Evening star., 1925-06-10
SENATE AND HOUSE
LEADERS ASKED TO
O. K. BATHING PLAN
Continued from First PaseJ

pool with the addition Of little
temporary equipment. and the whole
could he run with funds Of the Joint
welfare service
The additional enuipmant would
consist Of the erection OF steps n the
reservoir and the provision of tenrs
for dressing rooms for the accomods-
lion of the bathers. While Col. Sher-
rill has rea ched no decision on the
matter. he thinks that IL would be n
ideal pool and expects to make final
determination within day or So This
would provide the Georgetown section
with an excellent bathing place under
proper supervision.
Other Ideal Pool.
AS to the Sixteenth Street Reser-
voir. this. he believes. also would
make IN ideal pool. However. this is
the property of the municipal govern
ment of the District OF Columbia. Col.
Sheriff. indicated that all that would
he necessary TO start the prepa rations
for turning this into bathing pool
would he for the District Commits.
sioners 10 transfer it's Jurisdiction 10
the office Of public buildings and pub
lie parks OF the National Capital,
when work on il will be started
All that will be necessary for the
equipment of this pool would be TO
place concrete slab in the pool to
give IL the proper slope for the diff
ferent depths. II would not be neces-
sary TO do any excessive waterproof
ing to prevent seepage as the reser.
Nolr was so treated when il was built
Tents could be used 10 provide the
necessary dressing rooms until more
perma nent arrangements could be
made. This, 1t was indicated could
he done without additional expense TO
the Government. as the funds for
this also could be provided from the
joint welfare service
Col. Sheriff. also is anxious TO pro
vide some ba athiug facilities for the
children at not great distances from
their homes and under conditions
which would allow the minimum Of
danger. The fountains in the parks
seem 10 answer this question. and he
is giving serious consideration TO al
lowing their use for small children to
paddle around in.
Although the running OF the founta ins
in these basins was stopped during the
recent hot spell in order TO relieve to
some extent the heavy drain on the
water supply, nevertheless enough
water is run each day to prevent that
in the basin from becoming stagna mt.
The opening of these fountains to this
use would provide practically every
section of the city with little pool
for children.
AS to the two larger bathing
| beaches, these furnish greater prob
lem. both because of the expense and
because of the controversy which re
suited in the closing of the Tidal Bas sin
| beach. Col. Sheriff. said that he is
! not planning to obtain any legal
opinion on the question of authority
. for opening the Tidal Basin beach as
there never has been any doubt in his
mind as 10 the legality of such a
move. The provision in the appro-
| priation act is not ma nda tory he said
| and he is allowed until June. 1925. in
which 10 tear down the bathhouse
building there, although al this time
| some of the fixtures and lockers have
been diSmantled. These would have
! to be replaced in order TO provide
| proper facilities for the thousands OF
| hatherS who would be expected 10
/ take advantage of this.
Favors Keeping Beach Closed.
However. Col. Sheriff. is of the
| opinion that this should not be done
! although he will not throw any
obstacles in the way of the wishes OF
the citizens in this regard His posi-.
ton, he said. is as outlined at the
/
Gil, that it would he better 10 swelter
along this Summer without this beach
and then 60. to Congress in the Fall
with. good case. Otherwise. he is
fearful that Congress might not
make any provision for other beaches
because of the use made of the Tida'
Basin this Summer, after Congress
had refused to appropriate to continue
any bea ches there, partly on account
or the pollution of the Tidal Basir
water.
1t will take s25 900 TO arrange both
the Tidal Basin facilities and the
facilities at the Jones' Point Beach
he said. or this amount the greaNl
| part would go to the Jones Poin
| Beach. because of the necessity q
providing temporary ba thhouses there
| However. all this could be done fol-
$4,000 which the joint welfare servic.
can provide The other $40. 900 woult
be required to chlorinate the waters
and Col. Sheriff. believes that thi
certainly should be done
! The Chlorinating boat which wa
used in the Tidal Basin has been dis
/ mantled and will have to be re-eouip
ped, and another boat and equipmen n
would have to be provided for tn
Jones Point Beach. The provision O
these boats and equipment, togethe
Will ltlc COST Vi the CniOFlne ana IN
/ labor for running them. will eat u,
the $4,000 which the citizens of tn
District would have to provide, prof
ably by popular subscription.
In Councils Hands.
! But. Col. Sheriff. Is ready to act n,
has put the entire matter now in tn
ha nds OF the citizens advisory co,Ip
ell. including the task of obtainin
from the chairmen- OF the House an
Senate District and appropriate
committees their views on the entir
J matter.
Col. Sheriff., 1t is known, 10 full
appreciative of the situation whic
has left Washington entirely witi1ou
bathing facilities during the no
weather, and is most anxious to d
!, everything possible to provide and t
help in providing the relief that |
being called upon. but he does no
| want to prejudice the case of the pee
; Iple in any way without acquaintin
, them with the facts and letting ther
! determine IL they want the beac
opened under the conditions.
i --Propcsal that temporary pFoyiulo
be made at jones Point on the a III