East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-08-17

Would the people of Pendleton like |
to have n natatorium right at the edge |
of the city, where those who are COM |
PEELED to remain at home during the !
summer could enjoy the pleasures of
a swim whenever they so desired?
Naturally there is but one answer
to such an inquiry, especially among
those who remain" and from all in
dications their desire could be graft
fled with ease and little expense il
only the opportunities at hand are
utilized. The source of warm water
for the nat" is to be found in the
waste hot water from the city water
works just above town. A stream of
such water runs constantly to waste
from a three-inch pipe at the pump
station, and while it is not full. it is
said to be sufficient to supply swim
ming tank with an abundance of wa
| ter. The water is perfectly clean, and
is taken from the mill race for the
purpose of operating the plant. Dur
| ing the summer months, when the
demand for water is heavy the pump
station is kept running all day and all
night long, consequently there would
be a continuous supply, and the pool
could be refilled frequently If not
every night.
In the estimation of Water Com
missioner Brown, who has long been
an advocate of the construction of
natatorium below the waterworks, the
same could be made at a cost OF be-
tween $1,000 and $500, and would be
inexpensive to operate. This is figur-
ing upon pool 40 by so feet in
dimensions with varying depths and
made of concrete.
The idea of natatorium as above
outlined has been in the minds of
members of the water commissio9 for
some time. and Secretary Clopton OF
the board has been calculating upon
the expense. However, no action mas
ever been taken by the board, propa-
bly because all the funds at their dis
/, posal are needed for other work Con-
siderable land in the vicinity OF the
, plant is already owned by the city anc
= the water commission, having beer
:, bought mainly for the purpose of pro-
.
A land still remaining is unimproved tol
. the most part, and as it is not desir
: able for anything else is thought car
. be purchased at a reasonable figure
n unless the owners seek to play
n "holdup" game.
:. Since the council and water com
t mission both seem loath to go out
e side Of their beaten path of duties il
r the making of public improvements
some have suggested that possibly tn
= Commercial association might handle
e the matter with success. The need o
r a natatorium has long been felt b!
n members of the association, and thu
= desire has grown with the prospect o
It a gymnasium in the near future. Al
a result some have suggested that th'
gymnasium management could ais
have charge of the natatorium, run
II ming it under the name of the associa
u ton, thus insuring proper supervisor
for the place. Also, 1t is thought tina
d a good profit could be realized from
81 the pool, as it would certainly be wei
patronized during the summer ant
- there would be little expense to it
- operation.
>, AS the present season is now far ad
- vanced it would not be practicable t
carry out the scheme this year. How
ever. before another summer roll
around it may be possible for Pendle
n ton people to take a swim without tn
st necessity of going to the coast or t
T. the mountain resorts.