The evening herald., 1918-05-02
CAT.TLEMAN GIVES
YANKEE SOLDIERS
GREAT GYMNASIUM
Wealthy Montana Stock Raiser
Wants Men Training for Duty
Overseas to Be Physically Fit
and Have Good Time as Well.
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Camp Lewis. Tacoma. Wash. May
Making men physically ft and
giving the soldiers in training for duty
overseas an ideal place for recreation
is IN" excuse FOR ghe big Butte ath-
letic building given to Camp Lewis by
A. j. Davis, Butte Mont, banker. min
ing man aud cattle raiser who has con-
trihutCd considerable sums TO yarious
war work activities In the oanoa.
ment
Tho idea for the building came -
AIR. Davis during visit TO Camp
Lewis early IN the winter and he gave
Instructions for the construction OF a
big gymnasium where the basketball
games could be staged. handball. vol
ieyhall and other indoor sports en-
ioyed ana where there werc shower
baths and all the facilities that go with
q big college or university gymnasium
As = result the 100 By 100 foot stru'
turc stands as a monument to Mr.
Davis generosity on Montana ave-
nue. opposite the center 81 tbe division
parade grounds.
Tho work ON the building was done
largely by the soldiers \ detail VI
twenty TO thirty men was sent 10 as
Fis' the mechanics In constructing tho
buiiuing and enlisted electricians "a.
stalled the electro fixtures and wiz
,ng. As a result of this the cost ot
the work was cut almost in half, with
SHIT supplies purchased through the
governmental agencies by the quar-
termestcr's department.
Tfc lower trusses of the ceiling arc
twenty feet above the hardwood floor
which Is in ideal otnditiun for ath-
letic work and can be converted into
n gigantic dance floor as occasior re-.
quires. A row of windows. thirty
ON each side and nine on each end.
give the necessary light and by opens
ing every other window, swinging
them all back on hinges from the
top. the building can be we'll venti-
lated without creating n draft
The bottom of the windows Is four
teen feet from the floor and the walls
underneath can be used for gym.
nasium apparatus and handball work
At either end OF the building are q
locker room and shower baths, on'
for officers and one for enlisted men
There are handball courts. basketball
courts ana athletic equipment design.
ed 10 develop every muscle In the
human body. There are rooms foi
wrestling mats ana large noXrg ripr
can be erected in the center OF the
ouilding 80 that a large crowd car
witness any boxing show that may b,
staged. There Is an overhead system
0f lighting so designed that the en-
tire floor h flooded with a light stronF
enough for any sort of athletic WORK
az night
One OF the new things in the gym.
40 A hus
been stretched between two posts IN
the center OF the building across the
big basketball court and tennis en-.
thusiasts can find the swftest sort
of court for their favorltc sport In any
sort OF weat her.
AL attendant has been placed In
charge OF the building. lie has his
dunrters there and has full charge II
the building and equipment under or
dcrs from Captain T. G. Cook, division
athletic director. The building is open
from reVeillc 10 tapc every day, In
cluClng Sundays and the men are
eager 20 take advantage Of the op-
portunity afforded for athletic recre-
at.oT. Whenever n number Of men
can he off duty long enough during
the day there Is crowd al tho Butte
building and at night there is o big
crowd In the eymna'dum.
The gymnasium IS conducted large
" on the lines Of college gymnasium
work under the direction Of Captain
Cook, who has had years of eXpert-
ence with this WORK
Mr. Davis, donor Of the building 10
an cid athlete. In his younger days
he was noted as a sprirter ane nc
always has taken an interest In ath-
letic work. 4 large part Of tho Y.
NJ. G. a. war work funds al camp