Evening star., 1896-07-18
ON THECONDUIT ROAD
Crusade Against Reckless Driving
and Cycling,
War DEPARTMENT WILL STOP IT
Prosecution of Offenders to Be
Pushed.
NOTES OF THE LOCAL CLUBS

The 1ong-looked-for and much-needed
crusade against reckless riding, racing and
driving on the Conduit road has been in
augurated. though yet the general pub
lie is not aware of this fact. 1t will not be
long. however. before the attention of all
is brought to the matter. The crusade so
far has been carried on in quiet manner
and the people caught were given a warning
and permitted to go. 1t is expected to be
only a short while before violations second
time by the same parties will result in their
being brought before the Police Court The
United States government, through the War
Department. will push the cases, and the
full penalties for the violations urged.
few cases in the Police Court and a few dol
lars fine will have a salutary effect on the
law-breakers.
Capt. d. d. Gaillard, in charge Of the
Washington aqueduct works. is behind the
matter. and he Is truly the friend of the
wheelmen, though not inclined to overlook
any OF their offenses against the law The
matter OF reckless riding was brought to
his attention in number of ways. Persons
owning carriages. who took ride up this
beautiful road. complained of the danger
GUS and reckless driving. This kind of driy-
Ing ruined the pleasure of the ride and has
avpr nvp. ina many persons w from attending trip
over the Conduft Then. again, the cyclists
complained of the manner In which they
We're run down by drivers. A number of
cases OF this sort were reported. and Capt
found the true condition of affairs
although there Is law against fast driv-
ing over the Conduit road. which is gov
erhment property, operated and kept in
repair by the War Department. most Of the
persons 50 FAR arrested for fast driving
have professed ignorance of the law. To
remedy this excuse. signs prohibiting fast
urivlng nave been painted and set up at
various points along the road. In addition
10 the sigEs. there is a force Of six en-
ployes OF the aQueduct works who are
charged with the duty of stopping all fast
drivers and report all violations of the
rule. whether in the District or not to the
main office. All persons guilty of the Of
1enses prohibited will in turn be reported
to the proper United States authorities for
official action. The practice of reckless
driving and racing within the confines of
the District has practically been stopped
by the mounted police force on duty
around Georgetown. and the men under
the employ of the aqueduct office will line
themselves along the road above and be-
low Cabin John bridge and look out for all
infractions of the law. In this way 1t is
hoped this dangerous practice will be pre-
vented.
The suggestion of bicycle path from the
Anglers club house to the Maryland side
OF the Great Falls has been pronounced
practicable by Capt. Gaillard, though 1t Is
Hdfoiy likely tndl IL Will ever be built. The
distance. following the line of the conduit
which branches from the road at this point
is nearly 1O.4O feet. and to construct a
nine-foot bicycle path over the distance
would mean a cost of nearly $4,000. Ac-
cording to personal inspection, the road
would be comparatively level and the only
hill would be located just the other side OF
log-water level In the canal The hill would
only be about $50 feet long and have rise
OF about fifteen feet for the distance The
present cut would be used to this point
and then the path branch over and con-
tinue straight over the conduit.
Ine only way suggested to get such a
path would be through Congress. If the
wheelmen would petition for a road over
the government land. and had enough in
huence 1t would be possible to secure an
appropriation sufficient for the work. 1t IS
quite certain that Congress would not
grant en- appropriation for bicycle path,
and 1t would only be under the plea Of
road that consent to the project could be
secured In that event the path instead Of
being nine feet wide. would measure not
less than fourteen feet across and perhaps
more.
While the agitation of this path might
prove good thing. 1t would perhaps be
better for the wheelmen of the city If they
would unite and endeavor to have the Canal
read. leading from the Aqueduct bridge to
in a miserable condition for bicycles and
carriages more particularly to the former
ard while 1t has good, strong macadam
base. 1t Is so full of ruts and holes that an
inexperienced rider cannot steer his wheel
over the surface The soft spots' which
a Wheelman delights to pick out are very
few In number with a limited length 1t
seems a pity that there should be such a
poor entrance to the best road around the
District, and that the wheelmen do not
make any attempts to have It's condition i'm
proved. The distance from the Aqueduct
bridge to the Conduit road is perhaps a half
mile, and If the cyclists would make q
concerted effort they would most likely be
able to have the surface either paved with
granite blocks, or covered with asphalt ex-
tending clear up the steep hill which leads
to the Conduit road. This would be a de-
cided improvement and one appreciated nv
every person who uses the highway for
business or pleasure.
A change has been made in the program
OF the races with the Baltimore wheeimen
and the first event. instead of being held
this afternoon. will not come Off until next
Saturday. This was made to suit the Bal
timoreans, who will have a bicycle parade
In their city on the 25th instant Of which
the races will be feature. The change in
date at the Baltimore end of the line NAV
possibly result in a change of the opening
of the series in this city. The first race to
be held In this city was arranged to come
of on the Both instant. the date set for the
field day of the Knights of Pythias.
The Baltimore team has been selected,
and fs In training for the contest The
ash1ngton team was practically agreed
upon the fore part Of the week, consisting
OF W. Fred Sims. Billie Sims and George S.
Ball. representing the Columbia Athletic
Club. the Arlington Wheelmen and the
Washington Road Club. respectively. Con-
siderable objection has been made to the
Sims brothers being on the team. There
mas been good deal of electioneering to
have other men represent the capital city.
many of whom would not be able to hold
Up their end of the line. The team will
most likely remain as above. but If any
changes are decided there are only two
men thought of who would be placed They
are Mudd and Greer, both good men and
fast riders