Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-27
AMERICAN CYCLER IN EUROPE
He Finds Nothing but Praise to Say of
Its Roads.
Popularity of the Sport and the Gem
eral Effort to Make the Par
ticipant Comfortable.
From the New Orleans Picayuae.

the fouEder of the local division OF the
League of American Wheelmen, returned
with his wife from quite an extended tour
of Europe.
Mr. Hodgson has possibly done more for
the bicycle riders of this city than any
other person. 1t has been his one hope
to secure for the riders some system of
road legislation which would give to the
public good roads throughout Louisiana.
Having made the question a close study he
realized the Importance of the work, and at
once attempted to secure The calling Of
convention with the object of placing on
working basis a plan for improving the
miserable country roads of the state.
While in Europe Mr.. Hodgson paid par
ticular attention to the cycling of that
country, and the roads which the tyclers
had at their command. The magnit1cence
of these thoroughfares was, indeed, strik-
ing. They showed even more clearly the
the carelessness exhibited in the construc-
ton of the few good roads Of which the
state can boast.
Speaking of cycling in Europe and the
bicycles used, especially In France, Mr..
Hodgson remarked that the foreign wheel
was of a much heavier weigh. than the
American machine. and still 1t was not
more durable. The American wheel has
especially in Paris. where it is considered
the best. The French machine weighs
from thirtytwo 10 thirty-live pounds; the
American wheels weigh about twenty-five
to thirty pounds.
While in Paris Mr.. Hodgson witnessed
the races between Banker Of Pittsburs
and the Belgian champion. The Belgian
rider had defeated all the fast liders of
Europe, but when he met the American he
was simply played with. Banker allowed
his rival to lead until the stretch near the
finish, when he went by him with compare
tive ease There We're hundreds of Amer
amounted to thousands. Every bet was
taken, and even odds were given. The
Americans showed their true American
spirit, and played on their country repre-
sentative in every manner possible.
Craze for Cycles.
The cafes and restaurants all over Europe
cater to the wheelmen. In the early even
ing the walters place on the sidewalk hi
cycle stands. and riders can have their
machines locked up, and when they are
ready to depart they present a check and
their wheel is released.
1t is a common sight to see from ten to
twenty wheels at one time in front of cafes
and restaurants of the cities Of Europe.
The craze for cycles has swept over the
world, and the number of riders is wonder
full In Europe this growth is not so ex-
traordinary, for the reason that the coun-
try roads magnificent. Among the
most famous CT these roads. and possibly
the most magnificent piece of engineering
m the wcrld. is the driveway from Nice to
Monte Carlo. 1t is the Corniche road, made
in the side OF the mountain. The surface
is of the hardest broken granite, and is
kept in such constant repair that it is
actually as smooth as a billiard table The
foundation was SO properly laid. and the
road itself SO well drained, that five min
utes after a rain it Is dry. There are gut
ters on the roadside. and these cutters are
drained at intervals to deep bitches, where
the water is held until carried off again
and distributed among streams.
In France every department cares for the
roads, which are Kept in the most perfect
repair. Should one department have a sur
plus, after the roads in that section have
been properly attended to, that money in
stead of lying idle, Is expended In laying
out another road, and when more money
can be secured this new road is completed
and made as beautiful as the old ones. I'M
mediately upon the laying out of a road
trees are planted, and within few years
there Is an archway to shade the riders in
the summer months. and the big trees
break the wind of the winter.
The roads of Italy. as of all Europe are
very fine, but these are sadly in need of
repair. The country. however. is bankrupt,
ara can hardly make the necessary i'm
provements, yet the roads were so we'll and
properly constructed originally that they
have stood the rayages Of time. In many
instances there are good roads which ave
not received bit of improvement in twenty
years, and they are better than the best
streets OF New Orleans. OF course these
public driveways are not cut to pieces by
heavy wagons and floats like the streets
striking examples of a road and the man
rer in which a road should be built is The
Applan Way. which leads from the city of
tome rome Buiit 1000 years ago by the
the best roads in the world Within the
past hfteen years there has not been one
cent expended upon the driveway, and.
from general appearances, it can stand an
q with
Care of Streets.
The one secret for the preservation of the
streets of Paris is proper legislation. We
hicles. under the laws. are required to cary
tires according to the weight to be carried
on the wagon. Carriages and pleasure We
hicles are allowed certain width for their
tres but the heavy floats and wine wagons
must have a much wider tire. In this man.
ner the extreme heavy loads are distrib-
uted over a much larger space than the
weight of a cotton float and its narrow tired
Wfeeis. Then, too, the wagons are not al
lowed to pass over certain streets, which
are reserved for the pleasure vehicles, like
the Champs Elysees. where heavy traffic is
forbidden, and only light vehicles arc al
lowed, and many of these have rubber
bands over their tires and pneumatic tires
to their light wheels
In Germany the same grand roads exist
There are very few clubs in that country
ever. and can be found over all parts of
Europe. In Germany there exists the Rad
fahrer Ferein, an organization much after
the fashion of the League of American
Nheelmen. 1t has about $4,000 members
The greatest feeling of friendship exists
among all wheelmen of different countries.
To snow the fraternity of the wheel all over
the word, Mr.. Hodgson cited an incident
which occurred in Genoa, Italy. He was
about to catch train, and at the depot he
was approached by an Italian cyclist. He
had recognized the League of American
Wheelmea badge pinned on the lapel of Mr..
Iodgson's coat. and, seeing the American,
came forward with great exhibition of
friendship, shaking his hand and saying
something in Italian about America.
AS the train pulled out the Italian could
be seen standing on the platform waving
lis hand. In Brussels the cycling fever was
found to be universal Thousands were
riding wheels, and Antwerp is now cycling
center. The Aenstrasse, which borders
Lake Lucerne. is another of the famous
roads of Italy, and is visited by almost
every tourist who goes that far south.
Improved Roads.
The principle which seems to be followed
in the building of roads is, first, proper
foundation, made hard by drainage. Then
there is placed layer of broken stone. and
the top surface is usually made of small
etooa, urbich uatered and rol1ad nv