The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-18
WORKING HARD on GROUNDS.
Centractor McAvoy Increasing the Num-
Der Of LAborers Daily.


More men were put to work at the new
american League grounds. Broadway and
lceth street. yesterday Most OF the time was
consumed In taking up the sod all over the
property. to be used later to cover the playin 9
surface. President Gordon announced yes
.eroay That Joseph H. Gavin will be the new
business manager Of the Greater New Yorks.
MT Gavin acted In this capacity for the In
annapolis Western League club In 1894 and
later was the business manag ger VI the Boston
american League club. with which his contract
mas Just expired. lie has had experience
IN building ball grounds. and yesterday he
assumed his new duties at the local field
PRESIDENT Gordon has turned over to Mr.. Gavin
the entire responsibiit, Of laying out the
diamond and the location Of the stands MIR.
Gavin said last night that he had decided to
buiid commodious clubhouse for the players
In centre field. IL will contain lockers and
dressing rooms. as we'll as shower baths and
plunge baths. In which both hot and cold water
can be used He also declared that the grand
stand would not be a double decker. but would
be built probably on the lines Of the stand at
washington Park. Brooklyn. the seating ca
pacity TO be at least 5000. After looking over
the local field. Mr. Gavin said:
1T is a big job. I'll admit. but IL does not
seem TO me to be such task as that which
confronted US In Bottom two years ago. The
PpS'oh kTouuus required n vast amount OF
filling In because they had been previously
used as shoot the chutes' and there was
always 2 fear OF settling foundations The
ground here. because OF the rock. will make
rapid work comparatively easy. j am sure
that we will have everything ready on April
30.
President Gordon has decided TO open
prize competition among the small boys Of
this city In order To select IN appropriate name
for the new grounds Mr.. Gordon will give
q season book to the boy who suggests the
best name, Letters can be sent TO 300 East
Forty-second street
The statement made by GEORGE Davis
that he has instructed John NJ Ward TO no;
tify the New York Nationals that he will
hold them to the two-year contract he
signed last winter because he believes the
option clause in his 1901 contract is legal
has created much merriment among base
ball men. Davis jumped the option CLAUSE
and signed two-year contract with the
Chicago-Amer<csn League club. The day
he opened negotiations with Clark Griffith.
notified by the New York club that his ser;
Knowles met ,iriffth at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, telling the latter not to allow Davis
to hold him up. as the player was not wanted
here, Davis took ,iriffith over to John VI.
Wards ONCE and the latter drew up an iron;
clad personal contract between Davis and
Comiskey. which was duly signed. Ward
said recently that IL was the strongest con.
tract that he had ever drawn. Davis pla yed
Then he Jumped the contract and signed
with Brush, acce ptins s.. 700 advance money.
~ Davis should succeed In holding Brush
TO this contract y would avail nothing, as
the other National League clubs would not
two big Leagues which awarded Davis's
services back to Chicago. Davis will have
to play ball with Comiskey this year or retire.