Evening star., 1909-07-01
BATHING BEACH Open
District Boys Enjoy Initial
Plunge in Big Pool.
TWO HUNDRED ADMITTED
Have Great Fun Splashing Around
in Crowded Space.
SMALLER POOLS NOT READY
Cannot Be Used Until Drain Pipes
Are Laid-Hours and Rules
for Bathing.

Were they there? You bet! Over two
hundred youngsters gleefully splashed
about In the waters at the bathing beach
I this morning Long before 10 o'clock,
the time set for the formal opening, boys
from all parts of the District patiently
waited In line until they could secure a
ticket admitting them to the bathnouse.
Only one of the pools was open today,
owing TO the fact that the drains of the
! two smaller ones have not yet been laid.
! DR. William B. Hudson, superintendent
J of the beach, stated, however, that the
! work on the other two will be completed
!. shortly and all three will then be turned
/ over to the youngsters. The larger pool
! is sixty-tive feet .ong and forty-five feet
wide with depth of four feet at one end
| and five and one half feet at the other.
| The two smaller pools are twenty by for
| ty-five feet. the one three feet deep and
/ the other four feet deep. The shallower
! of the two will be used by the bathers to
| wash with soap before entering the larger
4, swimming pool The other sma Her pool
will be used entirely for teaching, and
the depth of the water will be regulated
to meet the requirements. No batners
will he allowed in the larger ncol until
/ they have shown that they are able to
swim the length of the small pool twice
This regulation, however, was not en-
forced today, nor was the fact that the
boys must Arst wash off with soap and
water.
City Water in Cement Pool.
In the cement pools city water is used
and will be let out at regular intervals.
the pool scrubbed and refilled. This will
be done at night. in order not to inter
fere any more than possible with the
use of the pools in the daytime. The
swimming space in the larger pool is
more than twice that of the old fish pond
on the Potomac speedway. The fish pond
was about one-eighth of a mile in length
and about fifty feet wide, but for swim
ming purposes there was only about
forty-hve by thirty-fve feet available.
as the rest Of the pond was about two
or three feet deep and overgrown with
pond lilies.
The large number of boys at the beach
this morning clearly indicated that the
present pools are inadequate, as the boys
wera unable to do much swimming be-
cause of the crowded condition. No ap-
plicant for ticket was turned away
this morning, and despite the fact that
there was but little swimming, the boys
showed their appreciation by splashlng
about In the water. Many of them en-
gagged in leapfrog, tag and diving from
the sides The swimming instructors
stood about the sides of the pool to lend
aid to any of the boys who might meet
with an accident. and also to preserve
TO do In keeping order, as the youngsters
caused no trouble
Hours for Bathing.
Because OF the small space it was nee
Nssary to consider the demands of the
children first, and their welfare has been
locked after by allowing them practically
the exclusive use OF the pools during the
week days. For the present Sundays will
be given over entirely to adult males. The
hours for bathing are from 10 a. m. until
II noon and from 2 until pm. Mondays.
Wednesdays and Fridays the pools, at
the request Of number Of ladies. will be
open from Z until 10 am. for the use of
ladies and their escorts.
The patrons Of the beach are required
to Nil out registration card, which they
obtain from the clerk in the office at the
bathing beach. This card they take to
the bathhouse and are assigned to lock-
ers which are four by six. and four boys
are assigned to each locker. Suits can be
hired including a towel, for 15 cents, and
private dressing rooms for one, two or
three persons for Is cents.