Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-23
PROGRESS OF BATHING BEACH
STATEMENT BY W. K. STEVENS,
FORMER SUPERINTENDENT.
Development Was Slow, But Success
Is in View-Some Needed
improvements.

MT. w. ~ St0NcHS. tnc
for many years and commonly known as
the father of the Washington bathing
beach, who recently resigned his posi-
ton, said to Star reporter today:
Twenty years ago there was no spot
Of open water In the District of Columbia
where anybody could battle without la
bility to arrest. This condition of things
melted me to try to establish a free bath
ing beach. 1 found a place in the tidal
reservoir near the monument where there
was no current, though the tide there
rises and falls about three feet and
half It was an open common-the bot
tom was mud.
"a band of boys got together with me.
and we raised $40 among ourselves to
grade a little beach. thirty feet wide. and
buy a carload of sand to try the expert
ment whether good firm beach could be
made on that soft mud. 1t was a success:
After two years." he continued. "of
patrons undressing in the tall weeds. or
tent which we carried there, an appeal
was made to Congress and grant OF 1tU
feet along the shore was secured, with an
appropriation of $4,000 to grade 1t, buy
sand and build Wharves and dressing
houses. That was the original bathing
beach, which was in use for many years.
THE need Of that locality for the drive
way, which has since been built. pushed
the ba thing beach into the inner basin.
where it remained for three years. always
troubled with the dense weeds which pre-
vented our having races or permitting the
bathers to stray any distance away from
the wharf. After plans had been made
last year to move it's location within that
basin. to get it out of the way of another
driveway. and the appropriation OF %l2OO
by Congress for that purpose, 1t became
evident that this whole pool would have
to be filled up to carry out the general
plan of the improvement of the Potomac
flats. and we were asked if the fish ponds
could be adapted to the purposes of a
bathing beach.
Admirable Adaptation.
Investigation showed that no arrange
ment not originally designed for that pur
pose could have been better made. There
is but one drawback and that is the dense
weeds which grow more luxuriantly in
the shallow water than in the old BASIN
There are five lakes one of which. at the
northeast corner of the premises. against
Executive avenue. is assigned for the col
ored bathers. One of the others, which is
about three feet deep is especially adapted
to women and children. The next Is a
pool about four and a half feet deep by
four hundred feet long. which Is devoted
to men and boys who are learning to
swim.
parallel with this, and directly be-
side the 18th street driveway. is a pool
100 feet wide and over 100 feet long. beau
tffully adapted for swimming races. 1t Is
five feet deep throughout its length and
has been deepened to nine feet for fifty
feet square at one end. for diving pool,
with wharf trapeZe and spring board, in
viting athletic sports of all kinds that can
be practiced on the water. Throughout
the whole length of this pool there are
walks and grassy terraces under a line
of beautiful poplar trees, making an ideal
place from which spectators can witness
the athletic sports.
During the past year." Mr.. Stevens
said. 1--WE have had to contend with oily
water and the weeds. but eventually it
Is hoped to have the bottom concerted
and city water provided, which will flow
in open fountains. tastefully located in
different places. and serving as shower
baths and for the sport of the boys as the
one fountain We now have has done dur
ceived from the river. when clear. up to
| within about six inches of the height re-
quired.
Overflow Dam Needed.
THAT six inches will be all the addi-
tional city water needed to at first fill the
pool. Then an overflow dam can let the
water flow outward at all tides, requir-
ing but very little continuous supply of
clear.
The grounds are already ornamented
with shrubbery. and require only to be
put in proper order to harmonic with
this new plan. The whole place may then
be made the most beautiful bathing beach
| in the world
Our experiences with the old beach
have proved that free public bathing
| beach may be SO conducted as to insure
entire propriety and warrant the patron
age of the best people of the city, espe-
cially that class which Is not able to
leave the city in the summer in quest of
cooling waters. Our past experience in
life saving has proved that the depth of
| the water and character of the surround
ings are seldom responsible causes for
accidents
What We have mainly to contend with
Is the recklessness Of energetic boys and
the ignorance Of class of boys who
have always been kept away from the
water. When this class. usually called
mothers darlings.' come to the beach
the -lifeguards have to watch them all
the time. because they never know what
is safe or careless to do. And one great
object Of the beach is to familiarize all
classes with the river. so that when they
go boating or are in other ways brought
| in contact with the water they will know
| what danger is and how to avoid it,