The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-21
OREGON AND WASHINGTON.
Ask Club Circuit to BE Formed West of
Montana,

A Six Club Circuit to BE Formed West of
Montana.
Active work ia going on in earnest in the
organization of a six-olub circuit for the
Pacific Northwest league for the season of
i. 1892. TO the four cities of last year has al
most beyond doubt been added Walla
Walla .s the ffth member. The sixth club
is as yet undecided. Up to,a few days ago
Wardner, Idaho, had the call, but a new
candidate sprung into view during the past
had a taste of professional ball and liked
it. It supported q semi-professional team,
and on several occasions had games with
league clubs, which drew large crowds.
The grounds there are owned by &c.
Smith, a wealthy citizen. with a passion for
baseball. He is anxious to place a club in
the league, and has for some time been
dickering with a w~ell-known Pacific North
west league player to handle the team in
case be secures a franchise. Presi-
dent Rockwell has been notified Of
the desire of Salem to come in, and
will prsbably go to that city TINS week
Oregon's capital CITY are enthusiastic over
the prospect of professional baseball and
claim that they can be relied on for better
support than either Walla Walla or Ward
ner. Geographically Salem is desirable, as
it is but fifty miles from Portland. In case
it should be chosen in preference to Ward
ner there would still be two clubs. Spokane
and Walla Walla, east of the mountains.
With four clubs in the west and two in the
east the schedule can be arranged as we'll,
or better, as with three in each section.
In tho making up of teams and the sign
ing of players but little or nothing has
been done except by Seattle. Manager
Powell was given full power by the club
and has been in she east all winter, working
by himself. He announces that he has al
ready signed eleven players, but in view of
tho fact that he is working entirely on his
own responsibility, he refuses to reveal
their names at present. state of affairs
leaves everything to conjecture. based on
what reports may from time to time appear
through the sporting press.
The Tacoma club has as yet no manager,
although Billy Work, of last seasons
team, is pretty apt to get the berth. The
financial prospects of the club, which for q
time looked gloomy on account OF the
withdrawal from active service of Presi-
dent W. B. Bushnell, have frightened de-
cidediy.
The company controlling all Of the street
railways of Tacoma has entered into an
agreement by which the club will receive a
share Of the transportation receipts to and
from the grounds. There is a move on
foot to give the presidency of the club to
Philip Kershaw, Il responsible and popular
young business man. kershaw' is an old
college PLAYER. and has been prominently
identified with amateur sport III Tacoma
He is well posted on the game and a great
enthusiast. and his election would be a
great stroke of policy on the Part of this
club.
The Spokane club is minus a manager BY
the resignation of John S. Barnes a few
days since. Nothing is known as to who his
successor will be, or if any players are
being signed.
The Portland club. since losing Glenal-
vim, has been figuring on Barnes for man
ager, and it is pretty certain that he will
go there. The only player signed is Pete
McNabb.