The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-13
PLAN FOR CURLING RINK
Enthusiasts Are Booming the
Scheme.
CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT
It Is the Great Sport Ovel, the Line-Oae
OF the Most Healthful Exercises
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Not
Great.

Great Falls, Feb. 12-Although there
are plenty of Scotchmen in this city
and its vicinity Great Falls has yet
to see its first game of curling. The
latitude is all right, any one who has
been in the city for the past two or
three weeks agree that the climate is
no bar to this healthful game, and it
seems that the town only needs some
enthusiast of the sport to start the
ball a-rolling, or better, the stone to
sliding. Up north there are plenty
Of curling Kinks and plenty of players
Even the little coal camp of Leth-
of the population has the leisure and
the means to indulge in the game, has
its rink, and there is no good reason
why next winter should not see a
rink in this city. OF course Lethbridg e
has a small rink, just enough for one
sheet" but its players are enthusi-
astic enough to make up for the de-
fciency. Over at Calgary they have
a rink of two sheets, while Macleod
boasts one of four
1t Is about the latter size that
could be safely ventured upon in this
city. Each Sheet is a strip of
smooth Ice 1Sx150 feet so that build
ing suitable for this size rink would
practically cover at least two of the
regulation Great Falls lots. That is,
1t would be 1O0x150 feet. Thomas Cur
~, who recently arrived in the city
with his wife from Lethbridge and who
intends to make Great Falls his home
In the future, is an ardent follower of
the sport, and in speaking of the mat
ter to the Standard reporter recently
SAID that
TO change his plans, he would proba bly,
put up a rink here in time for the COM
Ing season. Several are interested in
the scheme and had the movement been
started in time there would most likely
have been a rink here this winter. The
plan Is not one for the purpose of
making money, but the building will be
erected by popular subscription The
plans have not been matured suffi-
GENTLY to determine the cost, but it
ought not to be large The scheme is
TO secure two or more empty lots near
the center of the city by paying low
ground rental for them. On this ground
will be erected a building, substantial
enough to support it's walls and only
warm enough to keep the wind from the
players and the sun from the ice. At
the better class Kinks there is usually
a room of two floors in the front of the
building separated from the rink prop
er by glass partitions. The purpose of
this is to afford rooms that are com
fprtably heated for spectators for the
game and at the same time protect the
Kinks from the action of the heat. Sew
eral are Joining with Mr. Curry in ag-
1tat1ng the matter, and it is to be
hoped that Great Falls. before the end
of the present year is quite reached,
will resound to cries of "Soop her up,
Sandy" and That's curling"
As to the game itself, it is better and
even more healthful exercise than bowl
ing, which, in the last two or three
years. has experienced a revival, and
Judging from the enthuiasm which it's
lovers exhibit for it, curling is far more
exciting and admits of a greater de-
gree of skill. The initial expense will
no doubt be considerable. Outside of
the cost of the rink the other great ex-
pense is the purchase of the stones,
which cost $50 per pair. Each player
has pair and with eight men in
contest rink of four sheets of ice
would require 80 pairs of stones at a
cost of $40. On the other hand the stones
are practically indestructible, and the
only remaining expense is the cost of
maintaining the rink, which should be
inconsiderable. The project for light
ening the dull season Of the year is a
good one. and will doubtless meet with
an encoura cement which will make it
success for the curling season of
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