Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-09-17

ZNAZz
EVERY MAN HIS OWN HORSE.
them had to exert q great deal Of
strength in their exercise. In those
days they were bent on speed over pc
dcstrianisn, and worked hard to push
their wheels. To-day, however, the
bicycles arc very light, and it is really
easier to propcl them than it is to walk
long distances.
When the velocipcde came here from
France, the capital city was unprepared
for it. Our streets were cobble-stoned
They were either muddy when wet, or
full of ruts when dry. Hence the We
locipede became popular in all other
cities before the people here undertook
to use them. But, with the develop
ment of our beautiful CITY, with its
hundreds of miles of smooth concreted
streets, the modern bicycle has become
popular. Men and women use the wheel
nowadays, and. many family has dis
carded the old horse and buggy for the
silent steed. The introduction of cable
and electric cars, supplemented by the
popularity of bicycles, have combined
to drive horses out of the market, and
they are SO cheap to-day that almost
any man of moderate means could af-
ford one; but the wheel is generally
preferred.
We have many visiting clubs of bicy-
clers from all parts of the country
every year, and our city is properly as
well as popularity known as 1.-The wheel
mems paradise" The smooth asphalt
pavcments in all parts of the city make
the best possible roadways for wheels,
while the wide streets give plenty Of
ROOM and tie ii aisii,,lffify mid weather
makes wheeling a pleasant exercise at
almost any season of the year. Rain
rolls off of our streets SO rapidly that
within half IN hour after a shower
they are as dry rs ever and glittering
as glass. The roadways leading into
the country are SO carefully macadam-
lied and SO heavily rolled that there
is never any mud to speak of, and the
only time when it is impracticable for
bicyclists to be out is during the very
brief periods when snow is on the
ground. 1t is easy to wheel to the sol
diers' home, and there, amidst the
trees, there arc miles of hard roadway.
Over hill and through dale, past monu-
ments, brooks, lakes and over bridges,
the young men and women spin from
early morn till dewy eve, without let
or hindrance.
This is essentially city of offices,
and one may go into any of the ex-
ecutive departments during business
hours and see the courts and basement
walls lined with bicycles belonging to
the clerks Ladies as well as gentle
men use them as horses used to be
driven from their homes in the morn
ing to the departments, and back to
their suppers when the light labor of
each day is over. at almost any hour
OF the day or evening these flying vehi-
cles will sweep past, like swallows
slSimming the surface of pond Min
listers, clerks, letter carriers, business
men, messenger boys, all use them, and
can make the distance from the capitol
to the treasury in three or four minutes,
leaving street cars and herdics far be-
hind. The district messenger and tele-
graph boys cannot go to sleep on their
errands now, their bicycles keep them
awake. Moreover, the managers know
exactly how long boy ought to be
gone on an errand covering given dis
lance; and the boys must push their
pedals in order to keep pace with the
memorable clocks.
Some wonderful and daring feats
have been performed in this city by
expert cyclers. Many of them have
been foclbardy, perilous, unnecessary
and worthy of condemnation for their
hazard; but, having been accomplished,
they are noteworthy. For example,
the marble steps leading to the east or
main entrance of the rotunda of the !
capitol are eighty in number, and at an
angle of forty degrees. II. S. Owens, a
cyclcr of local note, descended these |
steps from the bronze doors to the
ground on a single wheel. Of course,
this might not be regarded as much of |
an achievement on safety bicycle |
with its low wheels, but on vertical |
machine it was certainly very dam
gcrous and difficult performance. An
other very hazardous feat was that Of
riding over the coping of Cabin Johns |
bridge. This was achieved by w. 8.
Robinson. The coping on the side Of
the bridge is four feet above the
bridge floor. is 800 feet long and 100 |
feet above the canal. There were two
joys or offsets in the coping, which |
made the achievement more difficult |
and dangerous. The bridge is the
longest single span of arched ma
sonry in the world, and the height
above the ravine is such as to mako
any man or woman dizzy. A single
error in manipulating the handles
would have resulted in certain death
on the one hand, or dangerous and
Gripping tumble on the other. 1t has
never been attempted since; aud Mr..
Robinson was glad enough to get back
upon safe ground without mishap.
He would not try It aEain.