The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-19

BASE BALL ON A BIG BOOM.
PROSPECTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SEA-
SON EXCEEDINGLY BRIGHT.

IIVely Meeting In Atlanta Last
WeeL-SaInry Limit Placed at ST.
Geo and n Guarantee of $50 a Game
Agreed UDOn-Hcnry Powers Made
PresideDt&The Question of sunday
Base Ball in New York.
The meeting of the Southern Base Ball
League in Atlanta last Sunday was a lively
one. Representatives We're present from
the six cities already holding franchises
in the league. The organization was put
upon strong basis and the affairs of the
league were found to be in very good
and promising condition.
Henry Powers of New Orleans was
made president, Richard Hines of Mobile
vice president, and ]. G. Bloodworth of
Atlanta, treasurer.
Applications for admission from Mont
gomery and Augusta were received, and
after much discussion It was decided to
look into the situation in these cities before
they We're given franchises. 1t is more
than likely that they will be admitted,
however.
The salary limit was placed at 81 600, and
it was agreed that all clubs should strict
ly adhere to this rule. 1t was decided that
the home club should make the visiting
club guarantee of $50 a game 1t was
also decided to take per cent from the
gross gate receipts of each game to be
placed into a sinking fund.
These provisions for the finances of the
league will be carried out to the letter
and 1t is thought that they will aid greatly
in holding the league intact
The schedule committee is composed Of
the representatives of Atlanta Mobile and
Charleston. This committee Will meet
shortly and make up a schedule, which
will be submitted to the managers of the
various clubs, and, with suggestions from
them, will be adopted at the meeting of
the league 10 be held in March
The committee to arrange bylaws is
composed of Charleston, Savannah, New
Orleans and Atlanta.
The playing season will open on April
p, and Savannah will more than likely
open at home. The season will close about
the first of September.
Mr.. John Mcclure of New Orleans, who
is backing the Savannah club, was pres
ent al the meeting as the representative
of this city. Mr.. Mcclure went on to
New Orleans after the meeting. A letter
received from him yesterday says that the
meeting was lively and fun of business,
but thoroughly harmonious. The outlook,
he says is very bright, and the situation
in all of the cities appears to be in good
shape
Il am very much pleased with my trip to
Savannah" writes Mr. Mcclure, Il have
simply fallen in love with your beautiful
city, which is a miniature Washington. 1t
is one of the most hustling towns 1 have
ever laid eyes on. LIS streets are so beaut-
fully laid out and l never saw SO many BIZ
cycles in my life"
Mr. Mcclure will remain in New Orleans
for several weeks. but will come on TO Sa-
vannah as soon as he makes some dispo-
sition of his business interests in the Cres-
cent City, which will be early in January.
Nothing new has developed in regard
to the local situation. 1t is understood
that the Savannah, Thunderbolt and Isle
of Hope railway is considering a PROPOSE
ton from Mr.. Mcclure looking to the
has been some talk about build
ing new park, but the
owner of the club, after viewing the
c. l.. A. park and looking over other
grounds, thought that the old park was
the most practicable grounds near the
city If the c. L. A. park is used it will
be fitted up and made into one OF the best
ball grounds in the south.
Manager Huston writes that he is re-
ceiving stacks of letters from players all
over the country wanting places on the
Savannah team, Notwithstanding the fact
that he has about all the players signed
that he wants. Huston says that every ap-
plicant is unanimous upon at least one
point. Every one of them, he says, states
that he always has wanted to play in Sa-
vannah, and that he would play here for
a smaller salary than in any other city.
Ball players are the greatest jolliers in the
world.
The New York people are just now
clamoring for Sunday base ball and the
indica tions are that they will have it. A
bill was introduced some time ago In the
New York legislature to allow Sunday
ball. Some of the ministers of the gay
metropolis are up in arms to prevent the
playing of ball next summer, but there is
just as strong an effort being made by the
masses to prevail upon President Freed
man of the New York club to have Sun
day games put in the New York sched-
ule. Richard Croker, the Tammany chief
tain, says he favors Sunday base ball and
he thinks the people ought to have ID.
There is no more harm in Witnessing a
game of base bah on Sunday, says he,
than in riding a bicycle. Mr.. Croker has
been instrumental in placing the New
York people in a position to obtain high
balls" on Sunday after Jan. 1, and it may
be that he will be successful in having
ba 10, .