The record-union., 1896-02-21

of 1894 when John S. Johnson and
few lesser lights We're in training at the
State Fair grounds at Syracuse, Mf.
Stearns held a conference with several
officials of the d. L. and w. Railroad.
The result was that a party was organ
ized, including ex-Mayor Jacob Amos,
Mr.. Stearns, John S. Johnson and T. ".
Eek, to take a trip over the D., L. and
w road to inspect certain desirable To-
calities. A whole afternoon was spent
and finally the idea was given UP as
impractical for the time being. This
Iaatter never leaked out, and it was only
recently that Mr.. Stearns spoke about
it. Johnson and Eek at that time were
ready to make the trial. and had
three-mile board track been construct
ed. which would have been done had
there been time, Johnson would GER
tainly have astonished the cycling
world
E. C. Bald will not sign with the
Pope Manufacturing Company. Bald
has been undecided for several weeks,
having received several offers from
manufacturers. His price is 5000 and
all expenses. This figure, it is said, has
been met by several manufacturers.
Bald is no doubt q great drawing card
for any maker, and will be more so if he
succeeds this year as he he did last sea-
son.
There is no doubt but that pacing
detracts from the real merit in a race
meet. 1t is by no means an effectual
method to draw forth the admiration of
the crowd, as has been illustrated time
and time again. With a triplet or
quadruplet in an event, the race is sure
to be run under two minutes and then
what do the people see? Two or three
of the fleetest will hang behind the pace
makers until the stretch is reached
for the final squirt. 1t is the same pro-
cession throughout. The man who is
fortunate enough to catch the quad"
is pulled out in most instances to vic
tory He has little to do but hang on
and this has been proved to be an easy
matter. If race is to be conducted
on its merits, the best plan is to let all
have fair show from the beginning
to the finish of the race.
An idea has been suggested to do
away with pacemakers in all race
meets 1t is to incorporate among the
bylaws of the l.. A. w. a racing clause
that shall strictly specify that every
man in the race must do his share of
pacing, under the penalty of forfeiting
his prize should he by any way be for
tGnate enough to win one. With the per-
feet understanding that during some
portion of that race a rider must take
the lead for a short time, it would re-
suit in a terrific sl1irmish on the part
of the men to fill their obligations.
From the crack of the pistol they would
speed away. One rider would be re-
lieved by another with the swiftness of
the wind and from a spectacular point
of view the race would present every
fascination.
Nearly every town in the country,
big or small, is contemplating the hold
ing of a local cycle show. From all
points of the country reports of this
character come 1t means that the in
terest is more or less a pecuniary one,
but it illustrates at the same time the
feeling over cycling.
The cry made 'by Handicapped A.
G. Batchelder for protection, in that
racing rule should be made to enforce
penalty on all handicap riders who do
not start in an event where they are
entered, is meeting with plenty of ap-
prevail Mr. Batchelder is right. After
taking pains to draw UP the ladder, as
the handicaps are called, it is a difficult
matter to insure a good race when sew
eraI of the. riders drop out, leaving
hole that cannot very well be filled. The
field Immediately jumps away from the
scratch men and the unfortunate NOR
tails who have no advantage of handicap
are soon out of the race entirely. This
is an important matter and should re-
ceive the attention of the racing board
at once