Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-12
TRAINING GROUNDS
OF THE NATIONALS
ideal Surroundings for the Lo-
cal Players at Galveston
and Success Assured.


Special Correspondence Of The Star.
GALVESTON. Tex, March 9. 1907.
Way down here in the land o. cotton.
on sun-kissed isle Of the gulf, where the
sky Is SO high, clear and speckless that
there isn't any overhead background at
all; where the gaudy oleander blooms the
year around; where the roar OF the surf
on the nearby shore will 1ull them to
sleep O. nights, and the soft, salt breezes
give them abnormal appetites that have
to be handicapped-this Is the spot chosen
by Cantillon and his Nationals for spring
practice-and lucky dogs they are to be SO
fortunate. Winter here is usually a joke
to the natives. but this one is milder than
ever. and with the temperature flirting
around the so point all the time, and no
rain or chill winds to worry them. it will
be their own fault If the Nationals do not
leave here trained to. the minute as much
physically as they will be mentally.
Living quarters here are located at the
fremont Hotel, In the heart Of the cfty-a
roomy, fve-story caravansary that covers a
quarter Of a square Of ground. 1t dates
back thirty years. but 1t Is comfortable,
well-furnished place, recently overhauled
under new ownership and the table service
averages well. The players are put up on
the fourth floor, where the noises from be-
low cannot reach them. and their rooms
face south. with an unobstructed view Of
tHc gull, hIHpIc opportunity u SdtCh
any stray breezes that blow.
For Indoor Work.
Just a block to the south is the Y. NJ.
c. A. building, that cost 100000, and was
the donation of Henry Rosenberg, mill
honaire banker, who left most of his for
tune to the city of his adoption. It's GYM
nasium, considered by visiting athletes one
of the finest in the country, has been
cured for the Nationals to dress in and use
for off-field exercise, and the great SWIM
ming pool and shower baths are also at
their disposal.
From the Y. NJ. G. A. building to the
ball grounds Athletic Park is exactly the
distance of two-thirds of mile. with fine
streets and sidewalks. on which the boys
can trot out and back. The ball park,
which was finished about six weeks ago,
cost something in the neighborhood Of
$4,000. and for it's size is one of the most
complete to be found in a minor league:
Its dimensions are 320x360. On the left
field foul line it is one foot short of the
legal distance. which is attoned for by
sixfoot wire screen atop the twelve-foot
fence. Center is impossible for homer
unless inside the grounds, while 1T would
take a Lajoie or Wagner to slam one over
right. The grand stand seats $500, and Is
fronted by row of twenty seven private
boxes. In right field there is club house
big enough to accommodate four teams.
with lockers, shower baths and other nee
essaries for the players. Unlike the usual
minor league ground, the playing field Is
turf. with the running lines and wide
curves back of the infield cut out. There
| is nothing but sand on the island natural
! ly, but to harden the field and bring out
| quick and permanent turf hundreds or
! loads of heavy black mainland soil were
| spread over the field and entirely covered
! by sod. The parts of the diamond cut out
| were filled with this heavy soil mixed
| with finely pulverized oyster shell. which
aids in hardening we'll as keeping down
| the grass. The ground has been rolled so
| often that it is perfectly smooth and level,
and the whole reflects great credit on
| Frank Weikart, the local manager, a vet
| eran ball player, who is known the coun-
| try over. There is car line running past
the park gates and three more within two
is the Garten Verein, owned by a private
| club, a domain of two blocks in size filled
| with beautiful trees, flowers and shrub
| berry, fine walks, club house, bowling alley
and dancing pavilion. Another neighbor Is
! the Ursuline Convent. series of noble
| structures in ten acres Of well-kept
| grounds.
| Attractions for Of Days.
Whenever the Nationals find occasional
hours that they can spend In sightseeing
| they will find no lack of attractions. We
| have a beach bordered along the city front
| by our great sea wall that is thirty-one
miles long, on which FATHERS can go out IN
| the boiling surf for 100 yards before reach
! ing deep water. There are no rocks on
| which divers may be injured, and the bath
ing season is open all the year round. The
| grade-raising work is going on and four
great hopper dredges can be seen moving In
| and out of the canal south of the ball park.
| In town. on the bay front. where there are
miles of covered wharves that hold cargoes
| destined for every part of the world; dozens
of ships flying the flags of all nations can be
seen busily engaged in taking on freight.
Some of the immense cotton carriers going
| out of this port have taken as high as 1900
bales of cotton in one cargo. besides top
| loads of wheat and slaves. At the Southern
| Pacific docks in the west end. where some
times two fleet freighters a day put out
| for New York, from 100 to 1,5OO men are
| engaged at work. and ball players winterng
| here pick up their $40 and $25 week out
| there. Any kind of fish that lives in salt
water can be found in the bay and gulf.
and the follower of Nimrod has his choice Of
| dropping his line from wharf wading out
| into the surf, broiling jetty rock while
| waiting for bite, sitting in skiff or sail
| or motor boat or go out to the fishing piers,
| which are five miles out in the gulf at the
| end of the jetties.
Maybe the Nationals will be able to take
| all these in and maybe they won't but any
! how. we'll treat them to one Of our far
| famed oyster roasts and give them a moon
| light sail on the bay they will long remem-
| Der.
Several Old Friends
| Galvestonians are anything but new to
| base ball, for we've had professional base
| ball since as far back as 1855. Therefore,
| We'll look at the work of the Nationals
with critical eyes. Piggy Ward Che of the
bald headpiece and walrus mustache), Jake
Stencil, Jack Luby, George Stallings. Frank
! Sparks and others first made their mark at
| the old beach park and afterward went into
| faster company.
| One of our worst fanatics Is Alex Easton,
| who was a member Of the famous Rich
mond team which included Charley Fergu-
| son, Ed Tate, Eddie Glenn, Dicky Johnson
and others who afterward became topnotch-
ers in the profession.
| Rev. James M. Kirwin. rector of st.
| Mary's Cathedral. who was a star In the
! Georgetown University ball team many
years ago. will do his share to make he
VISIT of the Nationals pleasant.
| Good Basket Ball Promised.
At the 7. M. c. A. this Thursday night
| will be seen one Of the most important
games of the schedule of the washington