Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-28
BOATHOUSE GOSSIP.

A decided movement will be inaugural
ed during the session of the incoming
Congress looking forward to the removal
of the Three Sisters" the group OF rocks
above the Aqueduct bridge, and which lie
directly in the course of the river used
for all regattas This subject has been
up several times before. but was always
sdetracked because certain parties
claimed the land adjoining the rocks as
theirs by patent, one party. John Moore
by name. being listed on the tax books as
owner thereof. But this year the move
ment has received quite an impetus be-
cause in the budget submitted by the en-
gineer In charge of the river imp. Owe
ments an appropriation is asked for this
purpose, hence the oarsmen feel that it is
now up to them to get busy and show
that they have a little influence with the
solons OF legislation in the way OF max
ing such trifes as this important
In view of the fat that the Potomacs
intend making a bid for the National re
gatta here next season, and in view of the
fact also. If they are successful. the re-
gatta will he held that part of the
river, it will require some hard work i'll
order to get the place In shape for Au-
gust, 1910, when the National usually
takes place.
would like to see the course changed
down to that part of the river adjacent
TO Potomac Park, where the september
regatta of this year was pulled off. claim
ing that 1T is the one natural spot for
such big affairs, as was clearly proven III
the late racing carnival. The adherents
of Potomac Park claim that the place is
the ideal one. that more people can be
accommodated there than at any other
course, while the vantage ground for
autos and carriages is unsurpassed. and
that the place is the one logical race
meeting resort. The friends of the upper
course admit that the environments of
Potomac Park are unsurpas sed for a
rounding up of people in autos and car
riages but there the advantage stops. for
there is no other one to advance. The
water on the race course is easily at
fected they claim. the large open space
giving 1t the appearance of a lake, and
is therefore ruffied by the slightest
Zephyrs. The course is laid parallel
with the bank and the tides affect 1t con-
sderably, as next to the banks it has
filed in, and at low water the shoals are
exposed. This shoaling caused Tom Cor
mans defeat in the senior SOULS, as, the
tide being out, 1t forced the great gather
ing of canoes clustering around the fin
ish out into the course apd before he
knew it he was among them and placed
hors de combat as far as winning the
race was concerned. The upstream Is
always sheltered, rarely ever rough, has
plenty of deep water and is never al
fected by tides, while thousands can reach
the course by tramWays from every sec
ton of the city, where they would have
to walk from a mile and a. half to two
miles to get out to Potomac Park
The upper course is among the boat and
canoe clubs private and public, is close
to the Baltimore and Ohio tracks, which
can be used for transportation of boats,
and also sightseeing train during the
regatta. so the hackers of the old course.
pronounced by all to be the best in Amer
lea, will hold on to 1t in case the National
regatta is landed for Washington in 1910
So the oarsmen and canoeists will join
with the river Improvement commission
and besiege Congress to remove the
Three Sisters in order to make the Po-
tomac river course the finest and most
perfect stretch of rowing water in Ameri-
ca. 1t Is recalled in this regard that
Frederick Law O.msted, the great land
scape architect, and the commission he
headed that visited England in search OF
Ideas for the Greater Washington, made
recommendations on this line in order to
bring about a rowing interest In the Ma
tional Capital such as he witnessed In
England at Henley.
That aquatcs will start among the stu
dents Of George Washington seems to be
an assured fact il the words of such NOV
ers in the affairs like Messrs Lucas, Muel-
Ter, Hart, Ellis, Bullough and others can
be taken. The men are only waiting for
the foot ball season to finish before they
start out to work up the idea among the
student body, as they are convinced that
among the large student body, outside the
we'll known local ia ent, they can find
number who have had experience among
the other colleges who have rowing on
their list of sports. According to Messrs.
Lucas, ct al. the .dea is to get a number
to Join the Potomac Boat Club, where
they will start the George Washington
crew, and have the use of the racing
shells Of that organization for the time
being, and then if the movement grows to
any size to start out for themselves with
boathouse in prospect. The promoters
believe that they could get a crew to-
gether in 1910 that could make a good
showing at Poughkeepsie have races
with the naval cadets at Annapolis and if
the breach is mended. meet Georgetown
here on the Potomac The fate Of foot
ball Will decide crew rowing at George
Washington, and as there is a likelihood
Of abandoning the game, it Is more than
likely rowing will come forth next spring
The annual oyster roast and outing of
the Potomac Boat Club will take place
next Sunday on Analostan Island, and
from the arrangements being made the
affair will be one surprising all previous
efforts. Chairman DAILY of the roast COM
mittee' has appointed numerous subcom-
mittees looking after entertainments,
transportation, food and athletic events,
and they are all hard at work getting
things In shape for the outing. Each
member of the club will be allowed to in
yite two guests.
The new Riverside Boat Club that
started to erect a building on the west
side of the Aquedtct bridge seemingly
has struck a snag. for work has been
suspended for a month or ever since the
piles were driven home for the founda-
ton. 1t is said that the projectors were
frightened off by river men telling them of
the ravage of food and ice in the spring
of each year at the spot where they
started to build; that their house would
not stand the pounding of the ice which
always gorges at that point. Whatever
has caused a cessation seems to have
been permanent, for there is nothing do
ing there now, nor has there been for
over a month.
There is some talk Of the Analostans
sending across the water and securing
from Sims, the builder of the oxford and
Cambridge universities shells, one of the
celebrated eight-oared boats that are
made by this establishment. 1t is Sims
who is also making the detachable eight
cared shells, the boat being made in three
pieces for the purpose of economy in
travelling, and such craft are now used
country and the Detroits Of this country
with great success. The boats can be
made in England. shipped TO this country.
pass custom duties and freight charges
and be landed here in Washington at a
saving of nearly 500. The boats are
much finer in workmanship than those
made in the United States, as Is shown
in the single SOULS now in use by Capt
Carl Mueller of the Potomacs, which was
built by Sims.