The Washington herald., 1908-07-10

expresses the case of the Washington
youth who goes bathing in the pond in
the new bathing beach.
a couple Of years ago the bathing beach
was moved from the Tidal Basin 10 It's
present location. presumably FOR the
safety of the small boys, a number hav-
Ing been drowned in the basin. 1t now
appears that new danger threatens the
boy who bathes in the new and up-to-
date swimming pool-the danger Of con-
tracing malaria and typhoid fever.
The pond" which consists OF several
pools OF stagnant water. often covered
with decayed vegetable matter, is situated
between the Speedway and the Monument
grounds, which lie 20 the west and east;
on the north are several other small pools
OF water and old fish basins, and on the
south is a portion OF the basin bed. pump
ed In through pipes. About half a block
away Is the broad and beautiful Potomac.
| from which the beach Is supplied with
mud and water This mud and water
empties into or onto the beach at high
tide. but If the tide happens to fall short
Of its usual rise. the beach gets no water.
]
are discarded FISH ponds. which were used
by the Fish Commission a few years ago
for raising prize. fish. but now are breed
! ing places for mosquitoes. and hotbeds Of
malaria and typhoid fever. Several swim
ming pools are located about the property
acquired BY the District for bathing pur-
poses. and between these pools there are
runways and walks such as one Will find
In the vat department OF leather tan
i merry.
The white boys beach was a good-sized
pond at some former date IN the history
OF the District. but recently this has been
subdivided into a pool for boys under
twelve years Of age. and a beach for boys
over twelve years Of age
How Pool Was Crented.
The pool was built from the old pond
by throwing up banks Of earth. called
wharves by the authorities, on four sides
This earth was taken from the center
Of the pond. and IN this manner the pool
was deepened 10 three feet There is 4
pipe running into this small pool. through
which the water Is daily pumped into II.
Another pipe comes up through the plank
Ing laid out on top Of the earth wharves.
This Is called the fountain OF purity.
Here the boy gets shower bath when
he finishes his mud bath IN the pool
After a dozen boys have been IN the
water few minutes the water Is muddy
TO such an extent as 10 be almost thick.
A boy dives in. white in color. but
emerges resembling a race OF a much
darker hue than the Caucasian.
The large basin is worse than the pool.
Several giant elms grow along one side
Of the beach. and every fall the leaves OF
these trees drop into the water and stay
there until they decay. Water lilies. fresh
water clover. and grass grow in the shall
low water on the edges Of the beach. and
in the fall and winter these decay and
sink TO the bottom. On two sides OF the
beach there are several piles Of rock. and
among these are many water moccasins.
which do not stay in the vicinity OF the
rocks. but swim about among the de-
cayed vegetation on the bottom Of the
pond.
Snakes Must De Expelled.
When the boys dive into this water.
which at high tide is not over nine feet
AZ its deepest point, the area at this depth
being only about four feet square. these
water moccasins are disturbed. and in one
or two Instances have shown fight but,
fortunately. none OF the boys has been
bitten. When all the snakes have been
driven from the bed Of the swimming
pond. the boys get In their good work. !
They dive TO the bottom, and play all
manner OF water games. In doing that
they stir UP the wafer and everything in
the bottom. including much of the bed. |
comes 20 the surface. When the boys
emerge it is hard TO tell whether they are
black or white.
It is useless to tell the condition of the
negro boys swimming basin. other than
10 say that It is twenty times worse than !
that used by the white boys. This basin
Is also an old fish pond. with a soft, !
mushy bottom, from which black earth is |
brought to the surface by the swimmers |
Amid these beautiful and healthful sur |
roundings there rises, as a landmark to /
the memory Of the bathing beach commits |
sion. beautiful monument, in the shape |
Of modern and fully equipped bathhouse |
"a bathhouse that would make some OF |
those at Atlantic city and Narragansett /
look like dug-outs.
Lockers All Open Together.
This modern bathhouse cost. it is said. |
In the neighborhood OF $1,000 and has /
several hundred booths In which bathers
dress and undress. A peculiar mechanical |
device has been installed in the new bath
house by the former supervisor. 1t opens /
and closes the doors TO the lockers. 1t is
worked by a wire run around several |
pulleys from the doors Of the lockers to |
the office OF the dispenser Of bathing |
suits When a boy wants TO get to the |
locker he has leased, he notifies the keep
er. and the keeper pulls a lever, which
opens all the doors and the boy may go /
In his own or some one else's.
Last year $500 was appropriated by
Congress for the bathing beach; $500 for
improving and beautfying purposes. and |
5000 for salaries. These salaries are
for three laundry women. who wash
and iron the bathing suits when the
boys are through with them, the swim
ming instructors and life guards There
are two white guards and one white in
structor, and one negro instructor and
one negro guard. portion OF the 5000
also goes for maintenance.
Commissioner I'm Control.
The bathing beach is at present un-
der the supervision OF the Washington
Playground Association. but the District
Commissioners still retain a right to
order such changes as they may deem
necessary.
DR. w. B. Hudson. superintendent Of
the bathing beach, said yesterday that
the conditions at the beach are bad. but