Evening star., 1939-06-11
Six Swimming
Pools Are
Operated
Tennis Courts
Flourish Day
And Night
By TeSfa Gum nines.

Uncle Sam is in the amusement
business. He is shopkeeper, res
taurateur, tourist camp and resort
operator, a miller, newsboy and a
soda bar operator. He is a pro who
operates swimming pools and. tennis
courts
And doing a nice job of it, too
making profits.
Although Uncle Sans town may
be accused of being humid in the
summertime, these activities of his
give 1t many of the advantages of
summer resort, and a swank one at
that.
Under one of Uncle Sans nu-
merous aliases the Welfare and Rec
reation Association of Public Build
ings and Grounds, Inc, six SWIM
ming pools are operated in the Dis
trict. Last season, from June 4 to
September 6, a total of 382.479 per-
sons made use of them. This year
the pools were scheduled to open
June 3.
twenty-five years ago the Dis
trict could boast of only four ten
mis- courts. At the present time the
Welfare and Recreation Associa-
ton operates % courts, the National
Park Service At, the Community
Center II and the Playground De-
partment 38, total of 1874 Accord
ing to the records there were 6,825
night players and 9O,142 players
during the 1888 season.
a hNo xr,L l.
rented and bicycle unit are op-
Grated in Potomac and East Potomac
Parks by the association.
At Hams Point is the Hams Point
Tea House, which opened for the
season in April and which serves
breakfast, luncheon and dinner un-
der the supervision of r. D. Lewis of
the association.
Year-'Round Interests.
In addition Welfare and Recrea-
ton is busy with several all-year-
round activities. Stores Offering
1ndian-made goods are operated in
the Department of Commerce Build
ing lobby and in the Department of
Interior. Navajo blankets, Hopi pot
terry and Navajo and Zuni jewelry
are on sale at both, the two shops
having been for four years under
the direction of Mr.. Lewis, with Mrs.
L. H. Richardson and Mrs. JOS
ephine CLAWS in charge. They are
non-prof1t organizations, designed
to help American Indians dispose of
their beautiful handicraft work. All
activities of the association, as a
matter Of fact, are profit.
However, when profits accrue they
are divided between the United
States Treasury and Association and
Welfare expansion work.
The Indian shops, according to
Mrs. Richardson, are of special in
terest to foreigners. Shipments 60
to many parts of Europe. Embassy
people are good customers, individ-
ual sales of over 500 not being un-
usual.
Cafeterias in Government build
ings are operated under the aus
pices of the association, with Miss
Mabel Ashenfelter the supervisor
and any one who has ever lunched
IN one of these super er-sanitary spots
can testify to the excellence and
cheapneSs of the food.
Uncle Sam is known as tops as a
cafeteria proprietor. Scientific acous-
tical treatment of ceilings and walls
eliminates distracting noises. All
china from cafeterias that is chip
ped or discolored but still usable is
turned over to charity organizations.
All perishable foods and meats are
purchased fresh daily, most of them
by an expert in this field, Mr.. w. A.
Long. The association operates 26
cafeterias and lunch counters, l3
newsstands, directly and supervises'
Is which are operated by the blind.
1t also runs soda bars.
Only Tourist Camp.
Located on the banks of the
Potomac and garlanded by famous
cherry blossom trees, the only tourist
camp in the District is a project of
Uncle Sans.
Established through congressional
appropriation, 1t is operated by the
Welfare and Recreational Associa-
ton. Visitors to the Nations Cap
ital who have discovered this camp
range from millionaires Cornelius
Vanderbilt to visiting students
from foreign lands. The camp, man.
aged for some time by Mr.. Stewart
knode, is equipped with every mod
ern convenience and is within a
hve-minute walk of spots in which