CONSTRUCTION NOTES 



337 



105 feet with a true semicircle for the curve. The width of the straight- 

 away should be at least 18 feet, and of the turns and backstretch at least 

 12 feet. A greater width is preferable. It is not considered necessary or 

 advisable to bank the track at the curves. The curb is generally of con- 

 crete four inches wide and set deep enough to be below the frost line. To 

 conform to regulations, the height of the curb above the track should be 

 two or three inches and its edge should be rounded. If a baseball diamond 

 is to be laid out within the oval, however, it may not be wise to have a 

 raised curb, especially if the track is less than one-quarter mile in length. 

 Increasing the curve radius of the track makes the oval more suitable for 

 baseball. If the running track is to enclose a football field, the long axis 

 should run north and south. 



Drainage. Catch basins should be provided along the edge of the oval 

 and the outside edge of the outside curb to take care of surface drainage. 

 Various methods are used in providing subdrainage, depending somewhat 

 upon soil conditions and the track surface. Thorough subdrainage, however, 

 is advisable. Water mains for sprinkling the track should be provided at 

 intervals, and if a stadium is built, water outlets may be installed along the 

 front edge of the stand. 



The following diagram showing detailed construction of a running 

 track and the layout of the oval was designed by Mr. Frederick W. Rubien 

 of New York, secretary of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States 

 for the 1916 National A. A. U. championships: 1 



"An athletic field can be laid out on almost any level area and while no 

 hard and fast rule can be laid down as to the selection of a plot, nevertheless 

 if the ground is high and dry a better result will be obtained. 



25 



\I5 



PLATE No. 138 



DETAILED CONSTRUCTION OF RUNNING TRACK 

 : Used by the courtesy of A. G. Spalding and Brothers. 



