South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-11
BOWLING SPORT
HAS GROWN FAST
Game Practically Unknown
20 Years Ago-leagueS
to Open This Week.

cities in this country The alleys
on which the game was played were
of all dimensions. and. the equip
ment was Of different and various
caliber. Occasionally one would
ind on the same return through, old
wooden balls weighing from ten TO
20 pounds. and from six to , inches
in diameter. Such thing as a rub
Der or mineraite bali was entirely
unknown.
In 1895 the American Bowling
congress was formed with the inten-
tion of preparing the game of ten
pins They promulgated rules COW
ering the length and width Of an al
ley the set upon the pin spots and
the weight and size of the pins TO
be used E. that time regulations
were also made governing the size
of the ball to be used, although the
weight of the ball was not regulat-
ed until several years later.
Congress Formed i'm 1901.
Having established a foundation
the bowIers took kindly to the idea
of regulation by the American
Bowling congress. and. the forma-
ton of this parent body was the
real start Of the bowling game in
this country. Later the idea was
conceived 10 hold a national bowl
ing tournament and in 1901 the
first tournament was held under the
auspices Of the American Bowling
congress- in Chicago with an entry
of as teams. From that time on the
annual Tournament has grown 10
enormous proportions and has be-
come the recognized feature of the
bowling world, which is looked for
ward 10 by thousands of bOwlers
from year TO year.
There was a struggle to establish
it thoroughly and it accomplished
its purpose in a few years.
The splendid system of forming
city associations as chartered
very popular. When taken into
consideration that in fifteen years
the number of teams competing in
the national tournament Of the A.
b. c. has grown from Al 10 756. the
latter being the number of teams
TO compete at Toledo last year its
esta blished success is obvious.
Organization Popular Here.
South Bend has contributed it's
share OF the burden in establishing
the organization of the bowling
game and the American Bowling
congress. which has been recog-
nized by that body by electing a
South Bend man on it's executive
board for the past four years. And
the organization is also very popular
with local bowlers as they already
appreciate the benefits obtained
through organization of the great
est OF indoor American sports. Last
year this city not only held the dis
tinction of maintaining the largest
association in Indiana but also the
largest of any city Of its size in the
country.
Every indication points to a much
larger organization in this city this
year than that of last year. Last
year the South Bend Bowling asso-
citation consisted of 105 teams.
While the local forces have not yet
staged play 1l6 clubs already have
applications on file with. Secy. Lucius
III. Miller This number will un-
doubtedly grow to $50 or 100 when
the sport gets under a full head of
steam. This is indeed an excellent
exhibition of prosperity for the
bowling game in this city.
Singers Open Season.
To the Singer bowling league be-
longs the honor of opening the
league season in South Bend that
organization inaugUraUng cam
paign at the Orpheum allyes. with
a compliment or twelve clubs.
which will not terminate until April
27th. 1917. Not only were the sew
ing machine men first i'm beginning
local league play but they also
gained the distinction of being the
first league in the city of forward
ing their membership obligations
with the South Bend Bowling as
sociation.
Every established league of the
city will inauguarte its fall 1916
campaign this week with the eX-
ception OF the Bankers league,
which will not begin play until a
week later Like last year there
will be four leagues in operation at
the Elks Temple. the Antlers. Elks,
Federal and Temple leagues con-
shutting a compliment of "a clubs,
all OF whom are affiliated with the
south Bend Bowling association.
The United league viii again hold
forth at the Bardeen alleys. carry
ing six clubs and occupying the
drives for all Of the time allotted
for league play at that establish
ment.
Fourteen Leagues at Orpheum.
With the doubling OF its capacity
the Orpheum alleys with 16 alleys.
will OF necessity. have the greatest
amount OF play. as Il leagues viii
conduct their games there during
the fall season. The Oliver league.
with 10 clubs, tops the list in
numerical strength. other Organi-
cations to play there are the Elec-
trio. Commercial. City, Singers.
Bankers. Printers. Ladies. Ellis
worth. South Bend Plow Co. South
Bend Lathe Works Lumber. Manu-
facturers. Singers and South Bend