THE NEW CAGE.

When it was decided definitely to transfer Harvard's athletic activity entirely to Soldiers Field the question came up as to what should be done with the old Carey Building on Holmes Field where the baseball cage was situated. It was decided that the Corporation should purchase it from the athletic authorities and convert it into quarters for the Architectural School.

The Corporation paid $15,000 for the old Carey Building and it was decided to devote the whole of this sum to the erection of a new cage on Soldiers Field. It was thought at the same time that Mr. Carey's name should continue in connection with Harvard athletics and accordingly the Athletic Committee petitioned the Corporation for permission to call the new cage the Carey Building. This was readily granted and it was decided to give the old Carey Building some other name agreeable to the Carey family. When the new cage is completed a tablet in memory of Mr. Carey will be placed on the wall. $12,000 of the $15,000 will be spent on the actual building and the remaining $3000 will be spent on steam heating and the necessary fittings.

The cage will be large enough to permit of throw from home plate to second and to give practice in base running. It will be 150 feet long by 60 wide and 30 hight in the centre. The frame will be entirely of steel filled in with bricks to a distance of five feet above the ground, the remainder being plastered on the outside and sheathed within. Netting will be hung at a distance of eighteen inches from the wall on the inside. In winter the cage will not only accommodate the baseball candidates but will also serve for the cricket practice. There will be two coat and tool rooms and two other rooms to be used as armories, as the cage will provide an excellent drill room for the Harvard Rifles.

The building will have to be heated by steam from the Locker Building and in order to make the boiler capacity sufficient for both it will be necessary to overhaul the whole heating plant. The foundations of the cage are now in and the steel work will be up the first of January, with expectation of completing the building by the first of February, when practice will begin immediately.

The situation of the building has been criticised by some as being dangerously near the baseball diamond. The fact that it is 450 feet from the home plate is enough to allay such fears. Subsequently it will be surrounded by paths and trees and will look very attractive. In fact the whole situation of Soldiers Field will be improved, as the Park Commission have definitely decided to build a driveway along the shore line and the city of Boston has taken 20 feet for the widening of North Harvard street, which will be begun next summer.

In regard to the raising of the money in Boston for the improvement of Soldiers Field and the erection of steel seats, it is announced that nearly $15,000 has been raised. In New York an equal sum has been subscribed toward the new boat house and although the collection has now ceased temporarily it will soon be taken up with renewed vigor. Thus the prospects for the speedy fulfillment of the plans seem bright.