Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-21


soLTDATIoN-HIs INTENTIONS WITH REGARD
TO THE NEW PARK, ETC.
Base ball enthusiasts in this city Just now are
few and far between. Those who were pro-
nounced cranks on the subject year ago have
lost great deal of their ardor in the uncer-
talnty OF things that prevails at present. The
apparently interminable legal contest that il
now in progress in New York is responsible for
much OF this indifference, for, as every one,
including both brotherhood and league players,
| admits, on the outcome of this suit will evolve
the future Of the sport Folks have merely
grown tired of waiting for the end to come and
are turning their attention to other matters.
But base ball enthusiasm is a peculiar quality
in that it receives but the slightest spark to set
it to blazing, and it is safe to predict that if
the suit goes for the league, as q majority of
folks think it will, this city will be fairly bub-
bling with base ball interest.
HOW THE NEW PARK WILL BE LAID OUT AND
IMPROVED.
At Mr. Hewett's headquarters yesterday after
noon, whittier a STAR reporter wandered in
search of news, there was belief that the de-
cision Of the court will be rendered late this
week. Mr.. Hewett evidently has faith in the
future, for he is pushing ahead with his char
acteristlc emery to secure his new grounds at
the head of 18th street. The negotiations for
the lease OF the property are not yet COM
pleted. but the reporter without much stretch
OF imagination inferred from Mr.. Hewett's
manner that everything is as good as settled.
Plans are now being considered for the new
grand stand. which will probably be modelled
somewhat after the style of that on the Mil
waukee grounds. The new park will be a little
smaller than the old one, being both narrower
and shorter, but the field will be SO laid
same amount of playing room. Instead
OF having the base lines run at angles with the
fences, they will go parallel. or in other words
the diamond will point to the lower corner of
the field. The stand, one story in height, will
run along two sides of the lot, and will seat
about 1000 people, or fully 1000 more than
could be accommodated at the old grounds.
The seating arrangements will be far better
than they have been heretofore, opera chairs
being used in the stand instead of the plain
affairs and the benches that have made the
Washington grand stand the laughing stock of
the league. The ground on the new site is
naturally level, so that very little grading will
be necessary. Work will probably be begun
about the middle Of February in preparing the
surface, which will have to be we'll seasoned
and rolled before 1t can be considered as fit for
playing.
But Mr.. Hewett, Of course, realizes that
good ball park does not make base ball club,
and he does not suppose for a moment that the
that alone. He is at present resting on his
oars waiting for two things, one of them being
the result OF the injunction suit and the other
the outcome of the deal between hun and
President Won der Horst of the Baltimore club.
1t Is this deal about which a large quantity of
ink has been spilled that has within it great
possibilities for the Washington club. Its
latest phases are shown in the following state
ment. which appeared in the Baltimore Sun yes
terday:
THE BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON NEGOTIATIONS.
The negotiations between the Baltimore and
Washington base ball clubs have taken q new
turn, and there is now some prospect that they
may come to successful conclusion, Mr.,
Hewetts ultimatum of $4,000 for his fran
chise and goodwill cannot be accepted under
any circumstances, and there is little chance
that he will haul in his figures. The arrange
ment proposed contemplates a consolidation of
OF the two teams, the owners from Baltimore to
acquire q share in Mr.. Hewetts property, The
best players Of both teams would then be
punched together and placed on the roll of the
Washington league, Of which Manager Barnie
would be given active charge. The remainder
ouldrepresent Baltimore in the Atlantic associ-
alton and would be handled by some expe rienced
player who could consult occasionally with Mr..
Barnie IL the team in Washington did not at
tract crowds sufficiently large to pay expenses
the chances are that it would be transferred to
Baltimore to trade places with the Atlantic
association club. One advantage of the ar
rangement outlined would be the establishment
of an excellent training school in one city for
players to go to the other after they have re-
ceived their training. II the Atlantic associa-
ton club should finish a season $4,000 short of
expenses the loss might be Offset by the de-
veiopment of three or four good players who
could not be purchased elsewhere for $40, 900.
Manager Barnie will probably hold another
conference with Mr.. Hewett in a few days in
10 tha On Al
more club will insist upon before agreeing to
consolidation is the organization of new stock
company to control the Washingtons The
present company has certain debts Ii is
stated, which new owners in whole or in part
would not care TO assume. If this point if set
tied satisfactorily there 10 good prospect
that final arrangement can be made. A
number Of league potentates have expressed q
desire to have the benefit of Manager BARNES
ability and experience in this organization, and
Mr.. Hewett would very much like to have him
manage the Washingtons. In the event of con-
solicitation Mr.. Hewett does not propose to re-
tain more than four or five of his last seasons
team, provided the reserve rule holds good in
court. He will not name the men be would
like to re-engage, but it is not difficult to pick
them out First of all is Connie Mack, then
come Haddock. Person and Hoy. Beecher in
good batsman, but his fielding and base run
ming are not considered up to the standard of
other outfelders Mr.. Hewett has in view. IN
der the same circumstances Manager Barnie
would count on handing over Kilroy, Griffin,
Shindle, Werrick, Foreman and Ray. 1t is
conceded that If he can muster all of this rec.
ognized talent under the Washington banner
hs will have very formidable team.
WHAT PRESIDENT HEwErr SAYS.
Mr.. Hewett said to The STAB reporter that
just at present he is waiting for the result of
certain steps which he recently took looking
toward the consolidation, being practically an
offer to Mr.. Won der Horst, which that gentle
man Is now considering. He said that he was
not at liberty to announce what the terms of
his proposition we're, as they involved certain
private matters that should not be made pub
lie, but he admitted the general truth of the
article in the Sun. He said that if the deal il
consummated and if the suit goes in favor Of
the league Washington will have a club that
will not be excelled by any in the league. He
added: Il do not make this as a boast without
reason. have carefully looked over eyery
phase OF the situation and can see nothing to
discourage me. / anticipate that if the
injunction Is granted against Ward we shall have
the pick Of our old men. l have not made the
least show OF an overture to any of them, for I
know that il they want to sign at all they will
sign without much urging. In case of q VIC
tory in New York we will probably not have to
take any legal steps here, unless the gentlemen
do not come mp to the scratch, and then we
may have 10 put the screws on. Mr. Sullivan Ia
waiting for a word from me to go off on his
hunt tor players. He has a list OF men. but I
could not tell You the names of any of them
j really don't know who they are. He is very