Evening star., 1925-06-14
Will Ask Congress for Funds
to Equip Resorts at Its
Coming Session.
TWO POOLS WITHIN CITY
PART OF DIRECTORS PLAN
Appropriation of 5000, 900 All That
Is Needed to Provide Facili-
ties, He Believes.

While the movement IS being
pushed to have reoponed for use this
Summer the Tidal Basin bathing
beach and provision Of another at
Jones Point on the Potomac River,
consideration is being given by Lieut..
Col Clarence o. Sheriff.. director Of
public buildings and public parks of
the National Capital, to the matter
of presenting to Congress at the com
ing session a proposal for the erection
of two bathing beaches and two pools.
so that the Tidal Basin may be given
up for all time as a place for bathers.
An appropriation Of approximately
5000 900, Col. Sheriff. believes, will be
sufficient to provide adequate bath
ing facilities for the white population
at the Virginia end of the Key Bridge
and for the colored population at
Jones Point. In addition, this fund
also would be sufficient for transform
ing the Sixteenth street reservoir into
a large bathing pool for the white
people and the provision of another
pool in the vicinity of Howard Uni
versity for the colored people.
The money for the beaches on the
Potomac and Anacostia rivers would
be needed for the purpose of neces-
sary construction to provide for
chlorinating the water. Under pres
ent conditions the water could not be
chlorinated as it is a running stream
and the current would carry the
chlorine as fast as it was distributed.
Would Build Breakwater.
Col. Sheriff. has a plan, however,
for building a large breakwater of rip
rap work at the upper and lower
extremity of the beach and partly
closing it a one end. This would per-
nit the water inside to rise and fall
with the tide and yet would keep the
current out. With such a construc-
ton the chlorinating machinery could
distribute the chlorine across the
opening and the waters could be puri-
fed as they entered. 4 similar plant
would be provided for the proposed
beach at Jones Point.
The chances of getting provision for
such beaches would be much better
If nothing was done this Summer, in
Col. Sherrill's opinion. He believes II
would be better to swelter along this
Summer without any bathing facilities
and go to Congress with clear-cut
case next Fall. However. he is dis
posed to comply with the wishes of
the local officials and District citizens
and will not stand in the way If they
believe that 1t would be better to open
the beaches this Summer, PROVIDED, OF
course, they get assurances from the
ipowers in Congress that II Is not
against the wishes of that body to
do SO.
II would take only about four
months to provide the necessary
equipment for the two beaches such
as Col Sheriff. has in mind. The
matter of Transforming the Sixteenth
street reservoir into a bathing pool
would not be costly. The water lines
already are run in and all that would
be necessary would be to place in the
present basin a concrete slab TO give
the proper slope. 1t would not be
necessary to do any waterproof1ng to
prevent seepage, as that was pro
yided for when the reservoir was
built.
BIanton Wires Madden.
Representative Thomas l.. Blanton
of Texas who has been leader In
the movement TO reopen the Ildal
Basin Beach, yesterday sent a tele-
gram to Representative Martin B.
Madden at Chicago requesting his ap-
proval of the proposition. HIS wire
| follows:
Until present respite Washington
| has been gasping under unprecedented
| heat causing several deaths and nu-
! merous prostrations.. Unheedlng DAN
/ gers. stricken people have sought re
! lief swimming in the river and other
| improper pools. Six persons were
were drowned here last Saturday.
! Citizens council, including its two
colored members, heartily favor open.
! ing Tidal Basin, and enlargins and
| maintaining adequate colored bathing
beach near Washington barracks,
agreeing to furnish all runds neces-
sarv through private subscriptions.
Nine members of the District legisla-
tive committee accessible approve.
| Col. Sheriff. is willing, provided you
! give consent, as Senator Warren
| doesn't disapprove. l hope you won I
| refuse. Means much to thousands or
| Government employees financially un-
able m 90 elsewhere"