The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-12-23
why NOT A;MUNICI.
PAL SkATING.RINk
PLAN TO HAVE SPOT ON SAUK
LAKE CLEARED FOR THIS
FINE RECREATION
COST OF MAINTENANCE SMALL
HERALD CORRESPONDENT SETS
FORTH THE PROPOSITION
VERY CLEARLY


Herald is heartily in accord with the
suggestions contained in the commun-
ieation which follows. By all mans
let us take advantage of the facilities
nature has bestowed on us for secur-
ing infringement in the greatest of all
winter sports and for which many
communities would gladly pay dearly.
Let's have a free, all-winter municipal
skating rink! And let's have it right
away! Give the young people skating
during the Yuletide season. 1t will
be one of the best "better health"
moves the city of Sank Centre ever
made. The reward will come in bright
eyes, rosy cheeks, strong lungs,
sturdy legs and healthy kiddies.)
Editor of the Herald: Sank Centre
is the best little city in the world.
This is broad statement, perhaps,
but just try roaming around over the
globe for nearly score of years, in
to broad highways and isolated cor
ners, and when you come back and
give the old home town the once over
see if you will not reiterate the state
ment. 1t would take more space than
you would care to grant me-with all
your generosity-to even simply sum
up in brief the attributes of Sank
Centre. But that is not my desire.
Rather, my idea is to point out a
good thing" which has undoubtedly
been simply overlooked and will be
grasped when attention is directed. l
imply this because believe Sank Cen
tire wants to be in the front rank in
everything and that my little idea
has not been fathered for lack of de-
lay.
What's the matter Of clearing off
and maintaining free municipal
skating rink on the lake just off the
city park two square blocks or so in
dimension with blocked off fields for
hockey and similar sports. Not one
single argument of weight can be ad-
vanced against the proposition. The
cost can be the only objection and
this would be nil in comparison with
the health and recreation benefits de-
rived by kiddies and grown-ups alike.
Because of the lightness of the snow
which now covers the ice,, one man
with single light horse and pillow
could clear the desired space in two
hours time in preparation for flood
ing. The chief and other fire ladies
give assurance a t t h e y
will gladly flood the rink when
ever there is need. The cost of a
warming station ian elaborate one
is not needed) would be slight; as
would also be the fuel cost: Snow, as
it would be banked up during the win
ter, would form walls in protection
against cold winds.
Caretaker? Certainly. But all his
time would not be required and this
matter could be placed under the reg
ulation of the public service depart
ment.
Electric lighting? Certainly again.
But few incandescent lights hoist
ed on temporary standards and eoper-
ated under moonlight schedule"
would mot bring on municipal bank
ruptcy. = -..<,.
= RICH here I will say that 1 have a
lot of confidence in the men, women,
boys and girls of Sank Centre and if
an iron box with slot and lock were
placed in conspicuous place below a
conspicuous sign within the enclosure
/ feel certain that enough pennies,
nickels and dimes would be dropped
through the slot to pay the cost of
maintenance. And if that didn't work
and the city couldn't afford the ex-
penditure, l would still have faith in
the success of quarter-a-moIlth sub
scription list for. maintenance pur-
poses after the rink was established.
Come on, city dads, let's have a big
comfortable ice rink and let the kid
dies. and grownups Of this vigorous
and crispy nothland skate to their
hearts content. ....# '.<E tr'...,.
St, Cloud has cleared Lake Henry
for its lovers of skating; the Twin
Cities have flooded their parks; cities
everywhere are providing this great
est of all winter pleasure and recre-
alton free. "a Is Sank Centre to go
through the winter without rink
We hope not, Mr.. Editor. :ss
One who is willing to WELD a
broom to help out the cause.