Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-05-31
The Truth About Cycling.


The limitations as we'll as the possi-
bilities Of the bicycle are fast becoming
known. With few more broken wheels
and limbs and necks the general public
as we'll as the grand army Of new riders
and the careless old ones will learn that
the "silent steed" must be ridden with
care. Its attempted use by the military
was about the most preposterous idea
that ever entered the head Of rational
man. It is absolutely Of no more use to
q soldier than sailboat, or an easy chair,
or saratoga trunk, or pair of stills
would be- It is Of as much use to any
one for cross country travelling or
where the roads are very bad as any
other extremely awkward machine
that must be carried would be weigh
ing from 20 to 80 pounds. Its safe
use in crowded thoroughfares is only
attained with the greatest care and at a
rate Of speed ranging from three to six
miles per hour, according to the num-
Der, speed and directions pursued by tho
vehicles encountered.
While an erect position is far prefer
able to a STOPPING one when riding for
pleasure or fer business, the liability to
accidents is no more in one position than
the other. There are careless riders who
sit erect and careful riders who assume
the offensive stopped position.
As to the healthfulness Of cycling, it
can be dismissed in a word. 1t is the
very best physical exercise for man or
woman of sedentary occupations. In
fact, that or some similar exercise in the
open dir is absolutely indispensable to
normal health. OF course the danger of
OVERRIDING is the same as that Of any 9TH
er activity that is inspiring and animal
ing.
The cry Of certain moralists that it is
immodest for women to ride wheel is
likewise of little consequence. It might
with equal propriety be called immodest
to ride horseback. AS to the question OF
woman s dress for wheeling, it will
soon settle itself in the adoption of that
which is best adapted for the purpose.
But to be thoroughly enjoyed there
must be good roads for cycling, and the
wheel has done more to stimulate road
making than anything else in the past
century, Almost without an exception
the officials charged with the care of
roads are bestirring themselves as they
have never done before. The appropria-
ton Of $4,000 made by congress two
years ago for an investigation of roads
has enabled the department OF agricul-
ture to issue number of useful bulle-
tins on the subject. Massachusetts and
New Jersey have been especially for
ward in the matter. In 1893 the legis-
lature of the former state passed bill
appropriating $500, 900 to be expended
by highway commission in road build
ing, and 80 sections of such roads have
already been contracted for. Most Of
these roads will have hardened surface
of from Is to 10 feet in width, but the
commission is considering the advisa-
bility of building in thinly settled dis
tricts single track roads of not more
than nine feet wide. Many towns are
building roads in the same careful man.
ner, and now the question Of planting
shade trees along the roads at a cost of
$1,5OO,O00 is seriously discussed. The
same sentiment that has become SO
dominant in these two states is making
itself felt in many other states east,
west and south.