The Washington herald., 1909-10-17
Fort Smith Would Like to
Get Our Ball Team.
BOOM CLIMATE OF ARKANSAS
BUSINESS Interests of the City Get
Together and Boom Things-Secre-
tary Fowler Receives Letter Tell
ing What an Ideal Spot May BE
Secured for Early Season Training.
Special to Tbo Washington Herald.

I
in the communication OF the Fort Smith
Commercial League, Fort Smith, Ark
which has reached the officers of the
home teams to-day.
The communication goes into details
quite minutely. and cites figures on pre-
cipitation, temperatures, &c, which viii
bear close investigation According to
the figures obtainable, the climatic condi-
tons are nearly ideal FOR the location OF
such camp. combining with a frst-class
ball park a vigorous and hustling and
live Southwestern city.
The small precipitation. coupled with a
very few cloudy days. according to off,
cial reports. insure a large number OF
working days. which Is a particular fea-
ture in such camps.
Fort Smith is probably the most pro-
gressiye city west Of the Mississippi and
south OF Kansas City. 1t has a popula-
ton ~ 1000 people, with seven railroads
centering at that point Its location for
arranging spring tours is practical and
! will appeal 10 ball managers. While
! strictly a manufacturing town. II Is the
center OF the largest coal mining devel-
opment in the West. and the patronage
! from this source should be quite an item.
/ The business Interests OF Fort Smith
have taken hold Of the matter and have
assured the local managers that ample
I club quarters, the shower and tub bath
arrangements, library, &c. win be at the
/ service Of the boys. Herewith submitted
is a schedule OF figures on precipitation,
temperatures. &c, which enter into such
/ a proposition:
October 9. 1903.
/ " II. Fowler. Secretary.
American League Team.
Washington, d. c.
/ Dear Sir. We beg herewith to submit
I you such pertinent data relative to tenn
peratures precipitation. and general cli-
matte conditions existing at Southwest
and Southern points in comparison with
J temperatures existing in your own city.
/ The purpose OF this communication is 10
/ interest one or more Of the major league
1 ball teams to make Fort Smith a winter
I training quarters The figures submitted
/ were taken from government records.
| In the comparisons accompanying here
with we beg 10 draw your attention 20
I the temperatures existing In the month OF
/ April as between Fort Smith and your
/ city Believing that at this season the
change IN climate from the South 10 the
North viii not be attendant with the un-
\ favorable conditions which would claim
your attention as a training quarters. IL
/ IS suggested that there would be a pat
ronage OF your public games which could
/ be made quite profitable Fort Smith Is
( a city OF approximately 10000 people.
with a mining population Of some 10000
| families. contiguous 10 Fort Smith. not
4 included. This is a very progressive and
I appreciative community and would be
! loyal in their support OF team az this
point
| You would be interested particularly In
| the following features Climatic cOndi-
/ tions, ball park and equipment hotel
service. amusements, street car service,
ard drinking water.
Climatic conditions.-Firss IN Importance
! In the selection OF training quarters would
I probably be the general climatic condi-
| tions. Fort Smith has an ideal spring
| climate. The days are warm. yet SUM-
| ciently tempered by the cool mountain
breezes from the Ozarks, Immediately TO
the north OF us. to make the weather the
least bit snappy and invigorating. yet
warm enough 10 cause a free perspiration
/
cool and refreshing There is but little
precipitation and the days are sunsainy
and bright. In case OF showers, the ex-
cellent drainage offered. coincident with
the nature Of the soil. causes a quick alb
soTptiOn OF ali moisture. One OF the prin-
cipal features marking a rain here Is the
qUickness with which the soil dries. leav-
ing hardly a trace or any precipitation.
So far as climatic conditions 20 Fort
Smith encourages and courts a strict
comparison with other points In the coun-
try.
Ball park and equipment-With refer
ence 10 the ball park, would say that ac-
tuai measurements at League Park are
as follows: Back stop to home plate. II
feet: home 10 fence along foul lines, 34S
feet. Ii is a skin diamond. the grounds
proper being considerably larger, with a
hfteen-foot board fence surrounding II:
has a large grand stand, accommodating
1900 people. and with the bleachers OF
like capacity. We would have hot and
cold showers. tubs. clubrooms. &C. In
stalled at the park for the convenience
OF players. Natural gas is the fuel.
Hotel service.-Fort Smith has four
large hotels. one of them $4,000 insti-
tuition, which viii be open to the public
January l. and will be one OF the finest
hotels west OF the Mississippi River.
Amusements.-Fort Smith has two per-
manent winter theaters, aside from a
number Of and 10 cent shows The
town is strong on amusements, and
plenty Of recreation along these lines
may be expected.
Street car service. - Fort Smith has
a splendid system Of street car lines.
League Park is served direct by two
street car lines and within eight minutes
of the city hall. Cars may be taken at
the park every FIVE minutes for the city
Drinking water-An essential feature in
your athletic training requirements IS
drinking water. Fort Smith Is exception
ally fortunate along these lines, the city
drawing it's supply from a mountain
stream. 1t is chemically pure and free
from any mineral particles. 1t is a sweet
water and soft. No unpleasant expert
ences attend those who make a change to
drinking Fort Smith water
we beg to advise you to carefully con-
slider the comparative figures on precipi-
tation, mean temperatures covering
Southern and Western points. as we'll as
the home OF the team.
Fort Smith is very anxious to entertain
one or more league teams this spring,
end we can assure you that IL will be
with good results so far as Fort Smith is
concerned. The possibilities Of patronage
and the necessary features entering into
the establishment OF trimming quarters at
this point and such other things inciden-
tai are fully met at Fort Smith. We have
another ball park located In Oklahoma,
VLD is the dark beer that'lI
~ INV benefit Won most-the