Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-08-24


them had to exert great deal OF
strength in their exercise. In those
bays they were bent on speed over pc
destrianism, and worked hard to push
their wheels. To-day, however, the
bicycles are very light, and it is really
easier to propel them than it is to walk
long distances.
When the veloeipede came here from
France, the capital city was unpreHared
for it. Our streets were cobble-stoned.
They were either muddy when wet, or
full of ruts when dry. Hence the ve-
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 almos+
any man of moderate means could at
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
pavements in all parts of the city make
the best possible roadways for wheels,
while the wide streets give plenty of
room, and the usually mild weather
makes wheeling a pleasant exercise at
almost any season of the year. Rain
rolls off of our streets so rapidly that
within half an hour after shower
they are as dry as 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 impacticable 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
d;ers' home, and there, amidst the
trees, there are 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 a city of offices,
and one may go into any of the ex-
ecutiye 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
skimming 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
exactiy how long boy ought to be
BOuC Ou dh cIIdnIi covering d given ulS'
tance; and the boys must push their
pedals in order to keep pace with the
inexorable clocks.
Some wonderful and daring feats
have been performed in this city by
expert cyclers. Many of them have
been foclhardy, 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. IL. S. Owens, a
cyclcr of local note, descended these
steps from the bronze doors to the
ground ON q single wheel. OF course,
this might not be regarded as much OF
nm achievement on safety bicycle
with it's low wheels, but on vertical
machine 1T was certainly very dam
gerous and difficult performance. An
other very hazardous feat was that of
riding over the coping of Cabin Johns
bridge. This was achieved by w. S.
Robinson. The coping on the side of
the bridge is four feet above the
bridge door, is 300 feet long and 100