Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-07

mile race on that day In April, 1902, when
DR.. Butler was indicted into office as
president of the university, in which one
athlete, firing toward the end. fell off the
track just at the old yew tree at the top Of
the backstretch and dropped completely
out Of sight down in the infield, because
Of the upbuilt nature of the path at that
point. Then came improvements for
foot ball. which was dying then. The In
field was levelled so that 1t became a
passable field.
The track altered each year in size. now
increasing and now shrinking, 1t never
was exactly anything to the mile. 1t was
either five laps and a few yards, or six
laps or so to the mile. When Ernie left
Columbia. and Josh Crooks took up the
struggle to make a track team grow where
the soil didn't appear fertile, the track
remained about in its general six to the
mile aspect for a while. 1t was last spring
that operations were begun to put down a
quarter mile track on South Field.
This was to be more than a mere quar-
ter-mile track. The designer indicated also
a straightaway OF $50 yards. There were
to be grand stands erected, the gifts of a
class. This field was 10 be the scene of
the intercollegiate championships some
time in the future. The Columbia folks
knew that the intercollegiate Amateur
Athletic Association of America was only
too willing to have the games back in
New York.
But the plans that Fred Ruben drew
were not followed. The long staightaway
was omitted. The track will hold the 100
yard hurdle race along the One Hundred
and Fourteenth street side. but the jump
ing pits are 80 placed that the Jumpers
would Interfere with the progress Of COM
p~stitors in running races. There is really
no room for the hammer thrower either,
so that all in all the track isn't anywhere
near fit for the holding OF the champion
ship meet.
Fate pursues this Columbia track, and
although II was surveyed to be 40 yards
long once around, it isn't. 1t is 440 yards
IL feet to the lap. Therefore twice around
Is sS1 yards, and four times around is a
mile and two yards. These differences
have all been accounted for. and the pole
boards are marked for some distance from
the finishing post with instructions as to
starting certain races.
Stadium of the Future.
The discussion started recently by the
Columbia Alumni News article on the uni
versity's intentions regarding South field
reveals a state OF affairs threatening to the
continuance Of athletic prosperity at CO.
lumbia when. indeed. 1t shall arrive. The
university does not intend, apparently. that
South field shall go on being used indefin'
itely for athletics. The field is very fine
now-but some day and that may be soon
there will be need OF ground for another
building or so and the field will be cut
into. 1t may be eventually that the uni
versity plans will be 50 far accomplished
that the terrace on South field will be
completed TO match the one before the
library building. Then there will be no
more athletic field.
At this time the university is talking
vaguely OF that Riverside stadium project,
which about two years ago had advanced
far enough to cause a plan and fanciful
elevation 70 be published. This stadium
has many ifs and ands retarding II and
so It may be years before ever II comes
to pass. 1t will be a prime necessity
some day, as can be seen readily. II Il
does come up TO expectations, Columbia
I win turn from being one OF the poorest
equipped OF the college for outdoor sports
into one OF the very first rank. But the
alumni are worn with dispair because
every now and again an upheaval has
caused the breaking up OF all plans cher
ished for putting athletics on a good basis
At present Columbia Is pretty we'll Of
for material Every afternoon sees a goot
crowd OF men out doing things on th'
field. Perhaps the men who turn out foI
the gymnasium open air classes may mo-