The New York herald., 1874-07-16
The Saratoga Course.

Scarcely more important Is 1t before giving battle
to choose and know we'll y0ur ground than In pre-
pairing for friendly bout with the oars to choose
and know well the water. NO one is better aware
OF this than the veteran professional. When about
to row race he will be on the water weeks In
advance, studying its every eddy and current
how the wind strikes It, where he can work to
best advantage and many more things which
he who is to risk much ought to know. But in the
selection Of an for battle like that of to-day
many other things have to be considered. For
these meetings draw together not simply the
rowers themselves, but friends in multitudes,
relatives partisans, old oarsmen, strangers
fond OF manly sports and many more OF
every rank and station. No better proof
could be had, II desired. of this than
look at the influx into Saratoga during the last
seven days. The press, to be sure, has contributed
much towards it, laying before the public all done
and to be done and the pleasure to be had II the
trip was made; but there has been one steady.
ceaseless tide Of a general, well-bred humanity
glad OF an opportunity to combine q visit to the
famous Springs with sight Of our principal
aquatic and, it may be added, athletic spectacle.
For, fond we may think ourselves OF outdoor
sports there Is but one athletic event In the
whole year which the interest felt is at all gen.
eral or about which we stop and read, and that is
this same University Race. IL, like men, gains
much OF its best strength from its character. for
1t is well known that there need be no
suspicion OF unfair play in these contests, or
ANYTHING else not entirely frank and manly. Never
once to their credit be 1t said, have these races
developed anything not strictly fair, even the
habit allowed in the English University OF the
leading boat washing" the other being discoun-
tenanced here, as jockeying and unworthy OF gen.
tlemen.
m NJ xyha w al W hacf ouyft
trials of speed has OF late years wholly changed.
Up through 1870, with rare exception, but two
boats at a time competed, and so narrow course
like that OF Lake Qunsigamond did very well, But
when, with the coming years, new colleges clam
ored for representation, track had to be
found adequate to the growing demand. And
not in rows alone, for there is plenty of water
In almost any part OF the country broad
and nearly smooth enough to sun1ce for several
crews to row on ABREAST; and our many lakes
and ponds would no doubt furnish abundant room
for work where the dangerous element OF current
would be omitted; bur when the other requisites
are looked at the quarterlng and caring for the
rowers and their property. and providing for
friends and visitors numbering many thousands,
It will be seen at that there at least be
abundant hotel room close at hand.
TIE PROBLEM,
then, reduces itself to nnding q course intrinsi-
caly good, lying near city or large town, ca
pable of accommodating many strangers. A look at
any place heretofore tried will show that no lair
solution of this problem has, up till now, been
found. Had the water near either place named
been all 1t should be, neither Of them would long
suit, for the reason that they have hotel ac-
commodatons suinclent for only ordinary de.
mands and 1t would not pay to build
| more extensive ones. This does not hold good o
Saratoga, because 1t is place which In one month