The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-26
IT DODGES THE BAT.
The Making Of Baseball a Very
Careful and Painstaking
Process.
How It Is Treated to a Cement So
luton to Make It Hold
It's Shape.
New York Mail an dExpress.

New DIX MILL an OEXpreSS. f+ssta- -
The making of the league ball is a very
careful and painstaking process. It be-
gins as q small globe Of India rubber about
one inch in diameter. A few layers OF
coarse yarn are wound around this, and
then it goes to the winding machines The
ball Is then wound with four ply blue yarn
about as thick as ordinary coarse Irvine.
At frequent intervals it is soaked In q,
cement solution and put aside to dry. This
preserves the shape Of the ball and the
solution holds it more firmly together
In.sthe course Of winding the ball goes
thru many different hands, and each work $
man tests it for size and weight before
passing it along. The machines are nee
essary to make the winding even and
tight, and there are different machines,
according to the size Of the yarn used
and the size which the ball has attained.
These machines insure tight, firm regular
winding and a perfect and symmetrical
shape. Care is also taken that the ball
be wound to just the proper size. The
process by these machines is conducted In
secret In a locked room by trusty work
men.
After the ban has received its winding Of
blue and white yarn, it's treatment in the
cement solution and its drying out, 1t is
wound again, and this time with three-ply
blue and two-ply white, and again it is
dipped in cement. The purpose Is to lay
rough. SlTOlS 1OuIuIiLlOll duu Lu0u !DullQ
up on it, filling in the uneven places and
gradually making the perfect ball ready
for the market.
The ball is completed, so far as it's shape
and form are concerned, when the winding
is finished. But next comes the delicate
work Of putting on the cover. The best
Of horsehide Is used, and 1t comes to the
factory as nearly perfect as it can be pro-
cured. Covers /. Of every grade are cut
from a single hide, and the man that can
cut the most high grade covers from the
hides is considered the best man. They
are cut out by hand one at a time and all
thrown into box together to be sorted
out afterward. Before they are cut the
hide is stretched, and before the cover is
put on the hide it is dampened and
stretched again. This prevents the ball
from losing its shape and the cover from
becoming loose.
The ball is then put in clamps and the
cover sewed on. Cotton thread Is used,
for its FRACTIONAL strength is greater than
wear and tear better. Each ball is sewed
by hand, and then it is put into a ma
chine which irons down the rough edges.
Then it is taken to another machine,
ironed again and polished. and after 1t is
stamped and wrapIed up In tissue paper
and tinfoil it is ready for the market 81, g
The ball when finished must weigh Just
five ounces, be nine inches in circumfer-
ence and three inches in diameter. It is
weighed and measured five times in the
process OF construction. & s.
The cheaper ball is made in much. the
same way but inferior material is used
and not nearly SO much care is taken in
the process. Il ~
Have nosequal as a prompt and positive
cure for sick headache, biliousness, con-.
3stfuation -pa In In the side. and All liver