Evening star., 1936-11-29
D. c. SAILING BASE
PROJECT IS URGED
Burroughs Delegates to Ask
Federation to Support
Plan for Boys.

Establishment OF municipal sailing
base in the vicinity Of the Army War
College is to be proposed to the
Federation of Citizens Associations
by the Burroughs Citizens Associa-
ton.
Robert M. Furniss, president Of the
Burroughs group, revealed the plan
was indorsed Fundamentally by his
civic group after Lawton Mellichamr
outlined the plan at a recent meeting
Furniss declared the matter was
first brought before the Burroughs
association last Spring, and that he
before becoming president, had the
idea under investigation for several
months. The Burroughs group will
have the question presented to other
civic bodies in the city by having Its
delegates to the federation ask that
the proposal be referred to committee
for further study and also by carry
ing the plan to the Northeast Con-
ference of Citizens Associations. Con-
facts have been planned with the
Park and Planning Commission also
Furniss stated.
Cost Set at $4,000.
Mellichamp explained that the prof.
ect should cost about $4,000 for tenn.
porary construction and equipment or
land already owned by the Federal
Government. Only about one acre oi
land would be required.
Boys from all sections Of the city
from the age Of II years and older
would be eligible to join. Activities
would consist of instruction in sailing
and boating Of various types and con-
struction of various types of water
craft. They would be taught how to
protect themselves on and In the
water at all times, as we'll, Mellichamp
stated.
This is not another plan for a
boys club" Mellichamp declared, ex-
planning that while it will cooperate
with the various boys clubs, the
Scouts Apd other similar organiza-
tions, the project will be city-wide in
its scope and will include members
from all sections.
The estimated cost includes con-
struction of work shop and library,
the cost of boats and building ma
terials and personnel for one year.
The first boat would be built on Chesa-
peake Bay and sailed up the Potomac.
It would be from 16 to &c feet long
and is known as the Chesapeake Bay
deadrise type, with v bottom and
sloop rigging. Other boats would then
be built by boys at the sailing base.
Personnel Of Project.
Personnel would consist of a super
visor, who would be in charge of the
entire project; a dock master, who
would care for the project and act as
watchman; two instructors, who would
be selected on their ability as leaders
and Of high character, and six Junior
instructors selected from the members
Of the sailing base These boys would
work up to instructors jobs later on,
Mellichamp declared. The entire prof.
ect would come under the Jurisdiction
OF the Playground Department, but
no attempt will be made to have the
Playground Department include an
item in the 1888 District budget to
cover the cost of the project.
1t could be handled as a Federal
project as model for the rest Of the
country to show the benefits of rec
reation work Of this nature, he said,
or 1t could be financed by emergency
relief funds as municipal project.
Melhchamp will appear before the
federation Saturday night to explain
The project and, he declared, he will
speak before any of Washington's civic
oodles which are interested In sup
porting the plan.