Evening star., 1921-03-09
MAY CUT NUMBERS
At BATHING BEACH
Maj. Ridley Takes Up Means
of Preventing Excessive
Pollution of Water.

Restriction of attendance at the
tidal basin bathing beach this
year, as means of preventing excess
sive pollution of the water, is being
considered by Maj. Clarence S. Rid
ley, in charge of the Office of public
buildings and grounds. which exer-
cises control over the basin.
{ This popular recreational facility
tswiA open around Memorial day. ii is
son may exclude special days" which
| last year attracted such crowds that
there was scarcely, standing room on
the beach: 1t is such ngestions Maj.
Ridley believes, that holds the real
menace Of infection from disease
germs to bathers.
Investigated Last Year.
Replying to statements made by DR..
o. b. Hunter of George Washington
University Medical School, DR.. q.
Percy Hickling and Sanitary Engineer
in the City Club last night to the ef-
feet that the tidal basin is highly
polluted by sewerage and not fit for
bathing. Maj. Ridley said today the
situation had been investigated last
year by the public health service and
"
ice during the coming season. He
said the investigation last year failed
to reveal that any case Of typhoid
could be traced to germs contracted
! in the basin.
District Health Officer William G.
Fowler said this morning that the
records of the health department.
which include Investigations made of
ali cases of typhoid reported last
year, failed to show that any case Of
this disease can be attributed to pol
luted water in the basin.
DR.. Fowler said that he had inves-
tigated the matter last year, and had
called the attention of the public
health service TO it: that while he
had no authority to close the beach.
, il he should become convinced during
the coming season that it was A
menace to the health of Washington,
he would promptly inform the pub
lie Of the danger.
Doctor Cites Twenty-Six Cases.
DIR. o. Z, Hunter, assistant dean of
the George Washington University
Medical School, presented a formal
report at the meeting of the public
health group of the City club last
night on cases of infection that had
been traced to pollution of bathing
places. He said that twenty six cases
of infected eyes, ears and noses had
basin. and that no other possible
source of infection was revealed in
/ the detailed histories OF any of these
cases. Three cases of infection. he
stated. had been traced to bathing al
| Point of Rocks. in Rock creek. just
| above Pierce's mill Overcrowded
conditions at the tidal basin, he
! charged. were responsible for un-
usually heavy pollution Of the water.
! Asa F.. Phillips. sanitary engineer
! of the District. and DR.. y. Percy HEX
| ling. vice president of the group, who
presided in the absence Of Emile Ber-
| liner. the chairman, concurred in the
| opinion of Or. Hunter that the water
| in the tidal basin is seriously con-
! taminated.
! DR.. Hickling and Mr.. Phillips said
| the superintendent of public buildings
/ and grounds had tacitly admitted the
| pollution of the tidal basin by in
! staIling apparatus for chlorinating
| the water. Mr.. Phillips said il was
| absurd TO attempt to purify such a
big body of water by the use OF chior-
| me and Dr. Hickling said that some
| time ago IT was found that the APP
| paratus was out of order. improperly
used and totally Intellectual.