Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-02-25
An Improvement.
A FINE BUILDING TO BE En- ECT.
ED BY THE ECITIZEN,S RIM X AND
NAIATORIUM COMPANY.
IDLE MEN GIVEN WORK.

A reporter of the REPUBLICAN visit
ed Fourth and Washington streets on
Tuesday afternoon, to view the site Of
the new building that is to be erected
by the Citizens Rink and Natatortum
Company, and was grati6ed to find
about fifty men busy at work, some OF
whom were digging post holes, while
others were moticingand preparing the
heavy lumber for girders for the floors.
This Company is composed OF well
known business men of this city, who
intend to have all the work on their
new building done by Wilmington me-
chanics.
The new building, which will front
on Washington street, will be 80 feet
wide, and 212 feet deep, with an annex
14x70 feet. 1t will be built of red brick
with black mortar, and be two stories
high ,andIvery ornamental. The skating
floor will be 184 feet long, and IS feet
wide, with an elevated platform on
each side for spectators, passageway
in the rear, and will be connected with
the skating floor by aisles, sim liar 70
those in the Opera House, that connect
the dress circle with the parquette.
The main entrance will be on WASH
ton street, and one side will have
skate room and cloak room, while ON
the other side Of the entrance there
loon opening on the street, for the
accommodation of those who do not
wish to enter the rink.
| There will he another ice cream
| saloon insidG c11 nected with this one,
for the use tiers or others in the
building. The annex will be on the
south side Of the building, and will con-
tain a skating surface IA feet wide by
70 feet long, for the use of learners.
On the second door there will be an
elevated gallery front and back for
spectators. and q restaurant 30 arrang-
ed that persons can sit and enjoy their
ice cream, and also view the skaters on
the lower floor. Every part Of the
building will be constructed of the best
material, and in the latest and most
improved manner. Three members Of
the company have recently visited the
leading rinks in Philadelphia, New
York and Boston, for the purpose of
ascertaining the most approved plans
in use in those cities, and also the kind
of skate that gives the be st satisfaction.
As result of their Investigations,
they resolved to adopt the Raymond
skate, which they found to be the uni
} versal favo ite. The cost of these
skates Is much greater than that OF
other kinds, but in this matter, the
same as in everything else connected
with the enterprise, the cost is matter
of secondary consideration, as the great
Z object Ia TO obtain the best results.
! The rink will be managed by c. r.
s Garrettson of York, Pa, who has had
considerable experience in the manage
4 ment 0 f rinks. He will have an able
a corps Of assistants, and one of the men,
4 bers of the company will be present at
each session, and see that the best order
IL maintained and that the wants OF
!. patrons are carefully attended to. 1t
u is the intention of the company to spare
- neither care or expense, to make the
rink complete in every particular.
= The plans for the natatorium are not
It yet completed, but il will be construct
Q ed in the most approved manner that
/ science, skill and experience can sug-
gest. The lot on which the rink will
It be constructed has been used as q ium.
Q Der yard, and the greater part is under
y cover, which will admit of the men
o working, notwithstanI ing the weather.
As soon as all the lum ber is moved froTu
the place the force OF men now em.
n ployed will be more than doubled, as il
II is the intention of the company to com.
|. Iplete the building as soon as possible,
!. 30 to be able to open early in April.
a There is no doubt but the venture will
prove success, as the natatorium,
Especially, is something that has been
nee led in this city for long time. The
ITlices of admission TO the rink will bf
the same as charged at other places OF
. the kind in this city.