Court Construction Returns Tennis to Cambridge Scene

Construction work on upwards of 50 tennis courts will begin in the near future, following final authorization Wednesday night by Provost Buck of a plan submitted by William J. Bingham '16, director of athletics.

Completion of the courts will restore some measure of order to the new badly confused University tennis picture. With construction of at least 35 new courts and resurfacing of the 14 now standing behind the Business School, there will once again be space for the undergraduate to play for pleasure.

The situation over the past year has been unlike any that University authorities ever faced before. From more than 70 prewar courts, the total playing space has dropped until only the Business School courts and one block beside Dillon remain, and these badly in need of resurfacing.

Housing Replaced Courts

Largest single loss came with the destruction of the courts on Jarvis Field to make room for the emergency veterans' housing now standing. These courts, of course, cannot be reclaimed for several years at least.

H.A.A. construction plans call for nine new clay courts just west of the Dillon Field House and two large batteries on the farther side of Soldiers Field. The former will occupy the site of the old Military Science stables, and the latter, constructed of a quick-drying asphalt mixture, will be on the site of the prewar grouping.

Work To Begin Soon

Whether or not the new surface will be ready for use this term is not yet certain, but work will start as soon as possible, according to Bingham. Resurfacing of the Business School courts was necessitated by wartime wear coupled with lack of proper care during that period, while the old clay courts on Soldiers Field are completely spoiled because of Navy volleyball play.

Regardless of whether the courts will be ready this spring, summer students will no longer be forced to Radcliffe for their games. Last year, under a special dispensation, Radcliffe courts could be had upon the payment of a small sum; but reinstatement of the regular ruling put this plan out of practical range by requiring that every student using a court be accompanied by a 'Cliffedweller.