The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1915-08-20
MuCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENT.


iooIhy sidewalk from Central avenue
to the bath houses at the swimminf
pool in the Okanogan river. 1t ex
tends north on Spokane street to C
W. Smiths residence, AID from there
east to the river. Other necessary i'm.
provements have been made on the
grounds. Heretofore it has beer
necessary to plough through the dus
III order to reach the swimming hole
ana one was about as dirty from the
accumulation of realestate on the re.
turn trip as when going into the wa.
ter. Many will probably continue to
take the short cut, but those who battle
for cleanliness as we'll as pleasure can
escape the dust by taking the new
walk.
This walk has been long considered
put has been slow in materializing.
Lumber and cash contributions have
| been on hand for some time for put
tlng 1t down, but there was no one to
take the initiative and it looked for a
| tlme as though the walk would never
be put down. c. w. Smith at last took
the proposition in hand and it was
owing almost entirely to his exertions
| that the walk is in existence today. He
solicited more contributions and then
talked a number OF young men who
use the swimming pool into assisting
| II the physical work. The Guthrie e.
Co, outfit willingly lent valuable aid,
as did also Engineer Major, and the
trick was finally turned.
Anything that can be done to make
this bathing place more attractive to
the public is money and labor well
spent. 1t is an ideal place for public
baths. A growth of trees shades the
houses at stretch on the river where
the bottom is soft, the water shallow
near the shore and deep enough for
experienced swimmers only short
distance out, with ar absence of any
dangerous currents to jeopardize the
| lives of the beginners. The mems and
over the river so that bathers can if so
desiring, dive directly from the plat
forms into the water. For years this
has been a popular resort for both
men, women and children every
day during the heat of the summer
and its general use may in measure
account for the health of the commun
lity. Hundreds of citizens take advan
tage of this convenient bathing pool
and a visitor to the town speedily finds
his way to that part of the river. From
early morning until late at night there
is hardly an iltermission to the stream
setting toward the pool and the river
is constantly dotted with bobbing
heads. 1t is owing to the presence of
this swimming pool and its easy access
that so many people of Oroville are
able to swim. There are few children
in the community that have not mas
tered the trick and many are as much
|
at home in the water as young ducks.
This knowledge of swimming is not
confined to boys and men, for there
are quite a lot of excellent swimmers
among the female members of the
population. 1t is an accomplishment
that is both healthful and safeguard
| TO those who know how, and one that
every person should learn. For that
reason, and the fact that the pool is an
attractive feature of the town, every
effort should be made to improve the
facilities and conveniences in and
about the bath houses, and there is
considerable room for Improvement
| lust at this time.