Evening star., 1935-06-09
SPEED ON RIVER
CREATESPROB[EM
One Death and Several
Spills Blamed on Speeding
Power Boats.

4AkC h1SA Go<C IA 0fCC4 0A44 p
Of power boats on the Potomac has
presented District authorities with
another trafic hazard problem.
At least one death and several
dangerous spills SO far this season
have been blamed on speedboats said
TO have swept too near canoes, cap
sizing them in the backwash.
This condition, rivermen say, Is
particularly acute on the miles
Of Potomac water between Key and
Chain Bridges, long favored by canoe
lists and other small boat enthusiasts
Some half a dozen high-powered
boats from lower on the river, wit
nesses say, have been speeding up
the Potomac at 20 or even 30 miles
an hour between scores of canoes and
other frail craft.
Consider Speed Limit.
As result of complaints, District
oficials are considering cutting the
15-mile-an-h01f speed limit 10 6 miles
an hour on the stretch of water above
Chain Bridge.
Congress recently vested authority
In the District to make police regula-
tions for the harbor, channels and
other water in this jurisdiction.
Efforts to reduce the speed and
reckless driving Of power boats were
instituted by the board of governors
Of the Washington Canoe Club at .
recent meeting.
1t was pointed out that while one
policeman Is regularly detailed in q
lsunch to the Potomac above Key
Bridge. his boat s slow and the
speeders run rings around It or do
their stunting out OF sight beyond
the numerous bends. =
Deliberately Race at Canoes.
Veteran rivermen said today they
have spotted several speed boat drivers
who deliberately race at canoes, par
ticulerly those with girls in them, in
m effort to overturn the light craft.
A quick sweep around canoe will
tip 1t over, especially If manned BY
inexpert paddlers. =
Canoeing both day and night has
been particularly popular this year
due in part to the large number Of
visitors in town. Many who venture
out In the light boats are beginners
who know little about padding and
less about swimming.
The recent action of the governing
board Of the canoe club was started
by Carl Ahlenfeld, who had a harrow
ing experience with a speedboat last
Sunday.
Ahlenfeld, his wife and 3-year-old
son, were in a canoe almost run
down by speedboat travelling more
than 20 miles an hour, he said. .-
Being an expert swimmer, Ahenfeld
had no fear for himself, although his
wife and son were in a nervous state
on reaching shore.
Hazard to Swimmers.
Other boats, it was said. speed by
doats, splashing the occupants or
upsetting canoes about to be launched.
The speedboats also are a hazard to
swimmers, rivermen decalred.
Racing shells, too, come in for a
buffeting from the backwash of power
boats. Onicials of the canoe club
feel the present police patrol from the
harbor precinct should be increased to
VOpC Will LIE SltHdtlOu. ..-.--
No drivers of motor boats have been
Arrested for speeding within the mem
ory of veteran harbor policemen.
Rivernen made it clear they implied
no criticism of the harbor patrol, but
rather that the patrol should be re-
tnforced.
Boat Is Too Slow.
The lone policeman stationed above
Key Bridge with q Smile an hour
launch does his best to enforce the
law, warning speeders and, patroling
the '5-mile stretch. Stunting drivers,
however, can spot the slow craft q
mile away and cut circles around It.
The. proposed new harbor reguia-
Gons are being studied by a special
committee composed Of Assistant Cor
poration Counsel e. w. Thomas, a
sergeant from the harbor precinct, the
municipal architect and bridge en-
gineer and q representative of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
Their recommendations will be sub
mitted In the near future to the Dis
trict Commissioners, who plan to hold
. public hearing on the subject later
In the Summer.