Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17

ner because of the intense heat and
the public has turned to the bathing
pools for relief. Col. Grant said he has
consistently included in his estimates
each year items for building two addi-
tional pools, only to have them elimi-
mated by the District Commissioners
before the budget Is transmitted to the
Bureau Of the Budget.
In view of the annually increasing
budget Of the District and the vital
need OF major public improvements.
Col Grant admitted that he did not
make strong pleas to the Commissioners
and the Budget Bureau for restoration
OF the bathing pool items. But these
items have been sidetracked long
enough now. he thinks, and determin-
ed effort win be made to have the two
additional pools provided in the ap-
preparation bill for the coming fiscal
year.
II am strongly in favor of carrying
the bathing pool construction program
to completion" said Col. Grant. These
pools are quite necessary and desirable
feel that the unprecedented heat this
Summer which increased the demand
for public bathing facilities has given
a very good reason for carrying out the
program"
Sites Not Definite.
Definite sites have not yet been Sc
1ected for the two additional pools
which Col Grant wants to construct
next year. The white pool it was said,
most likely will be located in the thick
ly populated northwest section, at a
point where it will be more easily ac-
ceSsible to residents in this area than
the Mckinley pool near Second and T
streets northeast 1t is planned to put
the colored pool in Southwest wash
1ngton, where 1t would serve q large
portion of the coloree population.
Even before the advent of the heat
spell. II was pointed out, the Mckinley
pool was well patTonized, the funds from
locker fees, soap, towels and bathing
suits keeping IL on a Seh-Supporting
basis. When the torrid wave came,
however. the pool could not acconnmo-
date the crowds, and many sweltering
persons had to be turned away. The
pool will accommodate 900 bathers at
one time. and this Summer it has been
used in the course of day by as many
as 5000 persons.
The colored pool at the Francis Junior
High School. however, has not been as
well patronized. and contests of various
kinds have been conducted under the
direction of the Welfare and Recrea-
tional Association of the ONCE of Pub
lie Buildings and Public Parks to Stinu-
late increased use. The location of this
pool is held responsible for the lack of
patronage by Capt. F. w. Hoover, gen.
eral manager Of the association. He
said it is too far removed from the CEN
ter Of the colored population to be con-
veniently accessible, and as result its
patronage Is drawn almost entirely
from the surrounding neighborhood.
Three-Shift Operation.
The Mckinley pool is operated on a
three- shift plan. 1t opens at 10 o'clock
in the morning and closes at noon, re-
opening an hour later and running con-
tinuously until O'Clock The pool is
then closed for another hour. and is re-
opened to accommodate night bathers,
closing at 10:30 o'clock
The pool at the Francis Junior High
School operates ON a slightly different
schedule. It opens at 10 am. and re-
mains open continuously until 10 80 pm.
Washington might have another bath
ing beach. similar to the Tidal Basin,
II 1t we're not for the present polluted
condition of the Potomac.
Theoretically, Col Grant and others
directly concerned with bathing and
health problems believe that bathing
beach is more desirable than artificial
pools with hard concTete bottoms and
chl0F1nated water. But from prac-
tical viewpoint. such a basin, they con-
tend, is not possible along the Potomac
now in the vicinity of Washington, at
least without jeopardiZing the health
OF all who use it.
The act Of Congress authorizing the
bathing pool program, as amended in
February, 1929, provides either bath
ing pools or bathing beaches, thus CIV
ing Col Grant authority to establish
a bathing beach along the Potomac
similar TO the one at the Tidal Basin
Col Grant, however, has no intention al
Ehis time. ~ said. Of even considering
n oatning beach until the river is freed
from its pollution and bathers can use
1t without fear of contagton.
Island Suggested Site.
Araalostan Island has been suggested
to Obi Grant as an ideal site for thG
location Of a public bathing beach. The
island is owned by the Washington
Gas Light Co, and aside from the cos
of acquiring it, Col. Grant ssid thu
water there could not be brought to Z
state of purity to insure health!
bathing
The Tidal Basin, although highl!
chlorinated and treated with powerful
violet rays to remove the impurities, n
pointed out, was not absolutely SAT
from a health standpoint while 1t wa
used for bathing purposes. Far re
moved from the channel Of the river
he said, the treatment of the water II
the Tidal Basin was made comparative
~ simple, but this process would b
IStually ineffective in the vicinity o