The New York herald., 1922-01-01
COLUMBIA STADIUM
At LAST ASSURED
Gift of Anonymous Donor
Makes Possible Acquisi-
ton of Tract.
AT BWAY. AND 218TH ST.
Great Athletic Plant Will
Bring the intercollegiate
Championship Here.
AT BWAY. AND 218TH ST.

Nicholas Murray Butler, president
of Columbia University, announced
last night that the university had
raised the 100000 necessary to ac-
quire the Dyckman tract for use as a
stadium and athletic grounds. The
option on the tract was to have ex-
pired at noon yesterday. The name of
the donor was withheld.
The gift. it was stated at Columbia,
assures to New York city facilities for
national intercollegiate contests and
public events ranking with the worlds
great outdoor centers. A committee of
alumni and students under the chair
manship of Archibald Douglas, gradu-
ate of the Columbia Law School Of
the class of 1897, has been working
since May. 1921. to raise the needed
amount. At the Columbia holiday
luncheon on Thursday DR.. Butler an
nounced that up to that time the ef-
forts had been unsuccessful. The
raising of the money by DR.. Butler at
the last minute comes to Columbia and
to the city in the nature of a New
Years surprise.
steps will be taken at once to develop
the tract in accordance with the plan
which has already been mapped out in
detail DR.. Butler last night made the
announcement of the gift. which comes
from q personal friend. in the following
statement
Twenty-six Acres Included,
1T is with profound satisfaction that
am able to announce that a warm per-
so lal friend. who wishes for the time
being to remain anonymous. has made
a princely gift of the sum needed to
enable Columbia University to acquire
for an athletic field and stadium the
DycIsman tract of more than twenty-six
acres, which has been held under option
since May last
"rhe total cost of acquiring the prop
orty will be about 100000. The option
70 purchase was to expire at noon Sat
urday. December 81, and the generous
donor, who had been greatly interested
in the project from the time It was first
brought to his attention. made his gift
on Friday.
Ut Is difficult to exaggerate what pos
session of this property will mean TO the
health and the enjoyment OF generations
Cf Columbia University students and
alumni. When developed as we plan to
dcvelop IL, Il will be as notable an ad-
ditlon 20 the resources OF Now York
as n metropolitan city as has been made
in many a day"
Dr. Butler stated that the committee
OF alumni and students who have been
at work on the plans since last spring
have before them a complete scheme Tor
developing the property prepared by Eu-
pene KIapp. engineer Of the Columbia
class OF 1912 and Henry L. Hornbostel,
architect, of the Columbia class of 1881.
seating Capacity $4,000.
Speaking OF the plans for athletic
fields. DIR. Butler said that they pro-
yidei for a football stadium with
seating capacity OF $4,000, costing $780,
600; n separate baseball field with
capacity OF 10000, costing S125,000, ana
an athletic field with three tracks and
a 22O-yard stralghtaway with a capacity
OF 5000 or 5000. costing s45O'Ooo.
A field boulevard 200 feet wide tnat
will park from 1000 20 l,5Oo automo-
blles will be built across the property at
a cost of 100000. This road or boule-
ward will look down over the footoai,
and baseball fields on the one hand ana
] look ou. on the athletic fields on the
other. DR. Butler explained
A boathouse and rowing headquarters
will be built IN the extreme westerly
part OF the property In a cove projected
| from the tidal currents OF the Harlem
River. A seawall costing $i35,0OO Is
also provided for In the plans whlch
| further contemplate tho erection OF
war memorial whose cost Ike that OF
the boathouse and a clubhouse has not
yet been estimated.
DR.. Butler In recent statement on
the uniyersty's building plans which
| contemplate the expenditure of millions
| ana in which start will be made AT
once by the erection Of faculty house
on Morningside Drive costing S25O'ouu'
stated that FALL buildings for residence
and for what may be roughly descriped
us domestic purposes should be on South
! Field" AZ this point. he said. should
he located the university Commons and
! In the same building and hboVe tne
| Commons there would he opportunity 70
| make unique prONiSloN lVt AN Nf'"- -
dergradua,e and student orEanizations
and activities, athletic and others, which
are now either inadeduately cared for or
not cared for at all.
on South Field also he urged me
building OF gymnasium IN TRADITIONAL
| ouadrnngular fashion. the present GYM
nasium 10 be converted INTO university
| auditorium.
of Benefit 60 city.
DR.. Butler said yesterday that The
building OF the stadium on the DVckmah
tract would be Of great benefit TO the
city OF New York. as well as turnish
satisfactory solution Of the problem
OF public games and interecoHegi ave con-
tests. 'in which the great body OF Co
mnibia alumni and undergraduates are
so directly and properly interested.
with the new year, DR. Butter SAID
last night. funds can be gathered for
the DEVELOPMENT of the Dycltman PROP
erty This. he added, could be done bit
by bit
.TaN N.sa