Norwich bulletin., 1918-01-22

ped out according to auto mileage ra- ther than drawn to fit train sched- Gles.
 f In many ways the so-called trolley league idea has many advantages par ticularly in the minor leagues, where travel expenses have mighty impor- tant bearing in the operating costs. Curtallment of passenger traffic, which seems to be necessary adjunct of war times and which has already been started to some extent, may make matters somewhat difficult for the Eastern league in playing out day. by-day schedule and in this situation crises the greatest transportation re- lief of modern times. the automobile
 The Eastern League without Port land and Lawrence included falling back on the uncertain railroad tran-s portation, which seems altogether likely this coming summer. Careful attention to the jumps when building the schedule can result in providing short trips for all of the clubs and a llttle labor and study can reduce sim gle Journeys to a matter of not more than three and one-half hours.
 The cost of such an undertaking must also be considered but so effec- lively has automobile transportation already been worked out that it is be- lleved ball clubs need not pay any more than they would be turning over 10 the railroads for similar service. {. It isn't necessary to depend on au- tomobile transportation alone either, for with the exception of Portland and Lawrence, the schedule can be so ar ranged as to give the clubs a chance to use electric transportation if ne- cessary, although the main fault with this method is it's slowness and un- certainty of making close connections Under normal condition railroad trans portatlon of course is the best, but with war conditions imposed the league club owners would do well to look into the automobile transporta . | tion idea
 How well this idea takes is indica ted by recent discussion among base ball men at Cincinnati The major leagues take the position that all base ball burdens should be removed from | the railroads as much as possible an6 find that this can be done in the east 1 where players can be transported b4 | boat and auto. The major leagues be. l1eVe that the eastern cities are close l enough together to make such a plar | feasible and moreover make it possi. ! ole to take the jumps in fast time ] These eastern jumps are considerably l longer than those of the Easterr 1 league and if the majors reason the, can use boat and auto, the merge; I league men should have no fear i, making the attempt
 | If there are any college ball player. of promise this season, and the ma for. do not grab up everything in sight tht Eastern league by announcing as lat an. opening as May 22, has placed it. 1 self in position to grab up some O this talent. Time and again it ha. been stated that the ideal minor leagu, is the circuit that develops players fo sale.
 If the majors should leave young sters alone long enough to enable tn. minors to do this the smaller league would be given a chance to realiz, more effectively on their investmen but unfortunately nowadayss it is har(
 to get hold of a promising .yoEngste, who has not already been tempted b,
 fame and glory in the big ring. If eve ] there was chance to experiment witt youngsters the coming season is tn, time, and those whose theories hay, never been given a fair test see thu opportunity for finding out once ant for all just how much they are worth