Evening star., 1926-04-25
BATHING BEACHES
THIS YEAR UNLIKELY
Even if Legislation Is Rushed,
Completion Before Fall
Is Doubtful.

While it is believed certain that al
estimate for the construction or the
! two bathing beaches authorized by
Congress will be included in the de
! fiCiencv bill at this session. there Is
little probability that the two pools
can he constructed in time to be uSeC
this Summer. according to Maj. y. >
| Grant. Sd. director of the office OF
| public buildings and public parks oi
| the National Capital, who Will nave
charge of the placing and the con
/ struction of the two beaches. now
! ever. Mai. Grant pointed out tha'
every effort would be made to com
plete the two basins as quickly a.
possible in an effort TO get some use
! nf them. at least during the latter
| part of the Summer.
The locations of the pools nave ho'
even been decided except in a tehta
tive wav. and no detailed plans anc
specifications have been "ofkeu ",
| The nublic buildings and pubic PARIS
oeice did not prepare extensive plans
because of the expense, and In we"
of the uncertainty as to whether con
eress would provide the beaches IL
was felt that the money shoulu nol
no thuS expended in advance ne
mans of course. also depend upon the
sites finally determined upon, ana an!
nlans made for one site might Nd
70 he changed if another hnaIN Is
selected.
Sites Not Chosen.
Although no definite decision IA >
haan made as to the LOCATION rds.
Potomac Park, west OF the Presen. II
golf course, has been discussed, ana II
e nroha HE. that this will be the site
for the pool for the white Iathers' III
the early discussions the site lol lhe
nooI for colored bathers was lIaceu
near Howard University, where It was
believed that 1t would be available 10
the greatest number. However, II
was said that private nrm mas op-
tained a permit and is. erectlhg d
swimming pool adjacent to the uni
versity which precludes the Govern
ment pool being placed there
With this situation in mind, me OH
cials are turning Their thoughts in the
direction of Section { OF AnacoStld
Park, that part of the reclaimed area
on the south bank of the Anacostia
River, opposite the Washington Navy
Yard and laying between Boiling Field
and the Eleventh street fridge across
the river. This, IL is conceded, would
be an ideal spot for this pool, but
there is now pending in Congress a
bill which would permanently transfer
this land to the District government
for use as a nursery on which ID grow
shade trees for the roadWavs in the
,.itV. The location Of The colored pool
there, of course, will depend 'tpon the
final action of Congress on the t.'ans-
fer bill.
Decision to Be Soon
The selection of the sites for the
pools rests with the director of the
office of public buildings and public
parks of the National Capital, with
the advice of the Commission of Fine
Arts and it is known that the latter
favorS the construction of a swim
ming pool in East Potomac Park.
This was one reason why the perma-
nent location of the tourist camp there
was opposed. However, this problem
will he decided just as soon as pos
sibl2 after the measure becomes law.
The passage of the bill authorizing
the beaches is not the final step in
their provision. This is merely an
enabling act. After this law is passed
the estimate must be made and be
put in an appropriation bill. The an
abling act prevents the estimate for
Iie dpplODi idllOIl OclIl5 TIL wv II OuI Vi
the appropriation bill on a point of
order when it reaches the floor.
The tentative plans that have been
drawn provide for pools. both clip
tical in shape, one $50 feet wide by
400 feet long and the other 1870 feet
wide by 260 feet long. and both having
a depth running to II feet. They will
be of reinforced concrete. as will be
the bath houses and other necessary
appurtenances.
Plans Require Six Weeks.
1t will require from six weeks to
two months, Maj. Grant estimated, to
complete the detailed drawings and
specifications, prepare the proposals
and ask for the bids of private con-