Evening star., 1924-08-01

Due to increased population In thu
District and an unmistakable increas
ing interest in athletic activities, the
Office Of Public Buildings and Grounds
which has supervision of the sport.
activities in the public. parks, ha.
found it impossible to keep pace with
the demand. according to the annua
report OF this office signed by Col
c. o. Sheriff., U. s. A., in charge oi
the office. The outstanding difficulty
according to Col. Sheriff., is insult
ficient funds to meet the outdoor.
demands of the citizens of the Dis.
trict.
Col. Sheriff. pointed out in the
report that his estimate for sport.
In the parks for the year commencing
July l last was $4,000, $4,000 more
than was allowed the preceding
year; but Congress appropriated only
5000, which, he believes, is total,
lnsufncient II the great increase il
outdoors activities is to be anywhere
near satisfactorily met.
Golf Leader in Sports.
AS was described in a special arti.
Gle In She Star several weeks ago
golf Is the leader among the sports
az least SO far as the number of par.
ticipants Is concerned. During tn,
year ended June 80, 277,777 person.
played golf on the public links.
According to this annual report
tennis was next to golf in popularity
IN that $4,000 persons played thi.
game on the So courts distributed
about the parks. This was consider
able of reduction over the preced
ing year because Of the three month,
of unfavorable weather early thi!
season.
Participation in the other sports fol
low: II base ball diamonds. 56.07t
players; ! cricket field, $50; 2 pole
herdss heh al. i;i5o: archery court, 1o2; foo
hurling field. 1862: volley ball court
1855; croquet courts. 5,s2S; hockey
fields. 4,61S; soccer ball field, 2,172
athletic field. 1850; quot courts
1886. and basket ball courts, 72.
This does not include the activities
at the bathing beach. which was pat.
ronized by total of 175.130 bather.
and $4,000 spectators. Che largest
number OF bathers at the beach or
any one day was 1850 and the largest
number of spectators was $500
swimming lessons and 361 were giver
medical aid.
Comment ON Tourist Camp.
Regarding the tourist camp located
in East Potomac Park near the vir
ginia Channel just south of the rail
road the report said:
TT is operated by a concessionaire
who acts as the agent of the ONCE o.
Public Buildings and Grounds. Tour
lists are given a camp site free, but
the concessionaire is permitted tt
charge a small fee, Is cents per nigh
per party, which Is used to defer the
expense for caring for toilets
showers. buildings. grounds around
the camp sites, furnishing lights, ant
water for toilets. baths. washing cars
and for police protection.
During the fiscal year ending june
80, 1924. the camp was used by 1882
cars containing 44,35S persons. Thu
average length of stay Of each tour
ist party waAtwo days"
Relative to the band concerts giver
in the parks, Col Sheriff. reported a.
follows:
For long period of years band con
certs were given during the Summe
| months by the United States Marin'
Band on Wednesday afternoons In tn
Capitol grounds, and Saturday after
| Moons in the inclosed grounds of th'
| White House. In 1904. by order of thu
Secretary Of War, these concerts wer'
extended to other parks by militar!
bands then stationed in Washington o.
| its vicinity. These have been continued
up to the present time. There Is con
| cert given every day in the week ant
| sometimes two on certain days. Tn
| concerts are given in various parks
night from Z 80 to .. and the Wednes
day and Saturday afternoon concerts ar
| also given. .
During the fiscal year ending jun
certs given with an attendance Of 66.28s
but these figures do not include the con
certs on Wednesdays at the Capitol
| which are under the Jurisdiction of th'
architect Of that building
Horxeback Riding Increases.
Col. Sheriff. called attention in hi
report to the increase In horseback rid
| ing in the parks. which afford more thai
| so miles of bride paths. and suggested
that it would be Of great public interes
| II a public horseback riding academ!
| was established. He said:
I'm keeping with the policy of put
| ting we'll in reach Of the public al
athletic recreational facilities, thi!
| office has a scheme of establishing 8
stable of horses in Rock Creek Parl
| containing about SO miles Of bride
paths) for renting to the public fol
| the nominal sum of 20 cents to 81
| cents per horse per hour. To oul
| knowledge such a scheme as this ha.
| never before been carried out as {
pNoaS S"eSA = AAOAcScu~h ~ i"e
, costs from 50 to 81 per hour wher
rented from private stables.
The proposition Of turning ovel
| to this office Of condemned Arm,
horses will be put up to the Sccre
| tary Of War. Army equipment car
| also be borrowed. Retired cavalr,
| sergeants can be used as personnel
| These horses can be housed in a cen
trail stable in Rock Creek Park ant
delivered at several convenient point.
for the public"
Total Of 80 Improved Parks.
| Col. Sheriff. called attention to tn,
parks of the District in the follow
Ing manner:
| There are sos reservations, o
which $40 are improved and 1855 un
| improved, with a total acreage o
3,050.24. The largest of these II
Rock Creek Park. containing l,62.
acres, and the smallest a >triangl,
| located at Delaware avenue, Firs
and F streets southwest, containint
80 square feet.
! There are So named reservations
Physical data-Macadam roads
35 miles; dirt roads, rs miles; bridI,
paths. 55 miles; foot paths, 24,2 miles
| paved walks, 35.5 miles"
Col. Sheriff. reported that ther