The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-22

Visions of long. hot summer afternoon of pure. unadulterated bliss begin to fit through the minds of local baseball en- thusiasts after trips out to the new ball grounds, Those grounds are ideal-far and away the best ever given Montgom- cry, and it Is possible that nothing in the Southern League will be superior to them. The work that Messrs Kelly ana Graham have been doing is something wonderful. They have labored unceasing- ly In season and out, and the gratifying results are beginning to show. The big grandstand is already in place, seats. supports and everything, the roof and a few finishing touches being all required to complete it. The stand as has been stated in The Advertiser has capacity of 1.500. comfortable seats for that num- Der, and with the people who will sit in the aisles. steps, etc., during an ex- traordinary rush the capacity will be in the neighborhood of 2,0oo. It has not been decided yet whether separate smoking stand will be built or not, but in the event that one is not built one section of the grandstand will be set apart for moking, the other sections Of the big fan-shaped building being reserved ex- ciusively for ladies with or without sscorts-of course gentlemen can use these sections, but there will be no smok- Ing allowed except In the section reserved for that purpose. The management are determined that the ball grounds shall be as safe and comfortable for ladies as possible. Every safeguard will be thrown around them and a lady in the grand . stand will be as free from all annoyance as if she were in her own home. The the time that comiskey's White sox open here next Thursday. At present the plans for the bleachers are 1000 capaci- ty, but 50 feet is left on each end and additions can be put up on short notice, in case the extra space is needed, 1t will not take very long to put up accomoda- tons for several hundred more people, and from indications all the room possi- ble to be had this summer will be needed. The grounds altogether will occupy four acres or 400 feet with substantial fence feet in height around them. Work on the fence was begun early yesterday morning and as the postholes and lumber have all been in position several days. the fence will be complete by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest. From the home plate to the rightfield fence the distance ts 2S5 feet with 300 feet from the home plate to the left field fence. To give a faint idea of the magnitude of the work that has to be done on the grounds 1t will open several pairs of eyes when 1t is stated that in the grandstand alone 6o,ooc feet of lumber will be required for its completion, and some of this lumber is very expensive for the flooring and seats tn the stands will be as good and com foetable as can be had at any place of the kind in the country. For the bleach win be required or 100000 feet of lumber in all. More lumber will be needed, for i, at the east end of the grandstand will be built a small stand or box for the tele- graph operator, official scorer and news paper men--about six people in all. There Is space of feet from the bottom of the stand to the ground so that this stand will not interfere in the slightest with the patrons of the grandstand. It will be kept locked of course and nobody except those mentioned will be allowed inside. Hp In few short days now the strfdent q voice of the coacfrer, yell of the bleach ! aers swat of the horsehide and batter of feet around the bags will be heard at the new park. Callahan, the star pitcher of the Chicago American League team who succeeds Clark Griffiith In wearing the managerial toga will open Thursday witf the locals. The Windy City team will
 nnd an infield that is like little piece of greased lightning, the entire infielt having been covered with a thick coating of clay. This will make things pfett, fast and player will have to be brett! , swift to get in the way of and stop a ho line hit. With Clark, Stultz and th' members of the team who reported yes terday there will be some hard pracuc until Thursday. The Chicago crowd will have a few days the advantage of tht locals in the matter of limbering up. bu on both sides there will probably be iot' more fumbles and erros than sharp, clear helding. A few days after ChcagC Buckenbergers, Boston Nationals play lS series of games with the locals. FreC Penney being appointed field captain o' that team.
 Sixteen big league clubs are either 1T Bcttve training or on their way to sunny helds, and the next three weeks will b'