The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-09
SUMMER WORK ON
NORTHROP FIELD
Many improvements Made-The
Board Of Control in Session
Yesterday Afternoon.

. Followers Of varsity football have sur
prise In store for them on their next visit
to- Northrop field. During the summer va
cation a force Of men has been at work,
and what was, early in the spring, a bar
rem, clod-marked waste Is now a grassy
sward. The work has been that Of sepa-
rating the football and baseball fields and
has been carried to a successful culrpina-
ton.
Last spring baseball was played on the
gridiron much to the detriment Of the bat
tlefleld of the leather encased warriors.
Another season of baseball would have
damaged the football field to a marked
extent. The summer work has consisted
of moving the diamond from the gridiron,
the building Of a new diamond at the east
side of the field, near the armory, and in
sodding the entire field inside and outside
the new running track. The catcher
box Of the diamond is in the angle formed
by the fence and armory, with first base
toward the running track. It is a, skinned
diamond, and already the infield bears 4
fine stand Of blue grass. This effectually
SEPARATES the two games. The right fielder
and, perhaps, the center fielder will have
to occupy football territory, but this will
not damage the field. It is a change which
will be hailed with delight by every fol-
lower Of athletics in the ~"
Field Is Beauty.
The new track is ready for its final
coating of screened cinders and final roll
ing. Minnesota will then have what is
unquestionably the best equipped athletic
field in the west. The baseball diamond
Is a beauty. The rough ground -on the
east side Of the track was rolled into
shape and covered with cinders. These
were subjected to rolling, after which a
mixed dressing Of clay and sand was rolled
into the cinders. The result of this work
speaks for itself. Nine or ten sprinklers
have been working on the grfdiron and
diamond all summer, and the grass has
completely recovered from the rigors OF
the fall work and the spring games. ,54
6 On the gridiron all bad patches Of sward
have been removed and fresh, vigorous
turf substituted. All depressions have been
filled and elevations equalized.- So well
has the work been done that the field
could be used for play tomorrow and found
faultless. This work has been done under
the supervision Of the summer committee
composed Of Messrs. Evans, Wesbrook and
Schrader. The latter has given over most
Of his time to the work, and when foot
ball work begins on the gridiron this fal
the players cannot help from rising er
: rnasse land calling him blessed"
Board of Control Work.
The board Of control held meeting yes
terday afternoon to audit bills and ar.
range for the preliminary conditioning
work Of the team at Waconia. Policy
was not matter of discussion, as tina
i is left until the arrival of DR.. Williams
The board considered several changes II
the business management of the coming
season. The most notable action to b.
taken is that Of checking up on all foot
ball supplies more closely than has beer
1 done in the past. There will not be TIL
!. slightest tendency toward curtailing an.
, of the needs Of the squads or teams, bu
, a closer check will be kept upon outsiders
Everything relative to team making Is a
present In the hands Of Assistant Coac
/, lDobie. He is a busy Individual these days
with his preparations for the Waconia In
vasion. The call is out for the assembly
. and in a few days the preliminary lin
! upon the available material for tryou
4 work will be at hand.