Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09

It is rather amusing these days to hear
people decry the decadence of aquatic
sport on the Potomac river and to Won
der why more interest is not taken In
this most health-giv.ng enjoy ment, and
then eXclaim. Things are not as they
used to be- A local oarsman says:
These cynics never visit the river these
pleasant afternoons. for IL they d they
would soon make discoveries that at
present there is more pleasure boating on
the river than ever before, IN fact, there
is SIX times as much as when these per
sons refer to, the halcyon days of the
periods when Analostans Po,omacs and
Columbias used to clash on the river
4 X
Years ago the pleasure seekers in the
clubs were confined to ten-oared barses
and outrigGers each of the cubs possess
ing a barge and number o. outrlgoers
III which to accommodate members,
while the oarsmen were content with four
cared shells and gigs, which, all summed
up, meant an aggregate number of craft
Of about one hundred. In contrast to
this alone one club. the Potomacs, have
IN their house four eiGht-oared shells, one
Iour-oared shell, ten single shells. twelve
outriggerS and eighty-three canoes, 50
it can be seen that pleasure rowing IS
booming. The AnaloStanS also have three
eightS two fours two gigs, six Singles,
big sixteen-paddle canoe and many indi-
yidual canoes. The popular Wash nSton
Canoe Club has a housefui of canoes, and
they are out ON the water nearly every
day. One public neutrality-suspicious. on
the racks over two hundred and sixty
canoes. while Moores, Barker and Cum
berland are well stocked. which, added To
those up stream at High and Sycamore
Islands, VIII give fleet of over Il thou
sand boats, which is refutation that
there is Il decadence in aquatic sport, K
$ said.
Every other year since 1902. the river
has been the scene of Il big national re-
gatta. affairs that have attracted the best
oarsmen and scullers of the amateur
world. Those behind these events claim
that each and every one has been greater
than those which antedated 1907
And so il is with this year. In order
to prove that rowing has not gone back,
but is moving rapidly forward. the Middle
States officials are claiming that the re-
gatta of 1912 will be the greatest aquatic
gathering ever held In American waters.
or going further. the list of entries will be
larger than any held in this or the old
country.
This assertion is made on the author
ity of David Brown, the secretary treas
urer of the Middle States Association.
from his office in New York, who says
that never before has so much interest
been shown as in the regatta to be held
IHlS year d. w tOli. Ills DIT Ills
early day has been burdened with in
quiries from all sections of America and
Canada. There Is no doubt that Winni-
peg, Ottawa, Toronto and Nova Scotia
will be largely represented. as the lead
ing clubs of those provinces are making
arrangements to visit the National Capt.
tai at the time of the regatta. The In
terest in the Dominion Of Canada makes
1t certain that in the states there will be
greater degree manifested. and hence
believe says Mr.. Brown. that 1912 will
be the banner year for the middle states.
The local committees are laying their
plans for working up schemes in order
to interest the people in the national
gathering, but as the city has been so
interested in the Columbus unwilling
ceremonies it was deemed best TO rest
on their oars and await few weeks be-
fore starting out. The officers in charge
of the United States revenue cutter serv-