The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-06
BASEBALL HAS PAID.
Park Association Made As Per Cent
on Investment.

Baseball in Topeka this summer has
| been a decidedly profitable investment
Actual figures concerning that fact have
| not been obtainabIe because the own
ers have deemed it all their private
| business. But some information along
that line was brought to light at the
meeting of the directors of the Ball
Park association which was held at
| the Copeland hotel on Wednesday
night.
The stockholders in the Ball Park
association subscribed $4,000 to build
the new park southeast of the city. 1t
as stipulated in the contract with the
Topeka Baseball association that the
park owners should receive 10 per cent
| of each days total gate receipts. The
new park was completed on July "a
and the first game played on it on
that same day When the books were
checked up at the meeting last night
it was found that the 10 per cent since
July "a amounts to sum slightly in
excess of $500. or a rate of interest OF
40 per cent on the Investment
Then the interesting fact can be de-
duced from this information that the
total gate receipts at the new park
since July "a have been over $4,000,
exclusive of the grand stand fares and
the rental on concessions
Since each of the visiting teams IN
der the league rules gets so per cent
of the gate receipts and after deduct
ing the $500, representing the 10 per
cent, it Will be seen that the Topeka
Baseball association sfshare of the gate
receipts since July "a have been d
little over $4,000. The grand stand
and the concessions Will easily raise
this sum to $4,000 if not to $4,000.
1t is impossible to ind out what the
receipts We're at Washburn park from
April Z to the middle of July. They
We're, however, not as large as at the
new park. Yet the last days at Wash
burn were decidedly profitable.
But it costs money to run a baseball
team. AT the beginning OF the season
when everybody who was even halt
way interested in the team knew all
about its affairs it was stated that II
costs about 81, 400 a month to run the
Topeka club in the Valley league. For
five months that would mean about
$1,000. 1t is safe to assume that II
almost $4,000 has been taken INTO tne
Golfers of the baseball association
since July "a, that at least $4,000 was
taken into the Washburn gates
The team played sixty games away
from home on the circuit Reckonlng
from the above, all of the receipts at
those games must have been clear
profit, for the simple reason, that even
at the high rate of expense OF $l,4Vo
month, any student OF the sltuauon
must agree that the receipts at the
home games wiped out the expenses
for the summer.
When the present organization TOOK
charge, the paraphernalia had been
bought, the franchise and protection
paid for, and all this through sub
scriptions which were collected before
and just at the beginning of the
season.
Just what the financial outcome OF
this season is will never be known.
President Sheard and Secretary Logan
promised that they would present
statement TO the board of directors at
a meeting to be held this fall But
the latter turned over the team ana all
its belongings to Sheard and Logan,
with the expression that they were
glad to get it off their hands
It is naturally interesting to know
lust how profitable a business baseoall
is in Topeka, and especially so to
those who subscribed almost S1,0oO at
the beginning of the season to see
things started. But since the board
of directors have practically defaulted
the franchise to Mr. Sheard and to
MT. Logan. the financial status or
things is the private business OF the
latter. and they refuse to give out any
thing concerning it
Il would rather have nothing print
ed about such things. said President
Sheard this morning. because people
NAV then get some sort of an idea that
IT is a good thing. That might stir up
trouble and hurt baseball in Topeka-