The Washington times., 1906-06-14
WASHINGTON NEEDS
ATHLETIC FIELD
District Government Should
Provide Grounds.
POTOMAC PARK EAL
A Track for Runners Could Be
Built There at Small
Expense
POTOMAC PARK EAL

Any person who saw the second an
nual championship games Of the South
Atlantic division of the Amateur Ath-
letic Union, which were held at the Ben
ming race track last Saturday, could
not but have been Impressed with the
crying need in Washington for an ade-
quate field on which TO holG such eXhi-
bitions.
Practically every city OF any size in
the East is amply supplied with at least
one tract of ground especially fitted up
for affairs of this sort. At Boston, for
instance. besides the Harvard Stadium,
there are parks for some of the differ
ent schools. besides which there are
municipal grounds and those run by
private athletic clubs. In New York il
is the same way, and in Philadelphia,
the University Of Pennsylvania field is
one of the best in the country. Balt-
more. even. is ahead of Washington in
this respect.
While no complaint can be made
against the manner in which last sat
IIrdays meet was handled by the Off
cia4S, IL WAS freely predicted by officials
and contestants alike that simply be-
cause OF the lack of facilities. it would
be a OnE time before another champion
shin meet will be held in the District.
This in itself at this time, when track
athleticsS perhaps the cleaneSt or All
outdoor tlr indoor sports. is exper1encins
the bigge. II boom Ii has ever had IN this
city shou VI be enough To arouse clubs,
schools. co. .ueges. in fact any Kind Of or
gauizatfOn OF institution which has as
1irations for track honOrs. TO immediate
and concerted action
Georgetown Field Inadequate.
If is true zhat Georgetown has its
track ard 1t Ia 5 been the custom Of tbs
schools TO n1alo, use of IL for their an
nuaI champio games which, with
out doubt are the biggest athletic at
fractions of the year, Dut IN the past
two wears since the Blue and Gray
authorities. for IN cir own protection.
have refused TO allow outsiders 10 use
the track also, this lield mas Iaueh mo
bad repair. and = would De d mere
farce to attempt the olding OF meet
on fl in its present com ullOh -
In the face OF the iTOA tclad RUE la-d
down bV the Georgetown uthorities, the
faculty athletic advisers OF the hlSh
schools had TO use the Van Ness PARK
field, which is not only inadt qudte from from
the athletes point Of view, bu- also from
that of the spectators And. win the
present plans of the George Washing ton
authorities to erect buildings on the
grounds il would be out Of the quesu on
to expect them to make even temporary
repairs on the field,
only two more places for the holdiu, 3
of meets can even be considered Ihest'
are American League Park which IS
entirely Unsuited to that purpose, and
the track at Luna Park, which, Tor one
thing is some distance O1Tt of the city,
and for another IS hardly a quarter OF
a mile in length.
There appears TO be only one solution
of the question. That IS a park fitted
up by the District. especially for the
purpose Of holding not only held and
track meets, but ali District school com
petitions, such as football, baseball, and
possibly the annual competitive drill,
with regular sections allotted TO each OF
the five high schools in the event Of the
schools using she park for any athletic
contest
Potomac Park the Spot
As to tract Of ground for a field Of
this kind, Potomac Park, the reserva-
tion just west Of the new Long bridge,
which has but lately been Ieveled and
graded by Colonel BromvyelI. Superin-
tsndeut of Parks and Gro 1nds for the
District Of Columbia, would be an ideal
spot It is but a short walk from the
Bureau Of Engraving and Printing.
the water front, and IS large enough for
a circular stand. II would not only be
EOdsend TO athletes in the public schools
but would be a Veritable bonanza 10 the
different clubs about the city. It would
do more TO increase interest IN field and
track sports than anything else, and
would do away with the unnecessary eX-
pense entailed on the athletic assOcia-
Tions of the schools, which pay out year
after year hundreds OF dollars for
grounds alone
In a city like Washington the Capital
OF the United States. II is TO be sincerely
hoped that those in a position 10 aid
materially in securing for the District
place of this kind will Join in the work
and make every effort 10 bring Wash
ington up to the place IL should hold
among other large cities in the greatest
Ill sHr.~.-