The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-03

| even the Paris institution will pale be-
| fore its magnificence.
The principal promoters of the new
movement are at present members of
| the MichauX Bicycle club, probably the
most exclusive club of its kind in New
York. 1t is their intention to erect a
building at least Is, and possibly 20
stories high on West F'ifty-eighth
street as near as possible to the south
western entrance of Central Park
Among the prominent members of the
Michaux club who manifest great in
terest in the plan and are active in
promoting ii are Colonel T. A. Brown,
Mrs. John Jacob Astor, Mrs. Adolph
Ladenburg, Mrs. Herbert Carpenter,
DR.. Roosevelt, a cousin of the famous
police commissioner, DR.. Fowler and j.
ID. Rockefeller.
John Waller, an architect of II Broad
way, has been engaged to draw up the
plans Of the new building and Robert
Gignoux, a lawyer of 271 Broadway,
one of the originators of the scheme,
will attend to the legal end of the or
ganization. 1t is proposed to organize
a voluntary association, limited to a
membership of 1000, each member to
pay 81, 900 as an initiation fee. The as
ISOLATION will not be incorporated, but
will be organized on lines somewhat
similar to those governing the New
have been listed 500 names of men
and women who have signified their
willingness to put up the required
$1,000 apiece for the privilege of join
ing.
The top floor of the new academy
will be enclosed with walls somewhat
after the style OF a roll-top desk, so
that they may be kept wide open in
warm weather and tightly closed dur
ing the winter months. There will
also be an observatory extending up
from the roof, whence a bird's-eye
view of all New York may be obtained.
The top or roof floor will be for the
exclusive use of the members of the
association. At present every bicycle
academy in the city is more or less
public, and there has been a steadily
Increasing demand for greater pri-
vacy.
The new building will be from $50 to
800 feet long, by $50 feet wide. and 1t
is intended to have a first-class track,
circling up from the main or ground
floor to the roof, after the fashion of
the leading bicycle academy in Paris.
The track, II is said, can be so nicely
graded in a building of the dimensions
named that no more exertion will be
needed i'm making the ascent than
there would be in mounting the easy
slope of a low hill and riders could
coast down at their ease with no dam
ger whatever of being run away with.
The distance from top to bottom on
track of the kind contemplated would
be about three miles-which is longer
than the track in the Paris academy.
of course there are TO be elevators and
stairways in the building in addition TO
the track facilities. other novel feat
ures will be introduced wherever prac-
ticable. Mr.. Gignoux intends to spend
the summer months abroad, visiting
the leading academies in London,
Paris. Berlin. Vienna and ST. Peters
burg and will make note OF all the
features most desirable in the New
York academy.
The arrangements for privacy for the
members will really mean something.
There will be suite of retiring rooms
for women and another for men. with
maids and Wallets respectively in at
tendance There will be lockers for the
members to keep their riding costumes
in. attendants TO clean and repair them.
Another novelty will be a large bicycle
stable, where the silent steedS of the
members will be cleaned and repaired
and stabbed when not in use. Instead
of a blacksmith there Will be a wheel
smith regularly employed by the man.
acement 20 keep the bicycles in good
order. and a force OF hostlers will be in
constant attendance to look after them.
The next door to the top viii be de-