The Washington herald., 1914-09-27
women BATHERS
MORE NUMEROUS
One Thousand Of Both Sexes
Have Learned to
Swim.
BATHING BEACH RECORD
Supt. Hudson Declares that Next
Year the Season Will Open
Early in June.

Several important changes will be
next season. DR.. william b Hudson.
superintendent announces in his an
nual report TO the Commissioners made
public yesterday.
Foremost among these is, that next
year the pools will be opened fifteen
DAYS earlier than they were this year,
that is, on June 5. To dissipate all
fear at the outset, DR.. Hudson gives
satisfactory assurance that the pools
will be thrown open to the thousands
of Washintgonians who enjoy them. He
announces he has q surplus left sum
cient to insure the opening at least.
Perhaps Congress will in the meantime
provide sufficient funds to make IL
equally certain that the pools will be
kept open next year. This season they
had to be closed several days owing
20 lack of funds.
The reason given for opening earlier
next year is that weather conditions are
such that ar early opening is desirable.
There was a falling on in the number of
bathers this year. but had the pools
been open every day the figures probably
would have exceeded those Of last year.
Totals for each year the pools have been
In operation are set forth in the report
and show a remarkable growth OF the
pools in popularity from the first year.
Since 1910 the number has grown from
$40 TO 6O.3ss. Last year there were o.
~ in a full season. OF this years num-
Der q 3S4 were males. The total includes
Is77 who went into the pools for colored
people.
There were no casualties, but there
were eleven who sustained minor inju-
ries. Thirty-two bathers were rescued.
and DR.. Hudson thinks these statistics
reflect credit upon the guards. The
guards responded 10 two calls from the
river. and each time rescued q man Rp-
parently dead.
The question Of bathing suits has given
the superintendent considerable to think
about and next year there may be q
very different system. For sanitary rea-
sons. he states in his report, it seemed
desirable that all bathers should be fur
nished with suits by the District rather
than allow them to use their own. This,
ae points out, would insure nothing but
clean suits going into the pool. The
bath house suits are boiled. So many
patrons objected to using public suits
hat the superintendent soon found him
self confronted with a vexing problem.
This question is to receive still further
consideration, he announces.
The sterilization of bathing suits with
,hemicals was discontinued, and a meth
ID Of steam sterilization was adopted in
It's stead. This proved more satisfactory,
I is stated.
Increase in women BRthers.
Attention is directed to an increase
among the women bathers and also 10
he large number of males and females
who learned to swim this season in the
pools. The records show that 100 males
and 800 females caught the hang OF the
art The woman guard as an experiment
his year will be continued. DR.. Hudson
announces, having found her services in
valuable about the pools on women's
lays.
THAT the pool now use for colored
FATHERS be increased in length from
'orty-five to ninety feet, and given over
% the exclusive use Of females, to be in
operation during the regular bathing
hours. This would not change the pres
mt hours for women, but would care for
hose, now unable to avail themselves Of
hese hours and also TO relieve the con-
:estion. as many Of these women who
low are compelled to come between n
md 10 in the morning, would prefer other
aours. In making this recommendation,
provision for colored bathers has not
oeen overlooked, but as the average
wo daily, they may well be taken care
Of in the pool now being constructed by
he Fairgrounds.
That the pools be opened daily from
a. m. to l. m. and from until p. m.
and Sundays from 10 a. m. to Il m. and
t p. m. with the following schedule
Of hours for sexes: Boys-Daily, except
Sunday and Wednesday. 10 a. m. to Il m.
and to p. m. Men-Tuesdays, Thurs
days and Saturdays from until 10 a. m.
and daily except Wednesday from 4:3O to
p. m. and, Sundays from 10 a. m. to II
n. and to p. m. Women-Mondays
and Fridays from to 10 a. m. and We'd
nesdays from Z a m. TO II m. and to s
.. m. and that the superintendent be au-
.horized to make such temporary changes
In hours as may be found advantageous
% the proper operation Of the swimming