Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-15
MAYOR URGES CITY.
BEACHES At ONCE.
Says Bathing Places Should Be
& Prepared for Public Be-
fore Season Ends
SENDS LETTER TO SPROULE

Mayor Moore, wants city bathing
beaches rushed through Immediately, SO
that they can be enjoyed this summer
BY those who are unable to go to the
seashore. He suggests beaches on both
the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers.
He wrote letter today to Director
Sproule, of the Department of Wharves.
Docks and Ferries, setting forth his
ideas and urging that speedy report
be prepared on the availability of sites,
10 that he could get Council to appro-
pirate the money.
II wish you would take up immedi :
Ately,' wrote the Mayor, "thc study OF
bathing beaches along the banks of the
Delaware and the Schuylkill below the
dam. i assume there are several places
available which the city with very
little expense might be able, with proper
regulations, to apply to the use of adults
and children, who would enjoy the
privilege OF river bathing in the summer
months, and who would be physically
benefited by this commendable outdoor
exercise. There should at least be one
bathing beach on the upper reaches OF
the Delaware, within the city limits.
another in South Philadelphia. and GER
tninly one reasonably accessible to the
people on the lower Schuylkill.
III In your report to me you will con =
slider the element Of cost. I will apprc =
ciate 1t. l trust you will so conduct
your inquiry as to enable us to give
those who are unable to visit the sea :
shore. or who cannot otherwise obtain
bathing facilities, an opportunity to do
90 during the present summer
Swimming club officials, together
with merry mermaids and mermen who
are accustomed, on Saturdays and
Sundays, to betake themselves to
Lafayette, on the upper Schuylkill, and
there disport in the river waters, are
keenly interested in Mayor Moore $
proposal.
Plan is Approved
" ''This suggestion of Mayor Moore is
something we have been waiting on
for a long time said Samuel ].
Dallas, president Of the Amateur
Athletic Union of the United States.
ga little dredging Of the river bot
tom, to clean out the mud, and replac-
ing 1t with gravel, to form firm bot
tom, would make an ideal swimming
place in the park. This should have
been done long ago.
IA fine place for a swimming beach
would be opposite the Cliffs near the
Girard avenue bridge, where the sta =
dium and convention hall are to be
built.
1.-THE cost of cleaning out the mud
shouldn't exceed $40, 900.
Would Attract Big Contests
y; "Undoubtedly many swimming con :
tests could be staged along the proposed
I beach. At present most of our amateur
swimming events are held At Lafayette
or in the Delaware. The Schuylkill
bathing beach would be much more sat =
fsfactory."
Members Of the Philadelphia Swim =
ming Club, who are among the expert
swimmers in this city and whose events
at Lafayette are held each Saturday
during the summer, would prefer to
swim somewhere in Fairmount Park,
they say.
y Among the leading aquatic stars are
George Crownover, of Girard College
George Cunha, of Meadowbrook. and
Miss Gertrude Artelt, daughter of DR..
II. Artelt, 1921 North Eighth street.
Miss Artelt agreed with the others
that the river at Lafayette is not
exactly satisfactory to swim in.
n "A paper mill just above the swim
ming course dumps refuse into the
river" she said. Sometimes it is
pretty bad. The water tastes peculiar.
J On Sundays when the mill is not run.
ming the water is clearer and cleaner. "