The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-05
The University Race COuEse--saratoga
Chosen a Third Tfnae.

Chosen a Third Tfnae.
The action of the Rowing Association yes
terday in deciding that the University race
Of 1876 shall take place, as it has done for
the last two years, at Saratoga, was in every
way sensible, while it is very unfortunate
that doubt is allowed annually to arise on q
question that should have been settled years
ago for good New London certainly came
forward this year with some strong points in
her favor, which were ably and fully pressed
by Mr. Mccall, of Dartmouth, in his mi
nority report But the fact should never be
lost sight of that the two absolute essentials
Of successful university race course are a
track manifestly fair and adequate accommo-
dations for the visiting spectators. The Eng
lish contest only needs the former for the
course is so near London that the assembly
can easily be home again by nightfall But
no course has been found, and probably
none will be, near any of our large
cities which will suit. simply because
our great breast race must be rowed on
broad water, free from tide or current, or it can
never be fair. A smaller place. then, must
be had, which, besides having q suitable
track, must yet be able to board and care for
over night an immense number of people
whose inroad lasts but for a day or two.
New London, by calling in all the outlying
villages and anchoring a floating bedroom or
two off her dock, thought she might be equal
to the emergency. But it does not take long
to determine in which tavern the average
American would prefer to sleep on hot
night-a ten-footer at Mantle or Poquonock,
or the Grand Union, Congress Hall, United
tried, and failed utterly; and New London
would have proved in the matter of accom-
mediation, at least, far more unfit. If any
other place in the Eastern or Middle States
can at all compare with Saratoga in being
suited to the University race it is strange
that it was not heard from long ago.
None such exists, and the students
ought to know it by this time.
To have rowed at New London any year
would have caused such needless annoy
ance to thousands that the public would
hear of the University race with feelings
little short of disgust, and it is especially
fortunate that this new blunder was not
stumbled into in this above all years, just
when our guests would have the chance to
see wretched bungling, and in a sort of affair
with the conduct of which many of them
were long ago familiar.
Whether the English universities are to
come is not yet known, because the chal-
lenges reached them during vacation and
official action could not be promptly taken.
Our dispatches on the I'd inst showed that
at both Oxford and Cambridge the matter
would receive favorable attention, and while
they may hesitate about one or both of the
changes asked-namelyj that they row in
our way, in skies and without coxswains-
they should remember that Harvard made
even greater changes in order to meet Oxford
in 1869 and that some concession now would
only be civil Vice President Leslie, of the
Dublin University Boat Club, fears that his
crew cannot come, which. especially after
the marked courtesy extended our rihemen
in his country, is to be particularly regretted.
If the expense of the trip is the real obstacle
good way of overcoming it has already oc-
CURED to several of our college rowing men,
and we would be glad to see them press
their plan to accomplishment.