The New York herald., 1878-03-27
COLLEGE BOATING.
THE EFFORT TO ORGANIZE NEW ENGLAND
ROWING AssocIATIoN-THE SPRINGFIELD
MEETING.

ROWING AsSocIATION-THE SPRINGFIELD
MEETING.
MIppLErowN. Conn, March rs, 1878.
There are in the possession Of Il. A. Sumner. COM
modore OF The Wesleyan Navy two letters which have
interest from that they disclose the attitude
OF two New England colleges reference to the OFT
proposed but accomplished, organization OF .
New England collegiate rowing ASSOCIATION. One is
from the secretary OF the Williams College Rowing
Association, prououncing decidedly for the proposed
move and suggesting the first step necessary to the
act-lhe calling OF convention pt delegates IRON COL
eges avoraDiy impressed at Springfield the 9th OF
the present month. The other ID from the secretary
OF the Brown University Association, which conveys
the Information that although Brown is boating more
than for three years, is unable TO venture outside
of class racing during the coming summer The
proposition OF Williams is entertained favoraby by
Wesleyan, while Browns position genuine os-
appointment and surprise, or 1t was thought that she
fully as wcil prepared as any college IN New Eng
land outside of the two larger ones, in all respects to
act and indeed IL had been thought that sue would be
the one to take the lead. Commodore sumner has
also heard from Amherst, which writes, ''Amherst
boating dead, the word dead being underscored.
Dartmouth met financial wreck when her boat house
was destroyed. Then the expectations Of tho advo-
Gates an association based the action OF four
colleges only, VIZ wesleyan. Williams Trinity and
Bowdon. There doubt that the Grst three named
are not only willing 10 associate, but enthusiastic
Whether Trinity Will be able to come TO the front
must depend much on the iberay OF her friends aud
graduates, anu this liberaiity must be manifested
promptly TO warrant her in attending tho Springfield
convention proposed tor her coegans are hardly able
TO bear the expense involved without aid. sun her
enthusiasm is such, and she has material which is
excellent, that she may appear, and II Is TO be hoped
that she will CONCERNING BowdOin noHe OF the tbrce
colleges mentioned seem to have any positive knowl
edge except that the average OF her meu Is heavy aud
that u good ought TO be raised from her sons.
Bowdon, 1t wii be recol!ectcd, was ncntlonea prom
inenlly the former move Tor the association which
collapsed, although she did not attend the proposed
meeting at New London, where TRINITY inquired alone
CoyFERENcE.
On the 18th OF the present month Commodore Sum-
wrote letters TO Brown, Amherst, dartmouth,
Bowdon, Williams ana TRINITY From Bowdoin aud
Dartmouth response mas been received but II Is
certain that Dartmouth must not be counted on AT all
Commodore Sumner IN his letter sald substantially
what known 10 be the sense oil the college, although
no meeting held that there seemed to De Il
growing iecIug among New England colleges tnat II
New England association ought TO be formed and II
was desirable have each express Its opinion. No
AT all conversan with the facts Will dispute Com
moaore Sumner's statement concerning "tne growing
interest,"" In Trinity, Wesleyan, Williams and Brown
there has been an increasing attention PAID 10
class races, and the continuous agitation
of nearly months mas shown tnat
The interest Tor an association aud the feeling 'that
there ought TO be an association" are vital 1t is un
vancei before anything has been accompshed but
class races have gwen TRINITY, Wesleyan aud Will
ary situated. AS boats and funds Wesleyan,
probably, has advantage; but as she has rowed
wbile being stocked Tor sxoared race, prefers
skies. But 1t snoud DO stated hcre tor fear OF mis-
take-and IL is important that at thus Juncturc all
shouid be clearly unders ood-that she will row iu a
four If II is the wish OF the yet unounded assocat0n
ana Is conhdent that the necessary funds Tor the
needed new boats VIII be forthcoming.
10 show precisely how Williams aud Brown arc in
clined and situated 1t advisable TO give IN full
the letter received from each.
Browns letter. which gives promise for another
yoar inferenuay, is as foows:-
Commodor L. A. SUMNER:
Your OF the 18th received In accord
with your dec meeting called ascertain the
IL was voted that brown cannot join any ssso.
this year The interest or boating ia this cole
has very for past three years. and
until the q the present college year that u
vs all our to so"tns At the soes ana have
invitation aud that we can report better things
If. J. KEEN, Secretary b. U. r. A.
1t seems to be clear what Brown would like to do.
She wants an association, aud all want thai, and
feeling, as near as can be ascertaned Is that u
DO New England one exclusively. The trouble with
the did ASSOCIATION was that II unwieldiy tell
another OF the same sizc IN which there should be
such a diversity oil advantages and disadvantag es
The colleges II New Ea gland, or at least the minor
ones, are nearly all on the Same footing, which alone
Is an Indication OF The perpetuity Of associa-
ton once successfully launched. The Unparalleled
disasters which have lallen on these colleges aono
could nave deaye sOciaiion thus long.
WILLIAMS RESPONSE.
The letter from Williams College betokeps eager
ness aud is as toliows:-
Commodore Il. A.. SUMSEn:-
Yours 18th hand. Williams anxious to row
land colleges can DO formed Immediately We will send
the Delegates from ,he other colleges at three i. M
Wednesday Marea ~ fyoa sDpov Of the time place.
and then i you will write to Brown, trinity and mnersi
close of the term in a. COLLEGES thet must lose
time CARL +, DOwD, Secretary ". II. A
Commodore sumner al once an nswered that WESLEYAN
would send TWO delegates to the pace named AZ the
specified time IT there would pe pronI the attcn-
dance OF delegates rom three other colleges should
there DC three, however, there could be fairly
citing race, aud perhaps Wesleyan wilt 20,
1t seems she ought should two besides herself
be IN earnest, especially when II IS borne IN mnd
that ANOTHER dsas,rous collapse like the OF two
years 4go would be tat TO tho hopes OF forming AN
organ lzaiion Tor year two. Certainiy nothing rs
further from Wesieyans wish than TINS. Concluding
The letter statod thai Wesleyan would meet Williams
1or the purpose of arranging a race with her If
Williams SO shall desire il n tnira ueerotion snopd
happen III ther6 probably viii be u convenliou, as
WiiIianls IN all probability wIl respond.
PROSPECTS OF sUCCass
Now, this Is All hat can be saiu positively concern
ing the prospect oi an ASSOCIATION at TINS The
letter 10 Williams was maicd last week, aud probably
b. fore TINS has been ulIy discussed. There then
left to hear from Only Bowdoin and Trinity, ana tue
position of the latter pretty welt
since the recent letter concerning her boating az
pcared the HERALD. The general desire Ior iours
entals less expense lor boats difficulty anu ex-
pcnse IN hndIDg suitable ineu aud secures or GER
tainty the selection 0. the httest 1t also argues u
greater chance Tor the occurrence oil Wesleyan
iud.vuutiy IL perhaps more entnuSastic over boat
lug tLau iliars, aud snvuid the proposed SPRING
n,id conference re ut IN no,hing she VIII probably
arrange ior regatta on the connecticut, at Middle
town. ~ winch Vther colleges viii be invited par
teipate and compete or przes which she Will offer.
SHOULD sue row th Williams II is desired To uayo
the race on the Wesleyan three mile stralght away
course al Mhuictown, at least BY Wesleyan. ~ Is
safe to assume tnat there iii D, a race wlt Williams
somewhere anu AT some time next summer, the par
ucuiars yet 10 be arranged. And should there be "a
regatta ON the Connec icut the even.s Will comprise
also snge ana double souls, II they can be ged
csleyah VIII soon hold u meeting to decide whether
sno Will rcpresu TED at seneca Lake. She has ut
least lwo gVou double sCuiers, Messrs. Downs and
Eustace, ana Commodore Sumner pulls well In a
single scuL As the springfield meeting cannot lail
10 influence New England Collegiate boating iu The
iuture importance and interest Doth attached It,
GREAT BEACH SHOW.