Evening star., 1944-07-30

gradually diminished from what 1t was
In years gone by, and no doubt will con-
tinue to do so in the years to come,
unless remedial measures are taken.
We are told that "the mouth of Rock
Greek Of our day does not exhibit
single feature of its appearance In 175l,
when Georgetown was created At that
time the creek was a nayigable stream
within which the tide ebbed and flowed
for considerable distance above the
present P Street Bridge. Then and
for many years subsequently there
were visible in it on frequent occasions
the tall masts of the trader to European
coastwise ports, where now the only
water craft to be seen is the sand scow."
Indeed. as indicative of the size of
this stream in 1892 one has but to refer
to the Maryland law passed September
% of that year forbidding the erection
OF weirs or hedges in Rock Greek within
two miles of the River Potomac, in order
to prevent injury to the navigation of
said creek. Coming down to more
recent times, undoubtedly there are
many who will recall seeing the creek
SO far out of banks, after heavy storms,
as to reach the stone quarry. before
mentioned.
Naturally, In years gone by, every Sec
tion of the city had its swimming holes
and during the Civil War even the SOL
diers stationed in outlying sections OF
the city took dip in any old branch
when the opportunity presented itself,
which reminds the writer OF a pleasant
drive he took few years ago with an
elderly lady who. in pointing out her
fathers old farm. called Dumbarton,
which lay between the Sergeant and
Queen Chapel roads, referred to the
time when Gen. Birney's regiment of
Zouaves took possession of her fathers
farm and, as child, of her seeing at a
distance the soldiers in bathing in a
branch which then crossed the Bunker
Hill road about where it is intersected
by the Sergeant road. Upon such oc-
casions, she said. as their team would
draw near the bathing spot. her mother
would make the girls who accompa MED
her-for she had six sisters-put their
hands over their eyes,
OF course even at that early date
there was law governing the bathing
in public places, and it might be inter-
esting to point out the restricted and
unrestricted places where bathing was
and was not permitted, according to
the act of the Corporation Of Wash
ington of July AZ, 1861, which reads as
follows:
1T is not lawful for any person or
persons to bathe or swim in any of the
rivers. creeks, or the canal in the juris-
diction Of the corporation, at any time
between the hours of am. and
pm. of each and every day, except in
the following named places, viz In
Rock Greek; in the Potomac River be-
tween Fourteenth and Twentieth
streets; in the Tiber. north of K street
north, and in the Anacostia, east of
Fifteenth street east Any person vio-
lating this law shall forfeit and pay
the sum of two dollars for each and
every offense, and, failing to pay such
fine, or secure it to be paid, shall be
committed to the Workhouse for 10 days,
unless the fine and costs are sooner
paid"
Shameful Neglect
Although this law was not always
enforced, conditions were must bet
ter under 1t than they were prior to
It's enactment, for in the summer of
1888 we flnd DUTY" writing to the Ma
tional 1ntelligencer regarding indecent
bathing, in which he says:
Gentlemen: Again must have re-
course to your columns to inform the
officers of our city Of portion OF their
duty that they have shamefully ne
elected. allude to the indecorous prac-
tice boys have of bathing almost under
the windows of our dwellings. A notice
before from my pen Of the Tiber's being
place Of great resort for them has
been, it would appear, wholly unat-
tended to. Not only Fourteenth Street
Bridge forms the spot for their pleasure,
but they have lately extended their
foatings as far as the Center Market.
Is there not some law to prevent this
indecency? Tis hoped that a speedy
stop will give US no room for further