The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28
ST. LOUIS ROWING AND
ITS FUTURE PROSPECTS.
Lack of Suitable Courses Makes the Sport Comparison
Eastern Events-No College Crews to Help the Game
No Bad Results From the Exercise
WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY nEpunL1c.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
Now that the Western Rowing Clubs crew
mas made such reputation for itself by
winning the senior four-oared race ut the
National Regatta, and 1t seems certain that
me big meet will be held here at the time
VI the Worlds Fair, the status of St Louis
ance
AZ present very little interest is taken in
;" INNING or boating, or, in fact, in any
VI the water. amusements save by small
pahd or enthusiasts, who have to contend
win many difficulties in regard to courses
and public interest. This is an exceedingly
strange state of affairs In n CITY of GOO con in.
haoitants, located on a great river. Rut
even though the city ba on a water
course the probable reason for its back
ward state in aquatics is that there Is no
suitable place for holding such events. The
oiis possible locations for rowing meets at
present are the Mississippi and Creve Occur
LAKE, against both of which there are MANY
OBJECTIONS. The river, in the first place. has
such swift current that 1t seriously inter-
ieres with the progress of a crew against
H. ana. though in races with a turn and in
downstream races this difficulty is partially
overcome still 1t is very much like riding
bicycle race downhill instead of on n
level VIZ
AGAIN, the Mississippi is at all times made
more or less dangerous by floating drift
wood. for which oarsmen have to keep a
constant watch. and by the continuous pas
up swells that are more than likely
swamp such light affairs as racing shells.
a; ms last oanger was recently emphasized
IN the Lemp Plate race, when several of the
crews We're almost capsized by the wash of
an excursion steamer
unsiEhtly Appearance of River.
but pfopabiy the most potent objection to
holding races on the river and the one that
mas the greatest effect on the attendance rs
Inc rire extremely unsightiy. appearance of the
through which one is compelled to 90 To
reach 1t. The majority of the better class
90 not care toa journey to land of mud
ing that could be furnished The rtyer-fron+
parks; about which so much has been said
ana absolutely nothing done, would, on this
rowing. A"ois
A leading man OF the city. the owner of
one OF the few pleasure launches in the har-
DOT Dor, saio short time ago that St. Louis
that could be obtained on the river. and
that this is largely due to the fact that
t thhey are d Kept from trying the sport because
with such an unpleasant home end to IT.
IL certainly reflects no credit on the CITY
that the whole eighteen miles of her front
breweries and iron foundries. Ali this will
surely have to be remedied IL the city Is TO
present the appearance Of true Worlds
Rowing in Eastern Cities,
Eastern cities are far in advance in these
respects. At Fairmount Park, in Philadel-
phia, they have the placid Schuylkili' free
from driftwood and splashing steamers,
flowing between tree-clad banks along which
thousands of spectators view the races.
while others follow the shells in traps and
automobiles along the riverside boulevards.
This agreeable setting proves very attrac-
tive to the. people, as Is shown by the fact
that 10000 persons witnessed the regatta
Rnsfnn orlr
New London there are also beautiful cours.
es. Even with the mud the city should, at
least. try to have something like this, and
IL a lake could be constructed, there Is no
reason why it could not be successfully &C
complished.
There is some talk Of such lake in con-
nection with the Worlds Fair, and, if Il is
built. rowing in st. Louis will be made.
Attractive lighthouses could be arranged on
the banks. drives laid out and about ali.
baths erected for the use Of the great un-
~, but the benefits would certainly repay
for the outlay.