Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-19
Nearly Completed Home For
the State University Athletes, !
Gives Splendid Advantages
BUILDING WILL COST $4,000
II had Been Hoped to Have tho strue-
ture Finished by January 9, But the
Date bf Opening Will Now Be Lit
tie Later-Description of the Equip.
ment-lowa News In General
Special to Times-Republica.-

Special to Times-Republicah-
Iowa City, Dec. 19.-The new gym
nasium of the state university, which
is rapidly nearing completion, will be
a worthy home for the athletes OF the
institution. At the last meeting Of the
board of regents, provision was made
for the furnishing Of the building and
the contract for the appliances was let
to a Rhode Island firm.
The building itself has a location OF
exceptional advantage. 1t is placed on
a high bank Immediately to the right
of the entrance to the athletic and but
a few steps from the gate. 1t Is one
hundred and forty feet long and eighty
feet wide. The main room is eighty
by eighty and extends in height to the
roof three stories above the floor. In
this room will be placed basket ball
court, and about the wall a running
track has been built twelve feet above
the level Of the floor and seven feet
wide. 1t will give ample opportunity
for winter training for the track rum
ners. Already the track team is max
ing preparation to enter their new
home which it is believed they wall
be able to do within the next month.
1t had been supposed that the build
ing would be ready for occupancy by
the ninth of January, when Iowa was
to have played basket ball with the
touring Yale team. That date mas
been Cancelled, but it Is now evident
that it will be some time after that
date that the gym will be thrown open.
The front part of the building Will
be fitted with ample shower baths and
lockers for the men. On the second ana
third floors the offices Of the Athletic
Association will be fitted up. 1t is pos
sible a training table will be conduct
ed there.
The idea of separate training quar-
tiers has long been the cherished am
bition of Iowa athletes. When the
gymnasium was first provided for by
the appropriation of the legislature
cry went up among the student body
and the athletes for adequate accom-
mediation for training quarters for the
foot ball team and the track team.
by the gymnasium proper and the bath
rooms. That was all they required.
The foot ball team desired to have
rooms were the training table
could be accommodated, and II pos
sible. rooms for the members OF the
team where they would be constantly
under the eye Of the coach. The last
has been found impracticable, but 1T
Is possible that the training table quar-
tiers will be placed on the third floor In
the front of the building.
This will be of great benefit because
the men will no longer be at the mercy
Of the private boarding houses. On the
second and first floors will be the Of
fees Of the athletic manager and of the
athletic coach. These two offices have
been for long time in the old armory
but the accommodations have been far
from satisfactory.
The building Of the new gymnasium
will give the state university a great
err opportunity to compete with the
other schools and colleges in the state,
who have long enjoyed gymnasium ad-
vantages superior to the state uni
versity, in the annual track meet in
Des Moines. These schools, by the aid
of their gymnasiums, have been en-
abled to get the start of the university
from one to two months in training,
and then the university athletes were
dependent on the weather man. The
track team. in the future, will begin
training shortly after the close Of the
football season and It is hoped that
Iowa, will have in the future several
indoor meets. These have been pro-
hibited in the past by the lack Of ac-
commodation. The building is in ev-
cry way a credit to the men who have
built It. tho It is presumed to be but
temporary structure. The cost is es-
tinmated at $4,000.