Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-05
TWOSW|MM|NGPO0lS
Georgetown and Rosedale
Fairgrounds to Get Them.
BIDS SOON TO BE INVITED
Instruction in Swimming Proposed
as Life-Saving Measure.
DRESSING ROOMS AND SHOWER
Northwest Pool to Be Built at Once.
Low Pressure Delays Rose
dale Construction.

Two large outdoor swimming pools, to
lie under the supervision of the local
playground association. are soon to be
constructed
One pool is To he placed on the new
Georgetown playground near saith street
AMI Volta place. The other is to be con-
structed on the Rosedae playground,
near 18th and Fl streets northeast.
As the municipal bathing pools, near
the Washington Monument. are in the
center of the city and as the two new
pools will be at the opposite ends of the
city, it is believed these new pools will be
important adjuncts to the general play
ground system of the District and meet
the needs of the several sections.
Pools of One Design.
The two pools will be of the same de-
sign. Plans and specifications have been
prepared under the direction of Plumbing
Inspector Fl. B. Davis and Municipal
Architect Snowden Ashford.
Each pool will be twenty-five feet wide
and sixty feet long and will have an aver
age depth of at least four feet. When
the bids are received the cost of con-
structing the pool at several different
depths will be set forth. Depth will de-
struction.
The pools will be constructed of concrete
and will be lined with a mixture of white
Portland cement and white sand. giving
both handsome finish and a fine appear
ance. Around the sides there will be a
life rail and a gutter, which Is feature
of all modern pools
Each will hold 5000 gallons of water
The pipes leading to and from the pools
viii be arranged SO that they can be emp
tied and filed quickly.
The pool in Georgetown, it is estimated.
will be filled from the water main in
about an hour. That at Rosedale will re-
Quire to fill about twice that time the in
crease due to lower water pressure in that
neighborhood.
Shower and Dressing Rooms.
In connection with the pool on the
Georgetown playground a shower bath
and dressing room house is to be con-
strueted. This will be of rather modest
proportions, because of the limitations of
the funds.
The house was designed by Harding &
Upman. The plans have been donated to
the Fairgrounds association by that firm.
1t is expected that the cost of the pool
and the house at this site will be about
5000.
Acting Engineer Commissioner William
Kelly explained this morning that Con-
gress. in the last District appropriation
act, provided 5000 for grading and equip
ping the Georgetown playground. The
grading work has been done at cost OF
about $1,000
1t is hoped that the swimming pool and
house will not cost more than s2,OO0. This
will leave about $1,000 for further i'm
proyements and equipment.
Bids are to be received for constructing
the pool at Georgetown during the next
few days, it was announced this morning
1t is expected work will be begun within
a couple of weeks.
Owing to difficulties over arrangements
for proper water supply for the pool
Oh the Rosedale playground, there may
be delay in its construction.
Life Preservative Art.
The drowning of many persons In Dis
trict waters during the past few years
and the discovery of the small number
of persons who can swim or take care
of themselves in the water has empha-
sized the necessity of providing facilities
to teach swimming. Something along
that line has been done in the past at
the bathing beach. This year, under the
direction of DIR. w. B. Hudson, as su-
perintendent, much attention is paid at
the municipal swimming pools to the
instruction of boys and girls in the art
of swimming.
The construction of swimming pools as
part of the playground system of the
National Capital is an Innovation. II is
expected to prove its worth by reduction
in the number of boys drowned each
year in the District
1t is recognized that swimming is as
much fun for boys as base ball or other
land sports. Further ii is believed that
children should be taught how to swim
as a means of protecting their lives