The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1907-12-06
NEWS OF THE GYMNASIUM
Plans Being Enlarged to Include q
Lot of Unexpected Good Things.

Good news continues to come In
concerning the new gymnasium be-
ing fitted up at The Central School
Building, and We hope to tell our
readers all about it In the near fu-
ture. A shipment of fixtures and ap-
paratus arrived this week by freight,
and the workmen are bringing things
to close, 80 1t can be dedicated soon.
Boyle Bros. & Company did the
plumbing, and after the job was COM
pleted according to plans, they saw
whore 1t could be very much improv-
cd by making change that would
cost them about $25 or $40, and out
Of pride in the instution they made
the change at their own expense.
Mr.. Paxton, the electrician who
works for the Light & Power Com
pany, donated three days work wir-
ing the building, and Mr.. Brady, in
addition to cash donation, agrees to
furnish 20 lights at the ridiculously
low price of $3.50 a month. Young
men who have not been solicited, are
hunting up DR.. Harrington to add
something to the fund because they
are glad to help it along. The more
the subject is dicussed, the more i'm
portant 1t appears to people.
City Council Interested.
On Wednesday evening the City
Cuoncil held meeting, and DR.. Har-
rington appeared before the board
and laid his plans before them, ex-
planning some of the advantages to
he derived from it., and asked them
if they could appropriate some money
for it. Attorney Hansbrough, the leg
al adviser for the board spoke very
emphatically for the gymnasium, and
said he thought the City Government
should appropriate $500, and lend a
hand in the expense of maintenance.
Mr.. Blenkle, one of the members
of the board, spoke very favorably |
about such institutions, and said that |
in Germany they follow the policy of
expending money for good things like
this rather than for penal institu-
tions in which to punish people after |
getting into trouble as they do in so
many of our popular resorts, that are
not at'all like gymnasiums.
Fred Murphy, proprietor of the
Gem Saloon asked permission to ad-
dress the Board, and said that he
believed he voiced the sentiment of
saloon keepers of the town in say
ing that he would be glad to have
some place where boys and young
men might assemble to take exer-
else and physical training and in 9th
er ways spen their evenings instead
Of hanging around saloons. He said
that he did not want boys loafing |
about his place, and that 1t Is q
source of much annoyance to q
saloon keeper to have to be always on
the lookout to keep out boys who
are too young to be permitted legally !
to be In the saloon, but who claim to
be older than they are, or just 60 in
anyhow and stay until invited to
leave. He said he felt sorry for boys |
who have no particular place to spend
their evenings, and. that the night
school apd the Gymnasium open
way sferzthsmSt 10 improYee their con-
dit,on and foSmhabit 9 ofusefalness.
Continuing. he said that he once had
che privileges Of gymnasium. and
had later been employed ~ q train
man. md on many occasions be
believed he haA saved his life by asil-
ity cultivated In the drills OF the gym
uasiun. He hoped that the Village
Council would face the matter
souarely and give a worthy cause q
good lift.
Mr.. Lloyd. another member who
was present, spoke favorably about |