The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-07
NEW ARMORY To BECOME
ATHLETIC CENTRE OF CITY
Gymnasium and Rifle Range Work
OF City Police May Take Place
I'm Home OF Grays.
ADEQUATE ROOM AND LIGHT
Drill Hall VIII BE Used as Basketball
ana Indoor Baseball Courts Dur
ils Winter. and q League VIII BE
Formed Among Military Men.

Plans which may cause the Rich
mond ';rays' Armory. at Seventh and
Marshall Streets TO become the ath-
lc,ic centre OF the city, are now being
conaidcrcd bv several ORGANIZATIONS A
special committee. appointed by Major
Lawrence T. Price, Is considering a
proposition 10 have the Police DEPART
mcnt and the John Marshall High
School athletes. In addition TO tho
m!litiamcn, do their training in the
big gymnasium, while arrangements
are now bciny made to convert tho
huge drill hall into basketball and in
door baseball courts.
Should the arrangements be COM
plcted. the police will use both the
gymnasium and the rifle range. Out OF
$50 men of the force. less than a dozen
have declined TO join the proposition.
The police viii have the building to
themselves In the afternoons. at which
time gymnasium classes and rife
practice can be INDUCED In under com
petcnt instruction. The rules FOL
lowed by the New York and I,hila.
delphia departments will he carried
out. The gym is large enough TO &c.
conmodate the entire class nj ono
tim.. while the rife range is bull, for
eight men to shoot simultaneously,
Tn. Eoard of Police Commissioners
.s considering the matter. 4 eubcorn-
mittcc "as appointed by the board TO
confer with Major Price. and viii re
port barls 1T the next meeting. which
is scheduled for next week The mon
are cigcr IL take up the athletic work
while IL" practice on the range viii he
OF incstimablc worth 10 the police
similar overturcs have been made {"
the School Board, and tho pupils Or
tho John Marshall High School have
been ofiered.thc VI" Of the gymnasium
in the mornings. THIS would give tho
militiarnen the entire night to them
selves.
u. =. Jones Mny nc Instructor.
ii. +. Jones for acveral years d.
rector Of athletics AT the high school.
ma" become the instructor. Mr.. Jones
is Hcll known as an athlete and as All
instructor. lie il also an excellent
marSsmsn. and would be or value in
this line Recently he resigned his
position with the school system. and i3
Understood 10 be fa"orably Inclined to
the proposition offered by Major Pr.co
Great things IN the Nay Of athletics
are planned by the Grays for the fall
1t Is planned to lay three basketball
courts OFF In the drill hall IN order
that several teams may practice at ono
time. one court would DC used for
match games. and tho balconies on
either side Of tho big room would PRO
vide ample seating capacity. The
baskets would he erected on temper
arg stands. and could be Inov,d on tho
floor when II WAS desired for military
purposes.
Major rricc is also arranging for
several intcrcoinpany track meets. 80
well as open meets, The hall is tho
largest IN the city. with the exception
oil the Horse Show Building. and win
ne ample for AL track events. except
tho big college meets
70 Form Military League.
Another branch of winter sports that
will he housed IN the armory Is tina,
~ indoor baseball. since the old
building was demolished. this game
has fallen into decline. not through
lack OF Interest. but on account ~ no
place 10 play. The companies in the
Grays VIII get up Individual teams
and = military league. formed hy fhe
Richmond Blues, the Richmond Howit-
zers, Richmond Grays and tho Signal
Corps. viii be- attempted. The league
VIII consist OF basketball. Indoor base
Continued on Ninth PaccD