Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-17
HIGH SCHOOL ROWING
PROPOSED ORGANIZATION OF A
TECH" CREW.

In the larger cities the educational au-
thorities have to add rowing to the school
athletics, the results being more gratifying
than the promoters at first dreamed pos
sible.
The board of stewards of the American
Henley" to assist the movement to bring
about rowing In the high and preparatory
,, schools, has made the interscholastic
event feature of its program. 1t
has received encouraging reports rom
Worcester, where good school crews have
been materialized for several years; Boston
High, the St. Alphonse School of Boston,
the Cornell preps. better known as Cas-
cadilla; Philadelphia High and the George
town props.
The idea is an attempt at that system
which prevails in England today and has
held sway there for sixty years Of suprem-
acy on the water. There the development
of the youngsters In the public schools
makes them admirably adapted to the work
and At to step right into coveted positions
in the college crews at Oxford or Cam
bridge. The public school races are second
at Henley to the grand challenge contest
between Fights.
Here in Washington the proposition to
form crews from the high schools has been
given publicity through The Star from
time to time, but the matter has never
come to focus, owing, probably, to the
first dampening consideration-the expense.
1t was suggested by some of the advocates
of high school rowing that part OF the
money appropriated for Fairgrounds could
be taken, with which a small boathouse
could be built on the tidal basin-but these
gentlemen were given the hint that such
a thing was out of the question and hence
that has been abandoned
There Is a decided leaning toward things
athletic now throughout the country and
in no other more than aquatics. Here Is
the sport that is as manly as the next, as
grueling, but yet in nowise beset with
the dangers Of the foot ball field. Parents
with a desire for their sons athletic glory
feel more at ease In knowing that the latter
are engaged In healthy, strong, mascu-
line sport and are not exposed to the danger
of injuries incident to other athletic con-
tests.
The District Commissioners are heartily
in favor of the high schools taking up row.
ing-that is, they as citizens, express them
selves as pleased with the idea. They
cannot speak officially, as they say that
the matter comes more properly in the
jurisdiction of the board of education.
Commissioner Mcfarland in a letter to
President Jno. Hadley Doyle of the Po-
tomacs says: LAS you know, | think the
Potomac river ought to be used by our peo-
pie a hundred times more than it is.
believe that no sports are better for the
community than water sports. l wish that
thousands of our young men were on the
river in the season. Personally l should
heartily approve the proposition to interest
the high schools in water athletics"
Commissioner West writes in the same
vein. Il agree with you IN the value or
rowing as an athletic exercise, but do not
see exactly how 1t can be made a part of
the physical training in the high schools,
although there is no question as to the
benefits to be derived from it. l would
advise you to get the board Of education
interested"
Superintendent w. E. Chancellor In writ
ing on this subject says: Il. myself. am
very fond of aquatic sports and am be-
lever in them. Anything I can do to en-
courage the boys in these sports shall be
very glad to-"
The board Of education may take some
action sometime in the future, for, with
Admiral Baird at Its head and Capt. James
Oyster, an old Columbia Athletic Club man,
as assistant, there Is hope. But in order to
get the matter going properly 1t Is now
proposed to organize a crew from the Nc
Kinley Manuel Training School under fac
ulty supervision and with Mr. G. A. Hecox,
e prominent local oarsman. to personally
direct their endeayors. In this way the
with the Georgetown props could be had
In preparation for the sending Of q crew to
the American Henley.
It 10 proposed that an amount sufiicient
to cover all the expenses be raised by the
students, the oarsmen to af1liate with one
Of the local clubs to use Its boats thus
saving the expense Of buying q shell, and
to train under their professor, Mr.. Hecox,
who IL undoubtedly one Of the best oars
men and scuilers In this vicinity. II Tech.
does well ct Philadelphia It win serve as
an incentive for the other large schools
| to follow In order next season, ultimately
ending In the organization Of q washington
High School Navy,