The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-09-16
NENGRIDGANP
FILLS THE BILL
Training Site in Lewis
County Makes Big
Hit With All.

WESTON. Sept. 1s.-west Viz
ginta's own private football train.
Ing camp at Jackson's Mill, Lewis
County, Is Just finishing its first
season in that particular capacity,
and 1t Is the enthusiastic opinion
OF everybody from Coach G. W,
Spears down to the greenest man
on the squad that conditions here
are as nearly ideal as could be
imagined. In the words Of one
OF the camp officials "the sea.
son has been the most satisfactory
in every way. we have ever had.
and We have been able to train
nearly twice the number OF men
at less than half the former cost"
All Of which ought to weigh
heavily in its favor.
West Virginia probably is uni
que in the possession OF its FOOT.
ball training camp. Other uniye7-
stiles conduct annual draining
camps but as far as is known, they
do not own, control and operate
their own private camp.
Perhaps the most important
single advantage that the camp
holds is that in It Coach Spears
Is potentate, mogul and monarch
Of all he surveys and arbIter OF
everything that goes on. II he
wants to hold secret practice, all
he has to do is to say it and the
I governor himself couldn't break
into the park. II he doesn't ap-
prove Of the fare and inclines to
the belief that the men ought to
have more raw meat, the men
have more raw meat. The walking
delegate OF the football players
union would have to keep right on
walking. Spears is the boss.
Formerly the training camp
was held at a summer resort
where the football men were only
an incident to the conduct Of a
large hotel establishment. Az
Jackson's Mill there have been no
possible conflicting interests, and
the efforts, activities and ambi-
tons of the whole establishment
are bent solely to help production
OF a football team that can make
I w. and j. and. Pitt and other
rival machines take to cover.
i Last year football fans who
couldn't wait for therfirst game ia
see the Mounta'nsers In action
had to so clear out Of the state To
observe the boys In training. This
/ year and ensuing years the camp
is located in the heart of the state
and easily reached from any direc.
i ton. Nor have the fans been SLOW
to appreciate It.. The gallery OF
enthusiasts has been growing
daily and with the completion OF
a hard road probably before. next
year. parking and standing space
about the field will probably be
at premium. More fans have
visited the camp this year to see
tho boys in, training than in any
previous year. In fact. this years
experience has shown that grand
stands will probably have, to oe
erected to accommodate the Wis.
itors next fall. The interest IN
the teams welfare which its ac.
feasibility creates in fans through
out the state is OF inestimable
value 10 the states leading font
OF knowledge.
! No haphazard scheme has been
followed in laying out the park
A nationally known firm OF land.
scape architects was engaged hy
the state to draw up careful plans
for development and the while
plan centers around the football
arena. The dressing room and
shower bath house, with full mod
ern equipment is just a few steps
from the playing field. The sleep
ing quarters and the dining hall
are all conveniently situated.
AMI while the coaches and camp
followers agree that the training
season has been the most satisfac.
tory ever, 1t Is pleasant to con.
template that the park is really
only formative stage, and that
a year from now added advan-
tage and convenlences will have
been installed and made available
to the pigskin chasers.
The permanent buildings. othor
than the old mill where "stonc'
wall and his uncle ground the
grain for the countryside, now
number mighty attractive as.
sembly building. a large dining
hall, fully equipped shower
house and dressing room, small
concrete well house and the Lewis
County Cottage, an attractive
roomy building now being used as
a headquarters by the coaches,
newspaper men and visitors. Har-
rison, Upshur and Marion counties
are almost certain to have their
cottages erected by this time next
year which will. make It possible
Ito accommodate as many candt.