The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-14
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUES.
The Organization Of an Eight Club Cir
cult q Necessity.

The plan OF consolidating the Pacific North
west and the California leagues into one is
growing in favor daily. While as vet no def
mite steps have been taken, the necessity of the
union is becoming more and more widely recog-
nized. The history OF both of the Coast leagues
with that of numerous others of the same mem
bershlp, has proven that a circuit of but four
clubs is too small. The clubs are kept too CON
stantly changing back and forth, each visiting
team comes too often to the same town. Then
there are so few chances for making record
That II club does not rank first or second its
support falls Of. These aud other drawbacks
that the seasons of 1880 and 1891 have brought
out make the consolidation a necessity The
principal men in both leagues recognize this
iact ana the coming winter ought 10 bring
about the desired end
While the question of transportation between
North and south offers slight obstacle, with
grouping OF cities at either end of the circuit
TINS objection is not serious one. The gravest
question seems To be in the selection of North
ern city to make out the required number of
eIups. six-club league, from the peculiar
geographical location of the proposed circuit
seems impracticable. When the three Northern
clubs returned from q Southern trip, or vice
versa, they could not divide the games among
themselves without compelling one OF the teams
to lay of while the other two played. There
must be four clubs to the North and four to the
South.
At the lower end there will be no trouble in
securing a complement with San Francisco,
oakland, Sacramento and San Jose or Stockton.
The trouble viii be in the selection Of fourth
city at the north TO go with Portland, Tacoma
ana Seattle The general idea seems to be that
spokane should be dropped account of its
location. In population and financial support
II certainly outrauks any other possible eandi-
dates, and might u last resort, be selected
The other available towns are Salem, Belling-
ham bay and Victoria. Geographically the
oregon city is preferable, since its nearness to
Portland would pair ii off with that
city to balance with Seattle and Tacoma
In point of population it is smaller
than either of the other two places
However, il has 10000 or 1900 population, and
is a wealthy city, whose people would patron
ize the sport literally. 1t has now semi pro-
fessional team, which draws large crowds to its
| games. Bellingham bay, with its three sister
| towns, aggregating from 15,0O0 to $1,000 people
| from which to draw, offers Il fair field. 1t has
| enterprising business men, and sport-loving
population to back up club. The principal
| objection that has been offered to Victoria is
/ that il is in a British colony, aud the American
| game could not thrive there. On the other
| hand there are number of Americans living
| there and the people are fond OF outdoor ath-
/ letics. it has about the same population as
Belingham bay.
| No matter which town might be selected, the
league must recognize the wisdom of an eighth
| city. Even If proper support not be had at
| home, it would pay the hackers OF the other
clubs to put in team in one of the towns men-
| toned. With a club that could make a fair
showing in the pennant race, it ought not to fall
| far short of paying expenses, and the deficit
| would be more than made up by the increased
| advantages offered by an eight-club league.