Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-04
WINTER SPORTS.
Preparations Being Made by the Coasting
Club-1he Toboggan slide.


The preparations for the winter sports
in this city are making good progress and
the Coastng club promise to provide
healthful and eXhilarating entertainment
for all visitors to Burlington who care to
receive "cod hospitality" The toboggan
chute which is nearing completion is pro-
nounced by well informed persons as adj
mirably planned and its construction will
be as near perfection as possible. Main
street will be kept in good condition for
coasting during all favorable weather and
it is doubted if any city in the country af-
fords better facilities for this exciting
sport than are possessed by Burlington
A weeks programme of special sports
may be arranged during the course of the
winter but more will be said in relation to
this later on. Coastug and toboggan-
ing will be in order at any time during
favorable temperature and the unusual
preparations which are being made by
both members of the club and those who
are not members show that these sports
will be participated i'll by large numbers,
and toboggans and sleds are being mar
shalled for the opening event.
The tObOggan slide in course of con
StructlOn, at the corner OF st. Baul ana
Howard streets, on the Hickok lot, has
made good progress during the past week.
and is expected to reach completion the
latter part of the present week. 1t was
the intention of the executive committee
formerly to have the slide extend from the
centre of the streets named, diagonally
across the lot. but 1t was subsequently de-
cided to have 1t follow Howard street
about 900 feet. From this point Il gradual
curve is made so that the same portion of
the lot is reached as would have been COW
cred had the diagonal route been taken
BY the change Il considerable distance is
gained and the length of the slide Will
now he about, 1900 feet, which is probably
as far as most people will want to walk
back after Il slide.
The chute is seventy-iive feet long, with
an eight foot track and the platform has
an elevation of twenty-five feet. From
the foot of the chute the land is descend
ing for about 600 feet, so that an immense
velocity will be gained. The return trip
up the chute is made by steps three and II
half feet wide, with Il return slide for the
toboggan twenty-five inches wide. The
chute will be well built and the slide is
pronounced one of the best III the coun-
try.
The executive committee have decided
upon uniform for the members of the
club which will be both attractive and
comfortable. 1t will be of flannel, the
color to be according to the taste of the
wearer, and will consist of frock coats and
moccasins. The uniform will also in
clude II tuque and sash, both cardinal
red, and these two all members of the
club will be expected to wear when par
ticipatng in the sports. The committee
have also selected Il badge of unique de
design with which all the members must
be provided. 1t consists of miniature
toboggan in silver, bearing the initials of
the club in monogram and is IL very hand
some and appropriate badge. When the
club are out in full numbers and III full
uniforms they will present II picturesque
appearances
The preparations for coasting are being
carried on ut an equal pace with those for
tobogganing and III view of the large
number Of traverseS that will be used the
executive committee have concluded that
it would be better to have them all of one
width so as to track. Twenty inches
between the runners was decided upon as
the regulation width and w. II. Lane, Jr.,
and DR.. j. H. Linsley have been appointed
Il subcommittee to see that all traverse
SedS are made of regulation width