Evening star., 1925-05-24
BATHING IN RIVER
ST|RS SAFETY ISSUE
Swimming Zones Suggested
for Expected Crowds-Ques-
ton of Hygiene Up.

Abolition of bathing in the Tidal
Basin, and the fact that a large num-
Der of Washingtonian became ardent
swimmers when the basin was open,
will result in the descent of record
breaking number to the river this
Summer, in the opinion of river men,
campers and general observers OF
river conditions.
And here arises a serious problem
for those charged with protection of
the health, life and safety of Wash
ingtonians. How can the hazards OF
drowning be effectively minimized?
Suggestions Are Made.
Several suggestions have been made,
and il is probable that some of them
will be followed this Summer.
W. T. Reynolds, veteran riVerman,
believes that if the occasion arises
four or five large bells or sirens should
be placed at intervals along the river
banks, to he sounded in time of emer-
Gcncy. The result it is thought,
would be to speed all craft that might
be of assistance TO the scene of the
accident
J. H. Enloes, in charge of life-sav-
Ing work for the American Red Cross.
suggested TO The Star the use OF safe
ty zones for swimmers. Mr.. Enloes re
called a somewhat similar predica-
ment which faced st. Louis, Mo-,
some time go, when the river athing
hazards had taken an extraordinary
toll of lives. Certain portions of the
river We're marked off by buoys and
floats. The public was shown that the
safest places to bathe were within
these restricted areas, the public went
there to battle and the drownings de-
creased materially
Regulations Are Possible.
Corporation Counsel Stephens be.
lieves that regulations might possibly
be drawn up as admonitory ordi-
nanGes, which would be valid as being
within the purview of the police pow
ers of the District government, to set
aside safety zones for swimmers on
the river. To carry this out, safe and
available places for bathing would
have to be suggested. Three or four
such places exist. IL was stated by
campers. One is on the Virginia side
of the river, about d mile and half
or two miles above the Key Bridge.
Another is a short distance above the
Three Sisters on the District side OF
the river.
1t is believed that the camps along
the river might he able to furnish vol
unteer guards during Saturday after
moons. Sundays and holidays. when
the crowds would be largest but the
difficulty is to obtain concerted action
along such lines by the campers An
other solution would be for the Police
Department to furnish additional har-
Dor policemen and assign them to pa
troll duty on the river at the safety
zones. Another need is for provision
OF life preservers or buoys. Mr.. Enloes
said that the Red Cross might be able
to find some way to procure these. He
is now looking into the situation to see
whether 20 buoys could not be fur
nished to be kept at strategic points,
principally at safety zones.
Red Cross Will Aid.
AS for training volunteer life guards
or policemen assigned to such duty,
there is no problem at all. The Red
Cross is only too willing and eager to
perform this task.
The jurisdiction of the District of
Columbia over the water of the Po-
tomac to the Virginia shore is settled.
The river is just as much subject to
police regulation, when riparian n
rights of adjoining landowners do not
arise, as any section of the District
The safety of the river from hy-
gienic standpoint has not been def
who maintain, and on good authority,
that the river, even above Washing
ton, is not fit to bathe in because of
its pollution from sewage The
United States Public Health Service,
however, in corporation with the
District Health Department and Col
c. 0. Sheriff., officer in charge of pub
lie buildings and public parks, has
undertaken a thorough and far-reach-
ing survey Of the Potomac to deter
mine whether the water is unsafe for
bathing.
Problem in Protection.
AS the river will be used this Sum-
mer. it was pointed out, it would be
Useless to warn those who intend to
swim that it is polluted. The river has
always been used for swimming. it
is emphasized, and as time passes the
number will increase. Eventually. it Is
believed, Washington will make use
of the Potomac River for bathing pur-
poses on "A much larger scale. So that
the problem this Summer is to throw
as much protection as possible around
the refreshing waters in hot weather.
pollution or no pollution.
Should the river be found TO be so
polluted that 1t constitutes a real
health menace. Washington will have
the task of getting rid OF this pollu.
ton, it is pointed out. for the river Is
Washington's eventual bathing place.