CREW MAY GET NEW TWO-MILE COURSE

The University crew will have a two mile course. The dream of University rowing men for half a century will be realized if a compromise bill which will be introduced into the Massachusetts State Senate this afternoon is passed. For the first time in over 100 years three or more crews will be able to start above the Weld Boat House and race side by side to the end of the river.

"It would be the biggest break for Harvard rowing in recent years," said Coach Stevens when asked about the measure yesterday afternoon. "It will enable us to have a good two-mile course, and an upstream Henley, course, which will be sheltered enough to row over at any time. It will also allow us to compare our crews with other American crews, which is impossible at present because we race over an odd distance."

Measure Has Long Been Hoped For

About twenty-five years ago, when the building of the Charles River dam stabilized rowing conditions, Harvard rowing men began looking forward to the day when the wooden-pile bridges along the river with their single narrow openings would be replaced by arched bridges allowing several crews to race under them.

The arched Harvard, West Boston, and Larz Anderson bridges came in time and this year the Western Avenue and River Street bridges were replaced by bridges of the arched variety. The only remaining obstacle to longer races was the Cottage Farm bridge, which the present bill would change.

Plan to Fill in River Defeated

Last summer a plan to fill in the river to a 60-foot opening at Cottage Farm was being favorably acted upon but prominent Harvard graduates organized to save the river from being forever closed to racing at this point.

The bill which will be introduced this afternoon provides for a railroad and a highway bridge, both with six 50-foot openings which are in line with each other. The bill is a compromise between the warring factions and has been agreed to by all the interested parties.

Among the petitioners for the bill are C. F. Adams '88, treasurer of the University; J. J. Storrow '85, captain of the winning '85 crew; James Lawrence '01, Chief Marshal of the class of 1901; John Richardson '06, chairman of the University Rowing Committee, and other prominent graduates.