Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-28
Co~o~r


INTERNATIONAL BICYCLE
pany, and to other acts. matters and things
necessary and proper for carrying out ary
or all of the purposes aforesaid
The capital stock Of the company is $780,,
N9, divided in five thousand shares Under
the articles of incorporation, the company
is allowed to hold land not to exceed five
thousand acres in area at any one time,
and the principal office will be at AleNan-
dra The officers of the company for the
first year are Jacob p. Clark, president;
Samuel w. Stinemstz. vice president. VIII
liam 5. Mexican, secretary and general
manager; William c. Clark, treasurer. The
beard of directors comprise the above and
Messrs. Harry Il. Parker, Chas Taylor Cab
rera and DR.. Harry I. Harding. The office
of the company in Washington will be To-
Gated at 1920 + street.
Location of the Field.
The field for the athletic sports Will be
located on the Conduit road just near the
District boundary line. The land is south
of the read, and fs bounded the west
Ly the government reservation belonging
10 the reservoir property. and extends to
the canal on the south. The eastern bound
airy is practically unlimited the company
having at its command as much land as
may be desired. 7 his property is "A part of
tie celebrated Palisades of the Potomac
just on the edge of the high bluff border
ing the river. and from which magniti-
cent view is obtained OF the river and the
Little Falls. The Chain bridge lies almost
at the eastern end of the proposed track.
The distance from the city is about three
miles. but the place will be convenient of
access to teams ana bicyclists via the Con-
duit road, while the Great Falls electric
railway will afford a pleasant route. This
can hardly be considered too far a dis
lance from the center of the city In New
York city the two great athletic fields
tie Polo Grounds and Manhattan Field,
both Of which are fully an hours ride from
down town in the city. The Polo Grounds
are used for base BAH purposes. while Man
haitian Field is dedicated entirely to sports,
though at the sent time this field is
threatened by the cutting of roads through
its center. The athletic events held on
this field. the most notable the annual
foot ball game between Yale and Prince
ton, bring an immense throng. Franklin
Field in Philadelphia is another purely
athletic field, which is located some dis
lance from the city, but which is conven-
lent of access by rapid means of locomo-
ton.
Work the Field Begun.
The new company has begun work in
earnest, and 1t is expected to have a track
erected and completed by Decoration day.
Mr.. F. Fl. Stier, the civil engineer employ
ed in the construction Of the Great Falls
railway, has charge Of the work, and, I'M
der his instruction, a number of survey
ors have been at work during the past
week marking off the track. The matter
has even progressed SO far as to award
the contract for grading to P. H. Shipman,
and yesterday gang Of eighteen men,
with twenty carts, were put to work on the
new field. The work will be pushed as rap
idly as possible.
The land is comparatively level, yet in
spite of this 1t is calculated that 1900
yards Of earth will have to be moved
around in order to level the field. ravine
runs through the eastern end Of the
proposed track, and this will be con-
verted into sewer, into which the
entire field will be drained. There are
no distractions in the entire area, and
the only landmark is a solitary tree, which
stands about the center Of the place, and
In the side Of which, as a mark and 2
relic or bygone days, piece of bayonet Is
firmly held. which was undoubtedly i'm
bedded in the tree during the war times,
when the place was used as a camp by SOL
diers.
The track will be the first thing con-
structed, and this will be a third of a mile
in length; The shape will be elliptical, thus
giving beautiful home stretch. The track
will be forty feet wide at the home
stretch. and at the first turn the width
will be gradually reduced until the turn is
made and the entrance Of the back stretch
reached, where the width will be twenty
hve feet. At the third turn the width of
the track will gradually increase until the
fourth turn closes. at the home stretch,
"IiCh eAiC Auii lofiS leel Will DC reached.
The course will be constructed on scen-
tific principles. The track and the entire
inner Enclosure will be below the surround
ing land giving the appearance of a sort
OF amph1theater. A person can stand at
the edge OF the track and his eye take in
the whole course. The field will slope TO
the center, and on the home stretch the
outer edge Of the track will be a foot
higher than the inner edge. On the back
stretch the track will slope only about
eight inches. The turn will not be banked,
but on account of it's depressed condition
there will be an incline at the turn, the
than the inner side. One Of the points con-
sidered in the construction of the track will
be at the turn. At the first and third turns
the entrance to the incline will be made
very gradual, but at the second and fourth
turns the incline will be more abrupt. This
Is designed to give the racers a little more
impetus.
The Track Surface.
The surface of the track has not as yet
been decided upon. There is an abundance
Of rotten rock in the neighborhood, which
pulverizes easily, and which Is susceptible
Of heavy rolling and firmness of adhesion.
An experimental track will be laid with the
top dressing Of this material, and If the re-
suits are satisfactory it will be used entirely.
A club house with cafe will be erected on
the grounds for the convenience Of guests,
and as soon as possible the field will be fit
ted up for other sports.
The people behind the concern are mostly
Well-known Westinghouse. The president
OF the new company, Mr. Jacob Clark, is the
president Of the Great Falls railway. Mr..