MEMORIAL FIELD FAST BECOMING A REALITY

If anything were needed to convince the average undergraduate or alumnus that the Memorial Field project concerning which so much was said last spring is not an idle dream, but is fast becoming a tangible reality, a visit to the field itself and a careful look over its expanse should furnish sufficient proof.

The first active steps towards the beginning of actual work, was a meeting of the Memorial Field Committee, held a few days previous to Commencement last June to decide just what part of the work should be undertaken first and what portion of it should and could be done during the summer.

The committee had on hand at that time $50,000 in cash. The estimates on the cost of draining and grading the entire field varied from $60,000 to $70,000, which included the construction of the running track, but did not include any tennis courts. In spite of this shortage the committee voted to authorize the letting of the contract for draining and grading the entire field because they felt sure that subscriptions and pledges which would be obtained at the Commencement season and which would come in during the summer would enable them to go through with that part of the work.

The next job which the committee had was to put the whole project before the various classes holding reunions. The classes responded so well to this appeal thai practically every class subscribed at least one share ($4000) to the fund and several of the larger classes expect eventually their subscriptions will amount to two shares. The committee was very much encouraged by these happenings and also by a subscription of $4000 which was voted by the Athletic Council out of its general fund upon the condition that it should be used for the construction of tennis courts.

Early in July, after competitive bidding, the contracts for draining and grading the entire field were let to the H. P. Cummings Construction Company and work was started without delay. Due to the careful and comprehensive plans which had been prepared by Messrs. Larson and Wells of Hanover, who are the general engineers and architects for the whole Memorial Field enterprise, and also to the efficient way in which the Cummings Company approached its job, a large amount of work was completed in a short interval of time. This fortunate result was aided by the very dry weather of the summer, which enabled the contractors to proceed without any delay on that account. At times as many as 175 men were at work on the field.

The work of draining and grading the field in the proper manner was a tremendous task and literally miles of pipe, varying in diameter from three feet to ordinary water pipe were laid under the field.

The main drain leads from a point in the south line of the field across Lebanon street and empties into one of the Mink Brook gullies. Into this main drain empties another very large pipe which runs east and west along the south line of the field; which in turn feeds a number of smaller lines which run north and' south through the field, with their northerly ends near the gymnasium, and with catch basins at convenient intervals, so that the whole system roughly resembles a huge fork.

The field is also graded in such a way that all the surface water will run off quickly, since it is really a succession of hills and valleys scarcely preceptible to the naked eye, but which serves to prevent water from collecting on any portion of its surface.

Heretofore a large amount of water has always run into the field from the nearby streets, and in order to eradicate this difficulty arrangements were made with the precinct to change their drainage system so as to carry off the water from the streets before it had a chance to run onto the field. This was a matter in which the co-operation of the precinct has been very helpful.

In August it became evident that thanks to the weather and the efficiency of the workmen the committee could complete the draining and grading of the field for somewhat less money than they had figured on. and therefore they felt able to undertake the construction of additional tennis courts. As a result 15 tennis courts are in the process of construction. Four of them are nearly completed and it is hoped that they will be ready for use the latter part of the fall season. The approximate cost per court, including suitable backstop's which are to be built, is not less than $1000 each. One of these courts will be of concrete construction, so that it will be available for use in the spring even before the snow has entirely left the ground.

A new running track had to be built and the track which one now sees at the field is a brand new one from the bottom, which is 30 inches under the ground, to the top layer of cinders. The west bleachers are located on what was a part of the old track. The new track was built according to the most approved methods by the engineers in direct consultation with Mr. Hillman, and with the right kind of care should serve the college for the next 50 years.

The hockey rink is being widened by 10 feet to make it correspond to the size of the largest ice rinks on which our teams are called upon to play. The area will be approximately that of the Boston Arena.

A new varsity baseball diamond has been laid out upon which in the future all baseball contests will be held. The football field in the future will be used only for football. All the rest of the huge field will be used for the recreational activities of the college.

Incidental to these improvements is the construction of a new automobile roadway, connecting Crosby and Park streets. This road will relieve the congestion of machines at the athletic contests held on the field and will also serve as a suitable entrance to both the field and the gymnasium. While it has transformed the field from a swamp into a spot in which the college can well take pride, all that has been done is only a start towards the completed pro' ject. There remains to be built a concrete grandstand which will stand approximately in the location of the present west bleachers. The capacity of this stand will be between 7000 and 8000 people. There is also to be erected a suitable fence around the entire field and a large entrance gate. This fence will presumably be of stone and brick construction.

The field is to be equipped with intercommunicating telephones with five or six stations on the field and two in the gymnasium.

When this work can be completed depends entirely upon the volume of new subscriptions and the way in which the present pledges amounting to over $100,000 are turned into cash. The work done during the summer used up all the cash-which was on hand.

The committee contemplates during the present year a steady campaign for the completion of this great project.

Last year undergraduate subscriptions amounted to over $20,000 for the whole student body, part of which was paid' and more of which remains to be paid. Undergraduates ought to be encouraged by what has been done so far to pay up the rest of their pledges at the very earliest moment because without the encouragement which this generous response gave, the committee would not have had the courage to go ahead as far as it has.

The Memorial Field when it is completed will be a most suitable memorial to those brave sons of Dartmouth who gave their lives for their country in the great World War, and will round out the. equipment of the College at a point where expansion and improvement have been sorely needed.