The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-05-16
Municipal Swimming
Almost Reality-.-M.
M. Company Gives
$1,000.

Missoula wants a municipal swim
ming pool and Missoula is going tc
have one. The Missoulian Campaign
for this much needed institution is GO
ing to be put over. Nearly three score
leading men and women were seen YES
terday and each one reservedly went
on record as being willing to exert
every Influence in his or her power to
aid In putting across a pool where
the boys and girls of Missoula-and
Erown-ups, too, for that matter-may
enjoy the delightful sport of swimming
without the dangers attendant to the
treacherDus river which has yearly
claimed its toll from the youth of this
city.
Tho Mercantile Company.
The greatest answer of them all
came yesterday from the Missoula Mer-
camille company when Missoulian
representative called there to ascertain
the sentiment of that concern toward
snch an institution. "The Missoula
Mercantile company will give $1,000
toward municipal swimming POOL"
officials. IF the people of Missoula
are in earnest and really want place
where the youth Of this city can en-
JOY swimming without the dangers at
tendant to a bath in the river, we are
willing to do our part. We believe
that this campaign should be con-
Quoted along the lines YOU have laid
out for it. We think it should be built
by subscriptions obtained from every
one interested in making Missoula a
better place in which to live. The
Mercantile company believes that the
move would be a good one for the city
and we only hope that you make a
success OF it. If the sentiment is as
unanimous as you have found it. the
necessary money should be raised
within a short time"
The Spirit That Counts.
That was an answer which meant
something. Word and deed were syn
onomous. But here was another which
helped some. A man came up and
without preliminaries said: II UNDER
stand you are going to make this a
municipal campaign. I haven't much,
pui mere IL dollar.
young, but public spirited clerk
answered a query as to what he
thought of municipal swimming pool
with the statement: Get out your
snhscription blank. I'll give s1O to
that move any time" q
Leaders in business life: leaders in
club circles. as well as the men and
women whose orbit in life has not
brought them into quite so much
prominence-all talked the same. The
idea has taken hold on Missoula.
Here's what some of the people seen
yesterday had to say:
Executive Committee of the Cham
her of Commerce-"Our support must
he limited to moral cncourag cement
The treasury has had many strains
during the past few months and there
are many moro extraordinary expenses
to be met right away But what CO.
operation and whole -souled SUPPORT we
can give will be cheerfulv extended :"
A. L. Stone, president of the chamber
of commercial municipal swimming
pool has long been a dream of mine
OF course, I hoped to SEQ this In a
municipal center like the island would
he If you can make the start it will
be laying the foundation for this larger
accomplishment. I sincerely hope that
the people rally to your call and Put
this through at once"
Sid !. Coffee.-"You can put me
down as willing to do my share. This
move is in the right direction. 7 know
the time I have had in keeping my
boy out of the river. Just the other
day he told me that he evidently never
would learn to swim. This will be p
great thing for all of Missoula and
hone it becomes a reality"
Mrs. Fred T. Parker. vice president
of the orchard Homes Country Life
club.-"Yes. indeed, let us have a mu-
nicipal swimming pool at once. hoping
for finer natatorium of greater cost
to be established later. as in other
cities. The money spent now by va
rious clubs and organizations in Mis-
soula might well some of it be devoted
to this means Of safe guarding the
lives of our bows and girls and at the
same time teaching them a health and
grace producing art"
Mrs. Sarah E. Sumner. supervisor of
domestic art in the Missoula city
schools-"Every father and every
mother. every aunt and every uncle.
big brother and big sister, eager for
the safety and happiness of the young
er boys and girls of Missoula. will
upon thoughtful consideration do y
share towards getting a safe swimming
pool for the use Of these, boys and
girls"
7. F. Lowry. superintendent of the
Northern Pacific.-"By all means. let's
-, have a swimming pool for the use of
the boys of the Garden city. 1t is our
duty as the parents and guardians OF
the growing generation to provide safe
and sane amusements for the young
sters, and it is certain that the rivers
and streams in this vicinity are any,
-