Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-22
BATHING BEACH TO
Be READY JULY |
Col. c. S. Ridley Has Approved
Plans and Congress Has Ap-
propriated $35, 600.

BY July 1 next, the National Capital
viii have public bathing facilities
equal. if not superior, to those of any
city in the United States. That result
vi be achieved through the action of
Congress in appropriatins $4,000 for the
establishment of a bathing beach in the
tidal basin in Potomac Park Col. C. 5.
Ridley, the engineer officer in charge
of public buildings and grounds, has
approved plans for the new bathing
beach prepared by Capt Horace w
Peaslee of the Engineer Reserve Corps,
one of his assistants.
These plans are the result of a special
study of the situation and a visit of in
spection to the latest and most sue
cessful establishments of the kind in
Chicago and Minneapolis. The central
idea, ii is explained, is TO provide a
bathing beach for the pastiIne and re-
taxation of the average citizen
The site selected is on the southeast
side of the Tidal basin about half way
between the inlet and outlet bridges.
That is near the line of the Washing
ton, Alexandria and Mount Vernon
Railway Company and within easy
walking distance OF the bureau cars of
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company.
The basin itself will be the pool with
a sloping beach and conmodious bath
houses on the shore a feature of the
new beach will be the installation of a
purifying plant TO make the bathing
as safe and inviting as possible.
Beach More Accessible.
In addition to being more complete
than the present small pools, it is be-
lieved the new beach will be more ac-
cessible to the people. The water at the
point where it is proposed to lay out
fha h1a II cfr fAAt
deep.
Bids for the construction IF the main
ba1hhouse were opened by Col Rid
ley this afternoon, As designed. the
lockers. sanitary conveniences. smell
ter and refreshTaent booth. SeDa-
rate provision is made for women and
girls and for men and boys. The coz
Struction will be frame throughout
with brick or concrete foundations.
Being intended for use only in the
summer season. no arrangements are
made for heating
Provision is made for S57 lockers of
which 500 are intended for men. 33S for
boys and 224 for women. That capac-
Details of New Plan.
Interesting details of the approved
plans are contained in a statement
made by Capt. PeaSIee, in response TO
request for description of the new
bathing establishment. THE plan
comprises" said he. "a central building
with covered service rooms and shell
tiers around an open court, and two
open courtyards for lockers, following
the curve of the basin wall.
The bathers are received in a covered
space, in the center of which is a CASH
ier's counter, where they may check
their vaiuables and obtain tags en-
titling them to rented suits or towels
or, in case they bring their own suits.
merely to the use of towel. The wom-
en- pass to the right, while the men
and boys turn to the left, going by
counters where suits may be obtained
The women on entering their court
yard go into the first unoccupied dress
ing booth to don their suits. Doors to
booths will remain open unless locked
from the inside The men and boys
are assigned to two separate court
yards, where they will change their
clothes. The lockers will be opened
by the bath attendant who alone will
possess the master key"