The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-12-15
Iesbura,s Bid.

The application of Galesburg was
presented in person by ]. T. WATSON [
He dwelt upon railroad facilities of
the city. the city as a business center |
and of the enthusiasm of the fans of I
Galesburg at present time. He touch t
ed upon the situation last season. and
embodied in his remarks the sum
mary given above in Galesburg's re-
port.
The full report is as follows:
To the officers and Members of the |
Central Association
Gentlemen-In discussion of the !
advisability of Galesburg becoming a |
member of the Central association
there are facts to be determined and
questions to be asked and answered,
both on your part and ours, which can
be done best and most satisfactorily
resentative at your next meeting. We
respectfully ask this privilege.
First of all. it is business PROPOSE
ton. The Central association should
want a team in Galesburg just as much
as Galesburg should want team in
the Central ssociation, no more no
less. If profitable the advantage will
be mutual, and the reverse is just as
true.
| What your committee saw and know
j is worthy of more weight and credit
than any cyclopedia of statistics that
may be compiled They saw a city Of
4 $4,000 people, situated on the main
4 line of the Santa Fe and the hub of the
great c., B. & @. system, with rail
roads radiating in eight different di-
! rections; they saw the interurban
street car lines connecting Galesburg
with Abingdon, with Knoxville and
with Monmouth, containing a combin-
ed population of more than $4,000 ad-
ditional. and all within a forty-minute
ride: they saw a first class park,
grandstand and bleachers, which, with
the improvements and extensions plan.
ned, will have no superior in you
league; they met and talked with soma
of the men comprising the local man
agement and know who they are and
what they are; they talked informally
with many of the business men and
citizens generally, and know that they
are crazy for good base ball and are
unanimously in the fullest accord and
sympathy with the local club owners;
your committee looked the town over
from base ball standpoint and saw
here all of the elements and condi-
lions which go to make up a good base
ball town.
These are things that induce us to
finance, equip and maintain a team
and we believe they are matters which
will interest you more than a statisti-
cal table of the men employed in our
various factories etc. In this regard
il is not amiss to state that this city
is not dependent for her prosperity
; upon any one factory or any one line
of business. There are few cities that
; hard times, business reverses or fail
ures affect so little.
The central location of Galesburs
with reference to the other cities o.
your league, the saving in the mile
age over either of it.; competitors, the
railroad facilities and connections
these and other like matters, are facts
which you all we'll know.
Had the present street car exten
sions and new lines been built. rem
dering park accessible where Sunda!
games could be played Galesbur'
: would have been IN the Three
league at the time of it's formation
p and Belden Hill would have had
team here instead of at Cedar Rapids
t Sunday ball was never attempted, saw
by local bush teams without park
d until last year. Professional base ba
y under a competent and responsible
5. management, has never had anythin
like trial here for twenty years pas
e until last year largely because of tn
S fact. Organized base ball was nevc
4 played here before.
We absolutely guarantee that OF
n seasons attendance will be create
J. than the average of Ottumwa, Waite
loo. Burlington Keokuk, Kewanee an
G. Jacksonville, provided we are given
fair share of the Sunday games.
a AT the conclusion of his remark
I'd Mr.. WATSON was questioned by MAI
ly of the directors OH points regardir
Galesburg. If it was good busine
Of policy he stated that Galesburg Won
-. be willing to guarantee $4,000 or 4
- 600 attendance. He stated that
>. fuential churches had endorsed Su
,s day base ball in that city. and tn
-, ministers and civic federation are
-, ~ vorable to the report. Mr. Wass
-, thanked those present for his he'
II, ing.
~ Hannibal's Application.
at C. A. Cruikshank, president of t
Hannibal Base Ball association, p
,ir- sented Hannibal's bid. Hannibal W
in the pennant, played to over 10000 p;