Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-16
PARK TO BE IMPROVED.
Home of Washington Base Ball Club
Almost Reconstructed.

The local base ball fans will be treated
to quite a surprise when they turn out
to witness the first game played by the
Washington club at American League Park
this spring. The park has always been
considered a fine one, but from present
plans being carried out there will be
almost a transformation by the time the
initial game is started. This morning there
were something like fifty men at work on
the field and stands, and every one appear
ed to be putting forth his best efforts
to hurry through the work.
The entire field. from the boxes in front
of the grand stand almost to the fence in
left center and right fields, has been COM
pletely torn up and will be made over
entirely new The outtield has been a
ner regime. but there will be no kicks
coming hereafter. The hollow in right field
will be filled in, the depth running from
back of second to the bleacher being some
thing like eighteen inches. -
TIE sod was first taken up. then wagons
and carts brought in numerous loads of dirt
and after it had been leveled off the sod was
relaid and rolled. In this way the, outfield
will be made as level and smooth as the in
field, something out of the ordinary IN a ball
park. atr
In the infield the pitchers box has been
lowered to a level with the home plate, to
meet the requirements of the new rule, and
several bad places resodded. Back of the
base lines the ground has been raised so
that the water which usually settled there
after a heavy rain will be quickly carried
off by good drainage. .aa.s Ia
The players boxes will be done away with
as at present constructed and moved back
into and made part of the grand stand
This will require the abolishing of three pri-
waite boxes at each end of the grand stand
but will raise the men up out of the holes in
the ground and make their resting places
very comfortable. Last season the water
would settle in the holes in which the
han hal han r1a nd hoo ma
dangerous for the men TO rest there while
overheated from their violent exercises on
the field. .F..-ZsI Il
large corps of painters is at work on
the different stands. and when the work is
completed the structures will present a
pleasing picture to the eye. The outside
work will be covered with dark green paint,
while the chairs will be a dark red
| Quite an elaborate entrance gate is to be
constructed by which the crowds coming
| out after a game will be easily handled. and
| pushing and crowding prevented. Orna-
mental towers will shoot into the air from
| both sides of the carriage entrance, and at
| the pinnacle of each American flags will
wave. An artistic sign bearing the words
American League Base Ball Park" will be
| painted across the front, so that the stran-
| ger can be guided in the right direction for
an afternoons amusement
There is also under construction an elabo-
| rate system of drainage by which the field
can be dried off very quickly after rain,
and also pipes laid to water the grass at
every point in case of a drought.
| Another Improvement in contemplation,
| but upon which final steps have not been
| taken, is the erection of an addition to- the
| bleacher stand in right field by which some
| thing like 600 more spectators can be accom-
| modated.
If this addition is put up it will be built
| In the angle running on a parallel with
! the foul line and covering the ground be-
| tween that, the fence and the present stand
! The playing field will not be encroached
| upon. but 1t will prevent ISLANDERS crowding
| onto the field. as happened several times
| last season.
| 1t is the intention of the club officials to
make the park second to none in the coun-
| try in the way of comfort, not only to the
| patrons in the different stands, but also TO
| the players on the field.
Catcher William ]. Clarke reached Wash
| ington this morning from Hot Springs,
| Ark, and had quite a lengthy conference
with President Noyes over the coming sea-
| sons contract. Nothing definite ar
| rived at. but 1t is more than likely that
| Clarke will place his name to the document
| before the day is out He is in splendid
condition, his practice at the springs hard
! ening up his muscles and making him feel
| like going into game at once.