The sun., 1892-01-25
views OF Il cLEAR.nEADED OFFICIAL.
President Garfield Says that Turniae Races
Will Help Sculiinw.

VIII Help tcuiiing.
The action OF the Executive Committee OF
the National Association OF Amateur Oarsm en-
at their mtdwinter meeting. held at the Gisey
House on Saturday. Jan. IL. in adopting races
with turn is deserving Of more than passing
notice. for 1t bids fair TO revolutionize rowing
around New York. and will have an in, portant
influence in determining the style Of races ut
all important rowing meets throughout tho
country. A reporter Of The Sun called upon
President Garfield and this is what he said re-
gardinG the matter:
Il have for some years past closely noted the
entries. the interest and the attendance at tho
various reGattas held In this country and IL Is
an irdisputable fact that where turning races
are announced YOU will find spcct ators go with
out urging. while regattas having straight
away contests, no matter how well advertised
they may be or how attractive an entry list
they offer. will draw out only the enthusiasts.
Take the great Nationa! Regatta, held on Sara
toga Lake. There fwas never together
in this country such n fleet OF four
cared crews. They wore the Hil!sdales
bcths. and Wah- Wah-Sums. Tho race was
should have attracted g5.UUO persons. NUw
how how many many iHrso were there About o,m Whyi !
River wall in Boston. AT local races, rHrticiput-
races were with u turn. In this kind of race
gauge. the several starters; he can time tho
race if so disposed: he can see evcry stroke
taken. for the crews are never out of sight and
osniHe ana place them. In such n race tho
spectators are Interested from start to finish.
and instead OF long and tedious waits they have
II lave. earnestly advocated the change
renewed interest in rowing will Do so marked
that the association VII! mover reconsider that
majority Of boat I races W rowed % in this n Country try
to-day are turning races. nd hey are the only
Wsst. ~ ~ >'N" 'N' WV
There are. OF course. objections to be met.
II will be claimed that in turning races more
stakes are woit separated. crews. oy leaving
the sIraGht course, will risk too much through
S When they .; to rn buoy Soys ohsr IF
than their own. | believe the need Tor good
stcerslnanslip Mt the turn will develop better
how Oarsmen and 1t is n question whether. in
Judging the merits. Of II crew. skill should no.
he regarded as well as speed.
through tho wash or Interference Of umpires.
press or other steam craft on tho course: but
80 many bouts follow struishtaway races s"s is
When spectators can. from the grand stand.
watch the entire contest from start to finish.
there. will not be SO many anxious to charter u
tug: they vii! 6e content to stay on shore.
not to be overiooked. Wien oarsmen finish Hhii
whore they start from they can be readily con-
no ny sfafa a and there % is
port mt tho exact minute named for the race.
Another Injustice which will be avoided is that
to row full mile and a half to tho start before
the race. as as Is now not infrenuently the case,
the committee evidently favored the accept
ance Of the invitation from the Saratoga Ath-
letic Association. but the matter was left to 2
sub committee with power in order that all
preliminary cont racts should he made before
q final decision is reached. In previous rcgat
has been compelled 70 rely largely upon paid
local men ;n to arrange s details = and the members
have usually been Obliged, to 20 there some
days in advance. and labor assiduously
hs II srdsr dear to ". hSs ase % s bc al
Association strong local organization. COM
posed Of prominent residents of Saratoga
gatta and abuntlantlyy T. able to carry out all
tnor They be- relied
managing all local details
Anew electric road; p1w under construction
Double -dcckeIl Pullman ears. each ono capnble
oi sa5 Ga55rynf gnS siSh IN vii @ DO %
TRANSFORMATION. with ease and comfort. OF
As Advocated BY, THE srN some two years
ago. believe that the Association should
select permanent sita for their regattas.
s%"osa any asi hor 95s ssrss Tho dennSsi SsSSa
Regatta should be a fixture. and oarsmen
will takc place and To enabled to make their
plans accordingly. Saratoga Lake. unliEe
Washington. Philadelphia. Boston. Chicago.
and other places where we have had
races. is comfortable in midsummer and an
ideal spot at which to train. II Saratoga Lake
is once permanently selected. within n very
few yenrs tho promin clubs of the country
would lease land on the shores Of the lake and
erect their own houses Such houses could
be constructed mt small expense and would
prove u popular rendezvous Tor club members
throughout the season.
Another important factor is transportation
facilities Saratoga is ensily accessible and
when thc railroads find tho nntiopal races at
trnctinC tens Of thousands Of spectators. they
will gladly grant nll needed concessions as to
thG rre transpo,tatinp OF raGlatS craft at the
dainty able to care for and comfortably quar-
ter crowd Of any magnitude. iou see. there
fore. that am strong believer in the wis
dom OF the committees decision