The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-08-27
us. BUILDING
TIDAL BASIN
BEACH FOR
NEXT SEASON
Superintendent of Public Build
ingS and Grounds Spending
$4,000 for Bathing FaciIi-
ties to Supplement DC. Pools
BY BILL PRICE.

There VIII be free bathing In the
Tidal Basin for Washington people
next summer.
With an appropriation OF $4,000
In his hands, Col. W. W. Harris, su-
perintendent Of public buildings and
grounds, has already planned an at
tractive bathing place that will sup
plement the inadequate bathing fac
ilities throughout the District He
has already started work on the
Tidal Basin bathing beach, where
men under direction are dumping
tons of sand and gravel intended TO
remove, as far as possible, the dan
gerous jump into deep water that
now exists.
South Of Present Beach.
The new beach is being made at
= point south OF the present bathing
place, the object being to bring the
beach closer to the Fourteenth street
car line crossing the highway bridge.
While d comparatively small por-
tion Of the money appropriated by
Congress will go into making a sand
beach and removing dangerous ele-
mentE, bulk will go into bathing
houses, machinery for the purifica-
tion Of the water, and the accessories
necessary for such a place.
Colonel Harris told The Times rep
resentatiye today that plans for all
this will be ready and the buildings
erected in time for Washington bath
srs next summer. The new beach,
he said, viii accommodate 1000 per-
sons at q time. That the water may
be kept pure, II will be treated with
chlorine under the Indirect super
vision OF the Public Health Service,
which recommended this treatment as
sanitary precaution. The whole
place will be under Colonel Harris Of
flee and in charge OF employees from
there.
Free to Those With suits.
Bathers furnishing their own bath
ing suits and towels will be admitted
free OF charge, but those not supplied
may rent bathing suits, towels, soap,
etc, at the lowest possible rates, IN
Gle Sam being the provider.
The establishment will be the hrst
Of its kind ever provided by the Gov
eminent in the District, the bathing
IN the tidal basin now being under ar
Tangement with persons who have In
leases from the superintendent of pub
lie buildings and grounds. There has
been much complaint that citizens Of
the District were compelled TO pay
money to go into the waters OF the
Potomac
The Commissioners Of the District,
who will soon take up the estimates
TO be submitted to Congress for ap-
propriations for the next fiscal year,
will have before them recommended
lions by Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes, SUI
pervisor OF Fairgrounds, for an en-
largement OF the bathing facilities OF
the District such as will give the peo-
pie OF the city a real chance to enjoy
this sport. The bathing beach. as now
conducted, does not accommodate one
fourth Of the people who wish admis-
sion TO the pools, IL Is officially de-
clared. Her plans at this time, how
ever, are for the erection OF a bathing
pool of two or three acres just north
Of the municipal bathing beach, in
which 1000 people can battle at the
same time.
NatntOrium Proposed.
There will be urged upon the Com
rnissioners from other directions and
upon Congress later the appropriation
Of money TO build a suitable all-the-
year natatorium at some central point
in Washington where all classes OF
people may have the pleasure Of swim
ming through the winter months.
A high official Of the Health De-
partment. who advocates a large
natatorium of this character, says
that there should be provided in con-
nection with IL wash tubs that may
be rented cheaply to housewives who
do not have the proper arrangements
Tor washing and ironing in their
own homes. He claims that IL woull
conduce to the healthfulness OF many
homes in the city. and be a real bless
ing to hundreds of wives and moth
ers. Such facilities are provided in
municipal natatorIums In other large