The San Francisco call., 1910-03-06
URGES ATHLETICS
GOVERNED BY CITY
Sidney s. PeiXOttO Would Group
Public Fairgrounds and
Amateur Sports
By HERBERT IiAuSER

President sidney 5. PeiNotto Of the
Pacific athletic association has returned
from his Australian trip with many
new ideas for encouraging amateur
sports. foremost among which is the
idea Of municipal athletics such as is
conducted by the city of Melbourne.
Melbourne is geographically divided
into districts. each Of which holds its
own athletic meet, which is followed
by a general meet This is a gala
day and the entire city turns out.
PeiNotto's idea is TO have the district
Improvement clubs start the move
ment in this city. Mayor Mccarthy
las pledged his support and the Pacific
athletic association viii undoubtedly
take the matter up al an early date.
Another point that PeiXotto brought
out in his speech at Thursday night S
banquet was the question Of public
Fairgrounds. He stated that every city
il Australia had its cricket oval and
athletic grounds, even the little min
ing town of CoOlga rdie, situated in the
heart of most desolate mining coun-
tIy has its beautiful turf oval The
turf for this oval was brought 500
miles al cost OF SbtUVO.
All these municipal Fairgrounds are
surrounded by fences and occasionally
meets are held al which d small ad-
mission fee Is charged, part of which
goes for the support Of the oval. An
arrangement of this kind should be
made Tor our great stadium in Colleen
Gate park, and the Pacific athletic as
sOciation intends 10 take hold of this
matter at an early date.
Our local schools are now compelled
u conduct their track and field meets
Al considerable expense with but lit
lie or no return. as they are unable TO
charge an admission fee at the stadium.
Another matter that should be taken
up with the local park commissioners
regarding the stadium is thai the quar-
ter mile cinder track must have a regu-
lation, either wooden OF cement, coping.
SO that records made on the track
Hau DE officially recognized, which is
now impossible. Furthermore. the
Cinder track must be fenced OF in a
proper manner, SO that athletic meets
Will not be spoiled by curious specta-
tors crowding the inner field.
ll VIII not be many years before we
bold the national track and field
mpionships of the Amateur Athletic
union here, ana before that time we
must put that track in perfect shape.
With the exception of the triclub
meet between the Olympic, New York
and chicago athletic clubs. every other
athletic meet in the park has been
nlarred by spectators crowding upon
lie track.
The Academic Athletic league will
hold its thirty-second semiannual field
day April on the University of Cali
fornia cInder track. The preliminary
events may possibly be held in the
morning so that the meet will be over
i'm time for the spectators TO attend the
intercollegiate baseball game. Presi-
dent Cloud has invited the writer to
Ike the Craftsmanship of the commit
tee in charge, which l have accepted
with the understanding that L merely
attend 10 the athletic portion of the
work and that Cloud or the other mem
bers Of the committee handle the bust
ness portion.
The meeting viii be different from
the league in that it viii be a meet. OF
champions Of each subleague, that is
10 say the first. second and third place
men in each subleague meet will com
pete against one another.
The schools of the Northern sub
league are going TO make a determined
effort TO win this meet, and from al
appearances they seem to have the
best chance. Ukiah high school ha:
taken on a new lease of life and prom.
ises 20 turn out the best team tht
school has had in several years. TIL.
ord rock track built alongside tn,
school in the days of Henley Thomas
Hagans and Weller has been rebuif
and a fine clay coating now covers it
in addition TO which a clubhouse witt
showers has been built
The track team has now been on
training for the last two weeks. Bill,
Hagans, one of the fastest sprinterl
ever turned out by the league. is keen
ing his watchful eye upon the young
sters. Fred Thomas, the weight man
is putting the shot out over 46 feet ant
has thrown the hammer $50 feet ant
the discus 100 feet. He also broa,
jumps close to 81 feet. Lloyd Teel Il
out strong for the mile and promises I,
run around 1850 or even better.
Cox and Prather. the hurdlers. hay,
reached II and 2S As respectively il
their two events, in addition to which
Cox is vaulting over 10 feet. Caughe,
was running well in the quarter bu
strained tendon and may be kept ou
of the going for some time Iittl,
Stock. the veteran halfmiler, made hii
first half this season against time il
2:0S.
Ralph Rose is keeping his paterna
eye upon the Heaidsbmrg high schoo
team and expects TO turn out a frs
class team. Santa Rosa is anothe
northern school that can be figured ol
to make a fight, while Willis an
Fort Bragg can be counted on to turl
out some classy material