The Washington herald., 1915-12-26
Basketball Has Made
Great Progress In the
PastTwenty-five Years

I petitive games contains an example OF
more rapid growth than that shown
by basketball during the first two
or three years of it's existence. Even
the remarkable spread of ba Sc ball in
the years Immediately following the
civil war was second to this. The
rapidity with which the knowledge of
basketball spread throughout the
world was due. first to the fact that
the game was constituted that il
met in an adequate way the real need
for vigorous indoor game; and. sec
ond. the game was developed in an
institution which sent its studen all
OF whom had learned to play the
game. to all parts of the world.
The movement which has resulted in
the formal cooperation of the rules
committees representing the Young
Mems Christian Association, the Anna
teur Athletic Union. and the National
Collegiate Association. promises to be
a most valuable influence in promot-
ing the development of the game OF
basketball along right lines and
should mark the beginning of a new
epoch in the history of the game as a
most desirable and useful indoor
sport.
Basketball makes no uncertain de-
mands on heart and lungs and on en-
durance generally. II develops alert
ness. self-controI. skill. speed and
team work: and 1t brings into action
every part of the body. A good game
Of basketball arouses interest and
enthusiasm in both player and specta-
tor. Its essential simplicity and the
small amount of inexpensive apparatus
required, taken in connection with it's
other qualifications. make it one of
the most valuable of our competitive
games.
Along about 1900 or few years be-
fore that time, those who had played
basketball in Philadelphia and New
York City came to the conclusion that
they could make little coin for them
selves and the National Professional
League was organized. Their conclu-
sion was certainly justified for the
national league, now known as the
Eastern League. is still a successful
organization. The Central. in West
ern Pennsylvania, the Hudson River,
the New England. and Pennsylvania
State Leagues have been organized in
the last ten years, and from the re-
ports received they are very success
full and are all drawing capacity
houses. Philadelphia is the banner
city in turning out good basketball
players. 1t is stated that there are
5000 boys playing the game in and
about the Quaker City.
The reason for the success of pro-
fessional basketball is. that the game
Is played in a cage and is just about
SO per cent faster than games that
are played without the net.
In 1907 local amateur players, hav-
ing heard of the wonderful success OF
professional basketball in the north,
jumped the traces and organized the
District League. Nearly every player
Of any marked ability became q pro-
fessional 1t is stated by one who
ought to know. that the league was
big success financially, and the hall
was packed to overfowing at every
contest.
The league games were played
under Chase's Theater and after the
first season had to be discontinued for
the reason that the owners refused
to rent the hall for basketball and
there was not q suitable floor in the
city whore the sport could be staged.
Basketball In the District since