The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-30
THE WHIR
OF THE WHEEL.

The matter OF the greatest interest 70
Richmond wheelmcn at present u tne
rnissing-link bicycle track. and II may
be safely said that II VIII De puli' d.
an early day. ..,
The Henrico County Board OF Supervl-
sors yesterday, by unanimous NV.e ~ '1in-
ed the right Of way Off the missing INN
cycle track The subscription ist -
growing rapidly. All riders, ladles anu
men. boys and girls. are urfcl 10 itafc
their subscription Of 81 each at Inc l.ihts
office at once. as the work VIII not De
started until the necessary money -
actually paid in. When IL Is collector
work will begin and be pushed 10 SPECIFY
completion TO facilitate the COLLECTION
each person VINO has already subscribed
is urged 20 secure the subscription OF
several others and report their names by
phone or otherwise to The Times Once
This track will connect the two nnest
cycling districts around Richmond. and
open up greatly-incrcased privileges ana
pleasures 10 wheelmen. Nearly every
rider approached Is In favor OF the move
ment and Il only needs a little concert or
action TO get the track for use in "a Few
weeks.
The matter is In the hands Of some Of
the most prominent and reliable citizens.
THE BICYCLE An EXPENSIVE TOY.
II Mr. Thomas l.. Hicks. chairman OF
the Finance Committee Of the City Coun-
ell could have known OF the indignant
resentment Of 10000 bicyclers, he woui1
never have made the remark that the
bicycle was a costly toy Of no practical
value, and that. In his opinion. 10 i'm
prove a city pavement for the benefit Of
wheelmen would be little short OF ab-
sgrd."
Every class OF citizen IS taking issue
with him. and the Philadelphia papers
are full OF protests from all sorts or
people. The Dapers are publishing columns
OF interviews. Here is sample from the
Press:
rs the bicycle toy or a machine on
which TO chase health and pleasure ana
nothing else Well. / should say not.
a wOrkngman was talking TO the writer
and his tones were full OF emphasis. If
was Swapping his dinner pail on the
handle-bar Just after the din OF whistles
h0arsely cried six o'clock lie was
standing by the pavement I'm front OF a
large factory near the Delaware. ana
his hands were grimed with the marks
Of long days work
you've got a living picture right here,
said he with a CHEEKY smile OF satlsfac-
ton from work well done and the home
going in the early evening Here comes
a lot more Of my pals 10 tell you the
same story. There's close TO twenty or
us i'm the shop that have bought wheels,
and good wheels And We don't have
much time for pleasure-riding. 1 was the
first one to ride and they all had fun
with me. called me Johnny Aston. ana
told me not TO forget 10 FIJI my bucket
with terrapin on the way home. This is
the way l converted them:
VIGOROUS EVIDENCE.
Here you are. living five or six miles
away from the shop. some out az far AS
Fifty-ffth street, cut In Darby, in west
Philadelphia. the other end OF kcnsing-
ton, and two or three of you are Neck
ers. You pay 10. and II. and - cents
day for car-tare. and you'll average a
dollar a week ali around. / know you are
all high-price men, with money 10 ignt
cigars, but you've got a little common
sense here ana there. Now, I've bought
a Wheel and / pay = a month on IL. In
a year or Whereabouts the bike is pald
for. I'm paying just about what some OF
you drag out OF your pockets Tor car
fare. You're likely TO get blocked ana
stuck and miss an hours work any day.
and you know what that costs, with
chance of getting sacked If IL happens
too often. l come down in two-thirGs the
time, have longer time at home morning
ana night, ana am sure Of having some
thing to sit on going home, While you are
liable TO hang Oh the end OF strap Tor
an hour
Il work at bench all day and don't
get a decent chance 10 stretch my legs.
/ wheel II home, and get a chestful OF
good air, and work all the muscles that
haven't been dong anything. The gang
saw that / was giving 1t 10 them
straight, and they let me talk wheel
to rnem unul "A couple of them followed
suit and then There was three OF US
missionaries.
Then / mad another argument that
didn't holler dollars and cents. but was
worth a heap more, as yOuIl agree II
you re a family man. man can De
in "a bad temper IL he rides home on
his bike every night. The air knocks the
cranHiness out OF him, and he feels de
kcent and like a Christian. He Joll1es
Nm the wife and kids lets the boy chase
! imself around the block on the wheel,
sits down 10 supper without snarlihS
laking things unpleasant Now, one
men that goes home in crowd
right from the bad air Of the
cross, and tired and fidgety, ana
>Senchance to feel decent ana
Il good deal in that. my
ln mat does IA long days
that a spin home on a
evening won't tire him.
ssh am he'll be in a
ne motto on the
Hre's no place ike
k2an reefed his
strapped his
(.il, took the
ease, ana
IS" bound
zee brick
Road.
NIGHTS
korld
he