Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-07
NATIONAL REGATTA TO
Be HELD THIS WEEK
Management Has Completed All Ar
rangements for Big
Event.
TO USE NEW COURSE;
NOW BEING SURVEYED
Entries to Be Announced Tomorrow
Three Potomac Crews Are En-
tered-Program Of Races

After months or almost continuous
hustling, the Potomac Boat Club, that
is managing the national regatta for
Friday and Saturday of this week, is
easing up in it's work, content that the
people of this city as we'll as the many
thousand visitors will witness the
greatest regatta of modern times.
This important fact is more than as
sured from reports received from every
rowing center on the Atlantic coast,
the Mississippi valley, the Dominion of
Canada and the south, and from the
way letters are coming in asking for
hotel rates and other facts. necessary
TO be settled before the crews arrive
The success Of the regatta-for moth
ing else can come from 1t now-is due
entirely to the hard, energetic work of
the Potomac Boat Club officers, who,
single handed and without help from
their associates on the river, have gone
ahead and assumed the heavy burden
of the enterprise.
From a financial standpoint the club
may find a deficit against it when
it goes to clear accounts. made most
probably by the collapse OF it's wharf
recently, but from rowing standpoint
it has again shown its ability to
uphold the credit of the city.
Regatta Course.
The place of the regatta is that por
ton of the river in front of Potomac
Park, starting at the government
wharf at 26th and streets, and fin
ishing within two hundred and fifty
feet Of the new Highway bridge. Pre-
vious to 1895 all local regattas were
held in this vicinity. but Of late years
the big affairs have all been pulled of
on the upper course, where a protected
and absolutely straight course can be
had.
Among many Of the oarsmen and old
frequenters Of the river the opinion
prevails that a sad mistake has been
made in changing the course, owing to
the fact that the slightest zephyr tends
to hump up the water and make it bad
for shell racing. AS a matter Of fact
the Potomac crews to man are
against the course, and during the past
ten days, owing to southerly winds, they
have been hampered in their work.
But the board of governors, desiring
to add to the environments of Potomac
Park and to follow President TaftS
desire to make the river at this place
the scene of such regattas. determined
1t was the best place under all circum-
stances.
Every one, therefore, friend or foe to
the course. Is just hoping that good,
the proper test of superiority at the oars
and SOULS may be settled without any
Qualms being offered for defeats.
The District Commissioners are super
intending the surveying of the course,
John E. Ballinger being detailed to look
after the work. He Is lining out a course
500 feet wide, and from start to finish is
sinking poles at distance of every six
teenth OF mile, thus making perfect
lane for the crews to row without fear
OF Interruption.
the upper course will also be marked of
by Mr.. Balinger, and will be used in
case OF real bad stress of weather.
At the finishing line of the lane on the
Virginia side will be anchored the reve-
nue. cutter Apache, swinging parallel with
the course, and every other craft, sail.
motor, row or canoe, will have to keep
to the port OF the line she marks out.
The officers Of the Apache with details
will use four launches. and these. with
sailors rowing around in their cutters.
will see that there are no attractions of
the laws, as published in last Sundays
Star. 1t is the law of the land that where
regattas are held on navigable waters
commercial desires must halt for the time
being, and violation means arrest. On
board the Apache will be Senior Com
mandant Worth G. Ross of the United
States cutter service. besides distin-
guished gathering of prominent officials
OF the country and their wives.
On the wall adjoining Potomac Park.
right near the finish. will be six barges
with chairs placed there by the regatta
committee for use of the people who de-
sire to avail themselves Of the price in
order to help pay the expenses of the big
regatta.