Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-29

The pleasures and comfort Of wheel
man while riding depends largely on
the condition of the tires on his wheel.
The condition of the tires is governed
to a great extent by the nature of the
roadway over which he passes. With
The solid and cushion tires little anxiety
WAS felt about sharp articles, but the
Ihrust OF thorn or something similar
Us calculated to make the angry passions
arise in the bosom Of the man on the
wheel.
with little care on the part Of the
FARMERS, the life of the members of the
cycling fraternity would be pleasant
and even desirable, but when the
pliers OF the soil allow the roads of
their premises to become Uttered with
hedge thorns wheelmen must regard the
country roads with constant dread.
thorn hedges have come largely into
use 10 separate farm lands from public
roads, and just at the present time
most OF the farmers who own these
hedges are having them trimmed. In
the majority of cases the clippings from
the hedges which by the way are
numerous and dangerous, owing to the
fact that the thorn hedge is a bush of
rapid growth are allowed to remain
where they fall, no matter whether il
be IN the middle of the road, on the
nide paths or in the bitches bordering
on the roads, and while they are prac.
tlcally harmless while green, they are
decidedly harmful when they dry up
and become hard. Ii is very true that
many farmers have the clippings taken
up and burned, but in this not enough
care is exercised, and little sprigs filled
with dangerous looking thorns can be
seen lying about the roads long after
the trimming season is past.
1t would be hard to believe that any
farmer-for most of them are Charitable
whole-souled citizens = Intentionally
allows the thorns to remain in the road,
but as a matter of fact the work is in
the hands Of employees, who are care
less, more because they have nothing
not even reputation-at stake than any
thing else.
party of local wheelmen took run
to Delaware City Friday and tbey
found the road in some places literally
covered with the dangerous and uplv.
looking thistle branches. 1t is pre.
sumed that they are allowed to remain
where they fall and are blown INTO the
ROAD. There were three wheelmen in
the party and two Of them got several
thorns in their tires just imagine the
annoyance that followed. '
The question may be asked. "Wbv
did they not keep out of the way ~
the thorns; they are big enough 10
see?" While it is quite true that the
thorns are big enough to see, as a mat.
Yer 81 fact in many cases they are com
pletely buried in the dust that lies deem
on most OF the roads down the State.
ana the rider is not aware that he |
mas run afoul Of the thorns until he |
hears the branch striking against his |
wheel. He has picked up the branch |
ana is carrying 1t along with him. He, |
OF courae, must dismount, and make |
the necessary repairs at once.
But while this is annoying in the ex-
IRENE It is dead easy" as compared |
with some cases. Probably he viii
run over a branch containing thorns.
and the first intimation he has is when |
the air al leaves the tube. In this
case he did not succeed in picking I'm |
inc branch, or even the thorn that en-
tered the wheel, and he must needs |
look Tor the puncture without having |
anything by which it is marked. If |
the thorn remains in the tire it is an
easy matter to make the repair, as the |
puncture is at once e7ident, but if the
thorn simply punctured and was NOT |
carried along, it is exceedingly diff
cult matter to locate the leak In most |
instances it is necessary TO take the |
inner tube outfit the tire contains |
two tubes initiate it and hunt up some |
Eater IN which to place the tube. In |
inns manner IL will be seen where the |
air is escaping, but without the aid of |
water 1t is sometimes impossible otlo- |
cate the puncture. And, as water is
scarce sometimes on the country roads, |
the cycler is in dire distress.
All Of this trouble can be avoided if |
me farmer Will exercise the proper care |
IN looking after the branches that are
clipped from the hedges. If hired men
are put 70 trimming the hedges they |
should ne given particular instructions |
not to allow stray branches TO litter I'M |
the road, and there is little doubt but |
that all farmers who become cognizant |
of the trouble they are causing will |
look after the matter little more care
fully-in a humane spirit If from no |
other motive.
Allowing the thorns to remain in tbe |
roads may be called malicious mis-
chief il tho perpetrator is impressed |
WIN the Importance of keeping the |
highways clear Of all such: otherwise |
II Is carelessness. Not only are wheel |
men put to n great deal If Inconvenience |
and annoyance by such carelessness
put owners of horses are sometimes |
heard to complain, and it is safe to say
that horses are sometimes injured as
result Of their owners carelossness.
Most of the thorns found by the road
side are small and will not enter n
horse's foot, but there have been cases
and recently too, where the larger tborns |
have entered the feet of horses and IN |
such cases there is danger of lockiaw,
Then, again, there is another matter
to consider. In the country most Of
the young children go about in their |
bare feet and there have been many |
instances where the little ones have I'M.
dergone weeks OF suffering from wounds |
produced by treading on thorns. 1t is |
too late after the injury is done to pre-
vent it, but it is not too late to guard !
against trouble in the future. and the |
wheelmen Of Wilmington Will take il |
Is an esteemed favor If the farmers Of |
Delaware will exercise all the care they |
know how in the matter Of trimming |
hedges.
He Is u Prize Bowler.
Rev. Sylvester Jorg won the first
prize which was gold watch in the |
bowling contest at the kirmess at Bava.
lian Park Thursday. y. T. Bradford
captured the 50 bill which was offered
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