The New York herald., 1876-03-13
Preparatory Contests for the Centen-
ninl.

In their we'll meant endeayors to have the
Centennial regatta on the SchuylLill worthy
OF the time and the nation the Committee OF
Arrangements have taken o step sure to
defeat the very end they are most eager to
attain. BY throwing open the races to rowers
from the entire world they will have in each
contest SO many entries that no track in the
world could properly accommodate them,
much less the narrow Schuylkill One way
out of this, and the one they purpose adopt
ing, is to row the different races in heats
But this is a plan not only Objectionable
from every standpoint, but simply fatal to
fair racing IT fifteen boats are entered to
row on q track wide enough only for five
there must be four heats-three trial and one
final. Working at the fastest rates and
under most favorable circumstances, these,
if all attempted on the same day, must
occupy several hours, and hence thoroughly
tire the spectators The wind and sun and
current meanwhile change sufficiently to
visibly affect the rowing, while the separation
into absolutely fair sets for the trial heats
is next to impossible, and if the second boat,
in one trial heat, makes better time than the
first in another, it cannot be fair to let the
latter into the final heat and yet exclude the
former. Should the managers also not be
thoroughly up to their work-and the men in
this country who have ever developed any
particular ability in handling a large fleet of
outriggers can be counted almost on ones
thumbs--the long labors of the committee
will end in confusion peculiarly trying,
because hundreds of thousands will be there
to witness it.
The evident remedy for this is to get the
trial heats through with beforehand and
elsewhere and have them all disposed Of
People will go to Philadelphia expecting to
see, not q batch of trial heats, but grand
race among the very best oarsmen the world
can furnish. If the Schuylkill has but room for
five crews abreast, then but five should be
allowed in any one of the many contests, and
here Saratoga can come directly to the
rescue, and in doing SO insure series of
contests on her beautiful lake more brilliant
than she ever knew or for long years will
know again. On Tuesday the Fourth of july
and the two days following let her throw
open series OF races TO the PROFESSIONAL
oarsmen of the world, giving liberal purses.
OF the American crews competing let the
two who show the best score in the three
days races be eligible for places at Philadel-
phia, and let all whom they have beaten
stay out. To meet, then, the two exceed
ingiy tough crews from the British provinces
and the champion team from England there
will be the best we really have, and they
will not be hampered by second rate teams,
IN danger of fouling them. Let Saratoga fix
three days of the following week for simi-
lar wedding process among the amateurs
Besides so manifestly deciding where the
merit rightly rests moments thought will
show how profitably individuals may then
be changed, the poorest man in the first
boat giving place to the best in any of the
others, and still having time to thoroughly
fill his new place before reaching Philadel-
phia The winners thus at Saratoga will get
all the patronage they wish, and until they
first win in such contest, and so earn it, it
would be foolish to extend it to them.