Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-11-18


The college gymnasium has come to
occupy a most conspicuous place in
every quadrangle, and the buildings
at most of our large universities and
colleges are INTELLECTUALLY as artistic
and complete as are the more imposing
structures devoted to the exercise and
development of the mind. But that
the present type of building which is
dedicated to the development of a
sound body in which a sound mind
can dwell is all that it can and should
be are questions which arise with the
new huge gym proposed for Dart
mouth college. This institution of
learning would take great forward
step and provide a structure large
enough to accommodate all the major
athletic sports, except rowing, and it
is probable that Dartmouth's move
will fix the type of future construction
of college gymnasia.
This plan for a huge gymnasium
building, really big athletic field I'M
der glass, is being fathered by the
alumni of the college, and so enthusi-
astic are they over the project that
there is little doubt but that they will
be able to bring their plans to COM
plete realization. The building which
their plans provide will be so huge
that track men will be able to prac-
tice on a track of eight laps to the
mile, and with straightaways of more
than 100 yards; SO huge that baseball
men will have space in which to bat
the ball and to run, yet without en-
croaching upon the ample area re
served for shot-putters, jumpers and
pole vaulters; SO huge that the entire
college may take exercise at one time
under its roof.
The indoor dirt track, the largest
in the United States is, perhaps, the
most remarkable feature of the pro-
posed gymnasium. 1t will be a regula
ton cinder track with built-up turns
ten feet in width and as nearly perfect
as such a track can be.
The A. B. Shaws and Stephen Chases
of the future Dartmouth shall need no
more seek out, in the spring, some re-
stricted stretch of dry, bare ground on
which their hurdles may be set up.
Entirely independent of however lag
gard a springtime, undisturbed by rain
or any windy weather, they shall fit
themselves at their pleasure for rec
ord-breaking flights over the high
sticks.
This splendid indoor track will pass
and return beneath the first floor of
what is really the gymnasium proper.
and circle out and around the two
far-stretching shell-like wings that
will extend on either side, and in
which will be contained the expanses
Of native earth, 40 feet by 10 at
least, which the baseball men and
track squad may call their own.
This track as planned will be larger
than the bicycle track erected at the
Madison square garden in New York
for the six-day bicycle races, and will
be nearly twice as large as the indoor
track in Mechanics building, which
is of Is laps to the mile, or 80 yards.
A building which thus provides for
organized athletics, as well as for
gymnastics, is the type of gymnasium
which the college men of the present
and future will applaud AMI cOvet.
What is more, it is the type of gym
nasium which they will insist upon
having. College men everywhere will
realize the important advantages
which Dartmouth athletic teams must
gain by this enormous addition to
their equipment. They will insist
upon having equal advantages.
On the second floor will be situated
the gymnasium proper containing all
the apparatus for gymnastic work,
and an open floor space where basket
ball can be played. and where half
the college could be given class drill
at Une time; also courts for court ten
mis-. squash courts. boxing and fencing