The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-10-12
ATHLETICS FOR
UNCLE SANS BOYS
Improvements Being Made at
Fort Douglas Will Make Con-
ditionS More Attractive.
GYMNASIUM TO BE ERECTED
Arrangements Are Made for List of
Events to Keep Soldiers In
terested This Winter.

In an effort to hold the soldiers of
the Fifteenth infantry within the
bounds OF the reservation, improve
ments are now being made at Fort
Douglas which will cost several thou
sand dollars. A shooting gallery has
been built near the target range, the
construction Of a bowling alley is now
under way, and before the winter has
progressed far, gymnasium will be
erected on the reservation grounds
near the barracks.
Through appropriations made by
Congress last spring, about 5000 000
was 10 be expended at Fort Douglas,
and most of this has already been
spent in new barracks and general i'm
prOyements. And the building of places
OF amusement for the soldiers has been
one Of the ideas which has not been
overlooked. The intention is to make
conditions at the post more attractive
for the average soldier, and TO pro-
vide means for his amusement. The
hope is expressed by the officers that
they can make things so attractive
that the enlisted men, young and old,
will prefer TO remain at the post dur
ing the evenings instead of going to
the city to walk about the streets.
In most or the posts of the country
athletics has been overlooked TO a
great extent by the war department
The officers have arranged for them
selves, but there has been little atten-
tiOn paid TO the needs of the men in
this line. During the last few years
the part OF the war department, and
as a result, ii has been shown in the
posts throughout the country.
New Gymnasium.
Up to the present time all there has
been at Fort Douglas for athletic pur-
poses has been a large field where
baseball, football and other outdoor
games have been played, and field
meets held. There has also been what
is known as the gymnasium, small and
nO0TlW lRhTGn with
where the teams have practiced in fit
ting themselves for basketball.
In each of the barracks, companies
have purchased pool tables and other
equipment for entertainments, with
company funds. but these have not been
sufficient to hold the men and furnish
them with amusement. There are a
number in each company who do not
care for the bright lights of the city,
and who remain at the post most OF the
time. but these are in the minority.
The new gymnasium to be erected
will cost about $1,000. Work will start
upon it within another week. with the
purpose of having II finished late this
fall. The barracks for musicians has
been finished, as well as the shooting
gallery for indoor work, and work has
alleys. where there will be two stan
dard lanes for the bowlers.
Lieutenant o. o. Ellis is athletic di-
rector at the post, and has made ar
rangements for a list OF events this
winter which will keep the men inter-
ested in the work. A series of basket
ball games will be arranged during the
winter and efforts will be made to
play games with teams in Salt Lake.
In addition to these events. boxing and
wrestling matches will be arranged,
and championships strived for, both by
companies, battalions and regimental.
Teams have already started practicing
outdoors, and viii not be inside until
the cold weather forces them in.
With bowling alleys. a shooting gall
lery for the sub-target guns and for
aiming and finger-pull exercise with
the big Springfields. and with a gym
nasium for all indoor sports. il is be-
lieVed by officers at the post that the
men can be held there better this win
ter and they look for an athletic rec
ord never before approached at the
local post.