Within the past year many additions have been made to Soldiers Field, among which are the Marshall Newell gate, the lodge, and the fence which extends along North Harvard street. These changes and the broad speedway which the Metropolitan Park Commission has built along the river, have added much to the appearance of the field, which today has a far different aspect than it had two years ago.

The Newell gate has been completed and will soon be formally opened. The lodge is built of Boston brick and stucco, and is two stories high. On the first floor there is a reception room for ladies, and a room for the use of coaches and managers, and on the second floor are the rooms for the use of the ground-keeper. The fence, which is nine feet in height, is of open iron-work and heavy pillars built of a stone composition, with brick trimmings. There are also new gates opposite the Carey building, and at the extreme end of the field. These additions, with the exception of the Newell gate, have been built at the expense of the athletic association. The fence which will run along the speedway for the distance of a mile is now in course of construction and will be of the same design as the fence on North Harvard street. It will be erected by the Metropolitan Park Commission in exchange for a strip of land of forty-six acres, upon which the speedway has been made. In addition to these improvements, the new University Boat House is now building.

New grand-stands have been erected at each end of the football field, but they will not, however, remain as permanent structures. They will be replaced, on the first opportunity, by more durable stands of iron. Portable stands will also be built for the Freshman field, which will be capable of seating from three to four hundred, and which can be erected in a short time. The cinder track around the football field will be used in the 1900 track games for the first time, and will probably be raised if it is found to be necessary. Plans have been made for a new house for the Gun Club which will be situated near the speedway, in what was once the marsh. Instead of shooting towards the road, as is now done, the pigeon traps will be turned in the opposite direction and the shooting will be towards Soldiers Field. There are now from twenty to thirty acres on Soldiers Field for athletic purposes. Since the Park Commission has constructed a dike along the water front, which shuts off the tide from the Long fellow meadow, fifteen additional acres have become available. All the important branches of athletics will soon be transferred across the Charles River to the one big field which now is unequalled in this country.