Grand Forks daily herald., 1914-09-30
new NORTHERN LEAGUE Will Be AN EIGHT Glib
affair; BERTtS FOR Grand FORKS AND FARGO IF
DAKOTA CITIES Want TO ENTER CHARMED CIRCLE
LOCAL Club DOSEN'T Make Definite
DECISION AS TO PROBABLE COURSE
Under the New Arrangement Splendid Conditions Pre-
vail to Make League Success-Dfferent Seating Ar
rangement for Grand Forks would Help Situation

Grand Forks and Fargo are still in
the Northern league.
That is, the two North Dakota cities
are included as cogs in the new
league, and the occupancy of the TWO
berthS, now vacant, is dependent upon
the views taken by baseball support
ers in the two towns.
The Northern never was intended
as a six-club league. That much is
evident from official announcements
made by President John Burmeister
Of Minneapolis, and the report of NJ.
Stanchfleld, made to the Grand Forks
Baseball club last night.
Grand Forks and Fargo will fill
out one of the most neatly balanced
circuits in the country. and they
/ would give to the Northern league,
now ostensibly organized as a SIX
club affair, balance that would be the
eaving grace of the circuit.
Mr.. Burmeister says the franchises
of Grand Forks and Fargo are being
held by the league. temporarily, and
that "other cities" are being conslo-
cred. Geographically. however. Grand
Forks and Fargo hold advantages
which the league magnates are not
desifous Of losing, and while there
are "other towns" still they are with
out great alluring features.
IacS tolh VI OIduOOll. MALL, anu
another live North Dakota city,
Just what other live North Dakota
city, would be interested in handling
baseball proposition that involves
the handling Of from 100000 to $780,
600 annually. Is hard to figure.
And. too. the inclusion of Brandon
would break the balance of four
American cities as against four Can
o1f NffS Nr,11 emil tln
90 far as holiday gates are concerned,
and there is nothing SO illuminating
in baseball as holiday gates
The Grand Forks Baseball club, at
its special meeting last night, went
into lengthy consideration of the local
baseball situation. There were none
who were desirous Of abandoning
baseball-but the Grand Forks sup
porters of the game don't feel like
digging as deep as they have been
compelled to do, Just for the sake of
witnessing a bit Of baseball.
At last nights meeting. they can
vassed the baseball situation pretty
closely. as regards finances.
Under the new league arrangement,
the mileage question is greatly sim
plified.
The present single mileage to Win
nipeg will stand for two series of
games, against Winnipeg and st. Boni-
face.
Likewise. the present mileage to
Fort William will paw for two series
Of games, against Port Arthur and
Fort William.
Duluth and Superior are located
across the bay from each other, while
Grand Forks and Fargo are within 80
miles Of each other.
In Grand Forks the financial end of
the game depends upon greater rev.
enue at the gates.
The present arrangement of Daco-
tab park is operating against the club
obtaining Just returns. Automobiles
are admitted to the park free of
charge. this being the only park in
the league where they are permitted.
Automobiles take from the grand
stand patronage more than they do
losses OF the local club are heavier.
The bleachers are. in reality, better
than the grand stand. 80 far as the
average tan is concerned.
Under a suggested plan Of handling
the park situation. the bleachers
would be placed on a 35-cent basi-.
automobiles would be permitted to
cents, while 25-cent bleachers would
be erected at the outer corners of the
park, just as they are maintained in
other parks.
Presuning that an average of $50
fans took the 35-cent bleachers, the
added revenue, all of which would go
to the local club. would be s35 game
Averaging the automobile attendance
at 20 cars. another $40 would be ad-
ded to the income. With s45 more
for each game during the season, an
increased income of about s2,500
would be available. and 1t would 20 a
long way towards covering the deficits
the club faces at the end Of each year
under present conditions.
Under the new league arrangement
at Winnipeg, splendid downtown
plant is to be constructed. 1t will
have a grand stand seatin- capacity
Of 5000, and bleacher seating capacity
Of 5000 more. It will be erected in