidly and convenience in accommodating
crowds. Before the new beach opened the
park officers permitted bathing in the old
basin. the officials seeing to the safety of
the young bathers. Eleven boys were res
cued from drowning in the basin and eleven
were saved from the same fate at the new
beach. All Of these accidents. he declared.
were due to a disposition on the part OF
the boys to "show off, and to be reckless.
He explained that during the past seven
years not one life has been lost at the
bathing beach. although more than 200
drowned had they not received help.
The Pools Described.
Superintendent Stevens states: These
ponds (bathing pools) are located at the
south side of the White Lot between the
nth street driveway and the Washington
monument. The grounds are laid out with
little fountain pools a network of winding
walks through shrubbery and under shade
trees. a romantic island within the large
lakes, and flowers everywhere. Five ponds,
covering eight and a half acres, are Of
fered to the beach. One pond 100 feet wide
and 700 feet long rests In the bed of the old
canal the towpath of which Is now neat
walk bordered by grassy terraces under a
line of beautiful shade trees bordering 18th
street. Here Is a deep swimming course of
a Quarter-mile straight stretch directly In
front of sitting room for thousands of spec
tatorS. and over the heads of these hum
aquatic sports from automobiles and other
carriages.
Another pond of four and half acres
may be adapted as public playground for
bathers; another not so deep is suitable for
women and children; yet another one some
deeper is suitable for men learning to swim,
and all are SO bordered that none can acct
dentally wade into deep water.
The fifth large pond. situated on the
other side of Virginia avenue extended. to
be fitted with like conveniences, Is for the
colored bathers. The general arrangement
could hardly be improved 1t could be made
one of the great attractions of Washington.
both for midsummer and midwinter."
On account Of the fertility of the mud
bottoms of the ponds he recommends to the
Commissioners that Congress be asked for
81. 800 with which to have the bottoms con-
GREETED.