The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-12-20
THE AMPHITHEATRE.
A Magnificent Building Magnifcently
Equipped.

A Magnificent Building Magni6cently
Equipped.
The Largest and Finest Roller Ska
ting Rink In the West.
The Grand Opening Tonight and
Masquerade Carnival.
Situated ppon the north side of
West Park street Is an immense stone
and brick building, erected by our
enterprising 'townsman Mr.. John d.
Thomas. The building is 100 feet
front by 10 feet deep, with basement
full size If the structure, the rink Oc-
cupying all the space above. Three
large folding doors, opening either
wsy, afford ample room for egress
in case of accideLt of any kind. The
building is lighted by forty windows
in the daytime ard by three electric
lights in the evening.
Upon entering the right hand en-
trance the first thing Observed is the
box Office 1T the 1lzhr, a cosy, well fin
ished apartment 10 which the clerk
in Charge is entrusted with other
duties, which will be mentioned
hereafter, besides receiving cash for
tickets. Ladies with escorts who at
tend as spectators here turn to the
right and can 60 mp stairs into the
gallery or take seats expressly re-
served for them on the east side of
the rink. The skaters, both ladies
and gentlemen, turn to the left, and
after .depositiDg wracpings and over
coats in the rooms set apart for such
and procuring their skates at adjoin-
ing ones, the ladies pass on to q room
fitted up and devoted to their use
only, white the gentlemen enter the
apartment alloted to them. Doors
open from these several rooms i'm
mediately upon the rink. The la
dies retiring room is nicely car
peted. warmed by q large stove
and furnished with looking
glass. water tank, wash stand.
and ether convenienees Usually found
In Q well provided hotel. The box
Office. skate room, ladies' and gentle.
mems retiring rooms, cloak, and
wrappings room, and q room set
apart for bicyclists: form a series OF
apartments extending across the en-
tire south end of the building. each
having q door opening into the
rink.
Passing through the main ingress,
closed by large sliding doors, the
visitor comes at M upon the I'M
mense rink. Here. spread out before
him, is a sight which cannot be wit
NJ ssed in any territory in the Union,
and which may be seer in only a few
of the SO STATES. At his feet is a
floored space ln7 by Is teet, contain
ing an area of 9,O05 SOU are feet. This
sthe rink proper. The floor is made
of kiln-dried hard maple, and pre-
sents q surface as smooth and
even az glass. In front Of him at the
other ind Of the rink is the large Oh
chestra stand, supported twelve feet
from tn q not by large iron rods from
the root of the building. AT the lett
a row of chairs, extending the whole
length IT the rink, is placed upon a
slightly raised surface. These art
for the use of skaters. At the right
are three rows of chairs resting upon
y dais. These are for lady spectator
and their escorts. Above these seats
is the gallery extending upon both
sides, and the south end Of the build
ing. the gallery upon the right being
sci apart for ladies and their escorts
and that upon the left for gentlemen
aIone These are provided with
chairs in tiers one above the other.
no that one obtains a full view of the
large rink from any part Of the build
ing.
In the centre of the vast area be-
tween two large imitation marble
columns stands the great attraction OF
the interior, the Fountain with Cur
po\le octaxOn pan, and lily group
The height, to the first pan il S feet 10
inches Height from first to second
pam feet Z inches. Total height III
feet IL inches. Diameter of fl rst pan
4 fe. t. Diameter of second pan 2 feet
G, Inches. B,se 2 feet Z inches all
resting upon an 8 foot octagon ground
base four feet high. Tue et OF water
rises from the apex and falls over
into the first pan from lily leaves,
and dropping in sprays from that re-
ceptacle to the first pan it ia con-
Quoted through a dozen goats mouths
IN the basin below where it is carried
off bv pipes. The whole is q
beautiful piece of workmanship
and adds not only to the attractive
ness OF the Surroundings bnt to the
con venience aud heallhfulness OF
skaters by collecting aud carrying
off the impalpable dust from the
ohalked floor with which the air Is
sometimes impregnated.
The interior of the building
is finished in a style at once tasty,
and pleasing to the eye. The Whlte
hard finished walls are relieved by
salmon-colored w%ainscotting and
.ky-blue colorings above, while the
ratings of the galleries are touched
off with wood color dressings, the
whole presenting a most agreeable
effect. A large clock hangs upon the
wall at the south end of the rink
and lust beneath it y fourteen inch
2 ing 10 fastened. This is worked by
the clerk IN the box-offce. He also
has charge of the large sliding doors
which be can open or close in q
twipkling.
The whole building is heated by a
hot air furnace IN the basement, sup
plemented by q number OF stoves IN
the various retiring rooms and one
IN the northeast corner of the rink
Two thousand people can be com
fortably seated, aad no obstruction
offered to their view, Being equip
ped with all the modern improve
ments, the Amphitheatre will com
pare favorablv with any rink in the
largest Eastern cities. The band il
composed Of ten pieces, under the
leadership of MI. Samuel Wright,on
of the finest cornetists in The country
A grand street parade of the band vii
take place at O'Clock this afternoon
when the members will appear fol
the first time in their fine uniform
generously presented to them by MI
Thomas.
This evening the Amphitheatrt
will be thrown open to the public
with q grand masquerade carnival
at which prizes will be awarded a.
per programme. 1t promises to bt
the g,andest social event that hal
ever taken place in Butte.
Personal.