The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-15
cIvANNAH'S FRANCHISE SOLID.
AIN INQUIRE HERE TO ARRANGE
FOR THE TEAM.

all Make Arrangements for the
ooening of the SeasOn-NIr. Me-
r,,ire. Capt. j. II. Johnston and
ar J. =. Collins TO Talk About n
park To-day-PIaying Grounds 10
No among the Finest in the South.
exhibition Games With the Big
cubs.
AR Juhn Mcguire, the owner of the Sa-
.,,sb franchise in the Southern Base
nail League, arrived in Savannah from
r.u orleans yesterday. Mr.. Mcclure
me 10 Savannah to look after the af-
4 airs OF the Savannah Club and to arrange
an the opening of the season. He will re-
main here a week and WILL return to New
orleans TO arrange his affairs in that city,
,ben he will return to Savannah for the
sason.
Mr.. Mcguire had a talk yesterday with
can't. Johnston of the Savannah, Thun-
5erboll and Isle of Hope Railway in re-
gard to a proposition which the base ball
msgnate made to the railway when he was
here about a month ago. Capt John
sion. Mr.. ]. S. Collins and Mr.. Mcclure
will have a conference to-day to talk over
the question of playing grounds for the
club There is hardly doubt that the
C. L. A. park will be used. The railway
company is disposed to help the club, and
there is every probability that it will sub
scribe a sufficient amount to put the park
in condition.
Extensive improvements In the park are
contemplated, and when they are finished
savannah will have one of the finest bah
grounds in the South. The fence will be
almost entirely rebuilt. Another stand will
be erected Immediately back of the home
rlate and this stand will be used as a
smoker. A rooters' cage" will also be
built The main bleachers win be moved
10 the right side of the park, off first
base so that the sun will not be shining
in the spectators faces as is now the case.
The bleachers will also be enlarged and
stand will be erected for the colored
people Before the opening of the season
the diamond will be looked after and will
be evelled off and rolled. Altogether a
large amount of money will be spent on
the park and it will be put in frst-class
Sudpts A. oOOn dS COlllIdttS are signed
between the railway people, the lessees
Of the park and Mr.. Mcclure, this work
will be begun.
Mr.. Mcguire has received an offer from
a well-known Bay street business man.
a member of the Cotton Exchange, to take
a half interest in the club and the two
gentlemen will meet tonight to talk over
the matter.
Nearly all of the players signed by Sa-
vannah have received advance money and
tickets will be sent them the latter part
Of this month. They will report in Sa-
yannah March Is.
Mr. Mcclure states that he had the OPP
ton of the Chicago Club to train in Sa-
vannah, but says he decided not to ac-
cept it. He feared that the continual pres
ence here of the Chicago team would inter-
fere with the practice and preparation of
the Savannah team. The Chicago Club
wanted to lease the grounds for specified
time and this was refused. This is why
the Colts decided to go to Waycross. 1t
was not a matter of choice, and Mr.. Nc
CURE has letters from President Hart, in
which the Chicago man says he would
much prefer to come to Savannah
Dates for exhibition games have been ar
ranged with Chicago, however, and the
Colts will be here sometime in March or
April. Exhibition games have also been
arranged with Baltimore for March &c, %
ana %, and games with Richmond, Nor
folk and Indianapolis will be played but
the dates have not been agreed upon. All
Of the big clubs which train in this sec
ton will be seen in exhibition games with
the Savannah Club
Mr.. Mcclure is enthusiastic over the
prospects of the league, and especially of
savannah. He speaks in glowing terms of
TINS eity's team and says if it is not a
pennant winner. then ne is no base ball
prophet. Jack Huston, Savannahs man
ager is now in New Orleans, and will
come on to Savannah about March /. Joe
bowie and Chas. Beecher, two players
VINO viii be with Savannah the coming
season, are wintering in New Orleans.