Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-04-16
CHANGES AT THE
BASEBALL PARK
Many Improvements for the Ben.
eft of Patrons and Players
Are Under Way.
CENTER OF DIAMOND Is ELEVATED
Cinder Walks Are Laid and Better
Street Car Service is
Assured.

The baseball management has ex-
pended considerable work on the
Twelfth street park and the result is
that the grounds are in better condi-
ton and the facilities for the comfort
aud convenience of the crowd are
more ample and better arranged than
ever before. The small boy, and the
large one, too, for that matter, will
find that the hole he took so much
trouble on a hot summer day to cut
in the fence so that he could see with
both eyes at once has been tightly
co Sered from the inside. All defec-
tive and missing boards in the fence
have been replaced with new ones,
and it is understood quantity of
grease has been secured at bargain
to be used on the street car poles over
the fence to discourage the practice
of getting up and sitting on the cross
arms during the games.
The main improvement, which will
be appreciated by the players and
fans alike, consists in an elevation of
the center of the diamond by about
ii inches. This will enable games to
follow a rain storm great deal sooner
than heretofore and will make a much
more satisfactory diamond to work
on. The diamond, although smooth
enough for practice, needs good deal
more work, and hard rain will ma
terially assist in getting !. in shape.
CInder Walks Provided.
Another feature which will attract
the attention of the patrons of the
game, especially if the day be muddy,
is the cinder walks which have been
laid from the northwest gate to both
ends of the grand stand. A gate for
the exit of the crowd has been put in
at the south end CT the bleachers and
the ground on the east side of the street
car track graded down. This will be
covered by the street car company
with heavy coating of cinders, so
that car Can be taken in wet weather
without wading through the mud a
in the past. The street car company
has also agreed to build switch track
just south of the park on which to
run cars in waiting to take the crowd
home from the games. By this me ans
many vexatious delays will be avoided
and people can go to see the national
game without feeling that they will
have to walk back or wait an hour for
q car and take chances with the Watch
Tower crowd.
An approach to the grand stand has
been built at the east end and ticket
offices erected outside at both ends
The east end of the grand stand, where
the dressing rooms are, and the west
end, in which is located the refresh
ment stand, have been tar papered and
boarded up with ship lap to keep out
the wind and rain. Another thing
that will be appreciated by nea' sight
ed folk, especially, is an enlargement
of the bulletin board. 1t has been
made longer and wider and the letters
used this year will be ~ by Ii inches
instead of 8 by 10, as of yore. During
each series of games the record of
those played with the announcement
of those to be played will be kept on
the board throughout.
Spend Day PracticIng.
The seven men who were here yes
terday spent the day in easy work at
the park, and with those who arrived
last night are at it again today.
The team leaves tomorrow for Iowa
w PLdOblCO Wlbu buO
team for week. w. H. link and l..
Hopkins have been ordered to join the
team there. In one week, or Wednes-
day, April 81, the team will return to
this city and game, the first of the
season on the home grounds, will be
played Thursday with the Kewanee
Reds. The following Sunday, April
%, an exhibition game is to be played
with Davenport on the diamond here.
Enthusiasm In the Game.
There is no doubt whatever about
the extent of the enthusiasm for the
national game in this city this spring.
Not only is professional ball discussed
on every hand, but a large number of
amateur teams have begun unusually
early to get in practice. Vacant lots
and odd corners are utilized at spare
moments during the day and after
work in the evenings teams repair to
the Hopfield or other convenient
places where there is room to work
out. All this shows an entirely
healthful spirit and nothing but good
can come of it.