Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1920-03-25
A GYMNASIUM ERECTED
IN BEIINGTON
BY the Board of Education. City
Council and County Court
Oh. z. Roylesl

percentage of men rejected from the
military service because of physical
unfitness, caused by comfortable dis
eases and neglect of proper exercise
by the men when they were of school
age. Some states have already pass
ed laws requiring military training
for the boys of their high schools
New York being one of the latest.
Before the war, indeed, some of the
more progressive schools of New Eng
land and the high schools of Wash
ington city, had military training
The war has emphasized this idea
anew. Some of our Congressman
have introduced bills before the Con-
gress of the United States, submit
ting plans and asking that laws be
passed requiring universal military
training among boys of high school
age. They ask this not as war
measure, alone, but they recognize the
cipline as well as for the building up
of strong physical bodies in order
that the business of peace-times may
be cared for properly.
Since the close of the war there has
been an added increase in athletic in
terest throughout the country In our
own state the interest in football and
basketball has been greater than ever
before and it is safe prediction that
the interest will continue to grow
The question naturally arises, what
is Belington doing to keep up this
campaign of physical fitness?
Permit me to say the townspeople
are talking much about gymnasium
Daily / am asked by some interested
citizen, certain things about raising
money and the sort of building we
should erect.
Since last week, Mayor Lee Ben
nett and VIM. Scrimegeour, Com
missioner of the County Court, have
talked to me about the town and
county working together in connection
with the Board of Education and
erecting building which will serve
the school, town and county.
The town is in bad need of a NUM-
cipal building. The present one does
not reflect much to the credit of a
progressive town. The site, however,
is a desirable one and should have an
attractive building upon it.
! understand the outgoing council
last week discussed the ACCESSIBILITY
of assisting the Board of Education
in the erection of our proposed build
ing The idea is fine one and we
hope the incoming council will take
! up the matter and help put it across.
| The county is in need of a building
i, during the winter for keeping trucks.
rollers, drags, plows and other tools
that are used in the construction Of
roads about the city. The supply of
material will increase as the good road
program is enlarged and it seems a
matter of good business that the
county court should provide a place
/ in which material of this sort may be
kept In fact it would seem that a
superintendent will soon be needed to
/ look after the repair, storage, etc, of
county material WHY NOT TALK
/ TO THE COUNTY COURT AND
HAVE THEM WORK IN CONJUN-
+ CTION WITH THE BOARD OF ED
I UCATION AND CITY COUNCIL?
4 The town lot at present is so 120
feet and l understand the adjoining
lot is for sale With this added the
lot would be rs 100 ft.-an ideal
size The mayors office, council
chamber and jail might be placed in
one end, leaving a large place, really
a garage for the county to use as its
part. Here a gasoline tank, shop
and mechanics tables could be install
ed together with an office for the
overseer.
If the county were to put up a
building alone, lot would have to be
bought and building material as well
Whereas, if the County Court could
be induced to work in the above men
toned cooperative way, much more
satisfactory building could be erected
and at no greater cost.
If such plan could be carried out
the upstairs could be built into 9
suitable gymnasium and community
center hall. Certainly a better gym
nasium could be built if the Board Of
Education is assisted by the council
and county.
| asked Prosecuting Attorney, Bruce
Talbot about the legality of thes'
three groups working together anc
erecting building and he was O
: the opinion that it could be done
, IJ<.,,-o..-,,,. he cs,ercrasfod thai the nla7