The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-26
ICE ON TIDAL BASIN
i SAFE FOR SKATING
Volunteers Clear Snow From
Surface-MrS. HobSon Of
i ferS Help in Work.

Get your skates ready.
There is ice on the tidal basin-plenty
az ice, and a volunteer band of skating
enthusiasts is busily engaged this
afternoon clearing away the snow. so
that all may enjoy the sport to the
fullest.
There have been q couple of inches
of ice on the basin for several days and
skaters nave been watching it closely.
The cold weather Of last night did
wonders for it and This morning it
was reported that there was from four
and one-hslf to five inches Of ice on
the basin. a sufficient thickness 10 in
sure safety.
leading fancy skaters. Immediately got
busy organizing a committee of work
ers to get the snow cleared away At
MS request Colonel Harris, of the Office
Of Public Buildings and Grounds, mad
the gates to the basin closed so that
there would be no iuctuation of tide to
break up the ice.
Colonel Harris Assists.
Colonel Harris. himself. is a skater.
and told Mr.. Meyer that while there
was no fund available in his depart
ment for the removal of snow from the
ice. he and his assistants would do all
in their power to promote the work.
Through the courtesy of Superin-
Ioudent Paxton. Of the Street Cleaning
Dcpa rt,ncnt. scrapers. shoVelS, brcoms,
and other implements Of the department
were furnished to MIR. Meyer for the
use of his army of workers. SUperin-
1endent Todd. of the District Repair
shop, Is also interested in providing ice
skating for the public and told Mr.
Meyer TO cell upon his department tor
anything needed in the way of imple-
ments.
Among the first to volunteer Tor duty
were q group of men from the y. NJ
&. y. Physical Director Beckett, having
learned of Mr.. Meyers plan. Immediate
" spread the word among the members
That there were prospects of ice Sk6t-
ing. In a few moments a dozen volun-
Jeers had set out for the basin, eager
TO get the work started.
Congressman r. p. HObson and Mrs.
HobsCn, both expert skaters, volunteer
ed for work as soon as they learned
OF the plan.
I think it is grand" said Mrs. Hob
son. "Of course, l will help and Mr..
HobsCn will, too. and will immediate
~ call up some Of my friends and tell
them TO come and lend a hand"
Former Assistant Postmaster General
Granfield is also an enthusiastic skater,
and always has been among the first TO
reach the basin when the ice was good.
Skating at Zoo Lake.
The small lake at the Geological Park
was cleared of the snow early yesterday
morning and all day hundreds of skaters !
were making the most of the opportun- |
fly offered The lake is so small, how !
ever, that the ice soon becomes cut up
by the many skates, and this detracts |
considerably from the sport. Despite !
this fact. ths lake was crowded all day /
, yesterday, and as fast as one group |
came off others who had been waiting 1
the shore took to the ice.
Coasting is now at its height, and the
children are using practically every hill
IN the city for the purpose. Small boys
on small sleds, big boys on big sleds. |
and parties of boys and girls. all piled |
"n one truck may be seen gliding |
down the hills in all parts of the city. |
and the shouts Of jcy as the sleds fly |
by indicate the enthusiasm of the coast |
ers. Until after u o'clock last night the |
long hills on Eighteenth and Nineteenth |
streets, two of the best coasting places |
in the city. were crowded with boys and |
Girls, who seemed unwilling to quit |
even long enough 10 sleep.
Thirtieth street hill. in Georgetown. |
vas scarcely less popular, and many
'srown-upS' as well as boys and girls |
Esthered there last night.