Concerning the Gymnasium
That the interest in Dartmouth's new Gymnasium is country wide is indicated by the number of pictures of it which have appeared in the newspaper and periodical press. Perhaps the best of these are the excellent pen-and-ink sketches which appeared in the BostonHerald for January 1, and which are here reproduced by courtesy of that paper.
Soon after the publication of this issue of THE MAGAZINE, the Gymnasium Committee will compile and publish the final roster of contributors to the fund for this gigantic building, and somewhat later, the names will, in one way or another, be made a matter of permanent record on the walls of the trophy room. There will be some two thousand of them, arranged by classes, written large enough and permanently enough to be seen of men for to come.
Curiously enough, the first interest that will attach to this list is not that of what names are there, but of what names are not there. In the long roil of Dartmouth men, who are the ones who have hung back and have failed or re fused to join in one of the most democratic and unified movements in the history of the alumni ? As the years pass, sons and sons of sons, will study the great inscription, men from near and far will scan it. It would be a splendid thing if no one might look in vain for the name of father, brother, friend, who was once, of Dartmouth. To the end that no one need look thus in vain, the Committee has decided to hold the list open yet a little longer, and to accept even the smallest subscriptions, so that the man of slenderest means need not feel shut out from the privilege of having a share in the work.
Much as has been written concerning the Gymnasium, there are some details concerning the construction that have not as yet been published. To build it required one and one-half million brick, 500 tons of steel; 2800 barrels of cement. The main shower room contains ten showers, and there are six showers in each of the two team rooms. The main locker room contains lockers for 1400 men: the faculty room, lockers for 150. The floors of these rooms, as of the toilets and shower rooms are of waterproof concrete supplied with accessible drains, so that they may be washed down with a hose. The great drill hall at the top of the building measures 195 by 80 feet, nearly twice the dimensions of the Commons dining room. It is floored with maple which will afford an excellent surface for Prom and Commencement dances. The total floor space of the building is nearly two acres; the slate roof covers 75,000 square feet.
The total cost of the building will be $165,000. The steel work has been so designed, however, that, as further funds may become available, a board track may be suspended in one of the wings, and in the other a hanging floor for squash courts and hand ball. The cost of these additions would be about S8000. A swimming tank, provision for which has been made in arranging the sewerage connections, would cost $30,000. These, however, are things to be hoped for, though not yet to be seen. To any who are desirous of knowing whether the Gymnasium has been economically built, 'the best answer is to state its cost per cubic foot: six cents, as against fourteen cents for the average brick armory, and twenty-five to thirty cents for more elaborate buildings. One of the most interesting features of the Gymnasium will be the basement room where are the great steam valves and the electric switch board. The Gymnasium is the only one of the College buildings that lies below the level of the heating station. In the other buildings the return to the station of water occurring from the condensation of heating steam is accomplished by Gravity. For the Gymnasium it is accomplished by an ingenious pumping device consisting of two electric motors in direct connection with turbine pumps. These motors are automatically controlled by floats in the receiving tank, so arranged that, when the accumulation of return water1 has reached a certain level, electrical contact is made, the motors are set in operation and the water sent on its way back to the boilers. When the level has been sufficiently reduced, the contact is broken and the motors rest.
By the time this issue of The Magazine is in the hands of its readers the Gymnasium will be, to all intents and purposes, completed. Already the regular classes in gymnastics are being held on the drill floor and preparations are being made for the holding of basketball games. Before the spring recess use of the building will be in full swing. The furnishing of the trophy room and the supplying of final equipment will necessarily be somewhat delayed.
THE GYMNASIUM DRILL FLOOR
