The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-10-01
ACTIVITY AMONG
THE WHEELNEN.
Organization of a Club to Ad-
VoCate Good Roads.
MR.. DESkY MAKES AN OFFER.
Land For a Race Track in Kewalo District
Two Propositions Made-An Expensive
Luxury But the Boys VIII Have it-A
Road Race Scheduled for This Month.

About twenty-five bicyclists met at
the hotel last night to listen to prop
osition by Mr.. Desky regarding a BIZ
cycle track Charles Crane was elected
chairman and E. Berger secretary.
Mr.. Desky presented two PROPOSE
tions regarding the land; first, to lease
the land at 81 year for fifty years;
second, to sell the land in fee simple
for one-third the cost of building up
the seven acres and preparing it for
track. The land is situated in Kewolo.
The entrance to the track is from
South street, above Hustace & Co.'s
stable. The idea is to form stock
company with shares of a small value
and to build grand stands and every
thing necessary for a complete track.
The tract of land consists Of seven
acres, part of which is pond. If car
ried out there will be banked track,
with this pond in the center, connect
ing with the sea so as to keep it from
becoming stagnant. The great expense
will be in fencing the grounds, as the
land at Kewalo is very hard, almost
natural cement.
The matter was finally left to COM
mittee of five, consisting Of w. Har-
ris, G. L. Clement, T. V. King, j. S.
Martin and S. Crane, to find out the
cost of fencing, building the track and
grand stand. The offer will remain open
for three months. After a vote of
thanks to Mr.. Desky for his offer and
endeavor to promote bicycle riding, the
meeting adjourned.
The organization of the Honolulu
Road Club was completed at the clubs
headquarters, Likelike street, Tuesday
night. Among other things it was de-
cided that the colors of the club will
be red and black and the. emblem
Maltese cross. One new member who
is just learning the mysteries OF the
wheel suggested black and blue for
the colors and bottle of arnica as the
the emblem, but he was voted down.
1t was decided to have a handicap
road race the third Saturday in Octo-
Der in which members of this and rival
clubs will take part.
In the United States the wheelman
have become such a factor in politics
that they have succeeded in having
the authorities put roads, which were
formerly neglected, into excellent cGn-
dition and maintaining them.
Besides organizing the club for sport
and exercise it is the intention of the
members to insist that good roads
shall be the rule in this vicinity else
| where than on King and Beretania
streets. If the club is successful in
this direction a branch will be organ
| lied in Hilo where there are at present
but two bikes.
Among the wheelmen the matter of
a track is just now having the earnest
attention of riders The offer made
| by Mr.. Desky at the meeting last
| be an expensive project to carry out.
1t was suggested that in order that
necessary funds might be raised the
stock in a Track Company should be
| foated. But if this was successful it
would mean that not more than half OF
the $4,000 necessary to put the track in
order and erect grand stands could be
raised. The balance, it was thought,
could be secured by contributions from
regular business men and agents for
| bicycles.
| Several times in the past efforts
have been made to get permission
from the base ball league to build a
track on the league grounds. Nothing
could be done with this proposition for,
the reason that the lease on the grounds
! has not long to run and it may not be
renewed
A track for wheelmen is necessary
and the nearer it may be had to the
residence center the better. Now that
Mr.. Desky has made a liberal offer,
nothing seems to be in the way Of Sc
| curing the desired end except the
money.