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Princeton's New Base-Ball Cage.

Princeton's new base-ball cage is finished, and a short description of it may be of interest. The building is 140 feet long by 50 feet wide, 16 feet high at the sides and 26 at the highest point of the trusses, on which the roof is supported, or a mean height of 21 feet. There is afforded, therefore, an inclosed space of nearly 5,400 cubic yards. One end of the cage is doubly boarded to furnish a solid smooth surface for hand-ball practice. On the inside the ceiling is formed by wire netting, which extends the whole length of the building, completely protects the windows and rafters, and prevents the sudden rebounding of batted balls, while the entire sides and one end are protected by cord netting. Thus the whole interior of the cage is inclosed in a firm network which prevents in jury to the building and insures to the players perfect freedom from the danger of hard rebounding or glancing balls. By a system of pulleys one of the nets can be moved inward a distance of eight feet from the side and held in that position. This divides the cage into two parts, and affords a narrow alley for battery work or throwing, while regular fielding and batting is practiced in the larger enclosure. Three batteries can thus be kept at work at the same time with safety. There is a narrow sawdust track around the inside of the cage on a level with the regular surface, and included as a part of the available space for base-ball practice. There is a space for fielding practice, throwing to bases first and second, from the catcher's position, batting, to a limited extent base running, and base sliding. For the latter purpose a bed of sand is in preparation which will serve also for the use of running broad jumpers. Base-ball practice at present continues daily from 12 m. to 2 p. m.; track athletics from 5 p. m. to 6 p. m.; lacrosse and foot-ball practice during intermediate hours.

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