The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-24

108 miles an hour.
The following will give some idea Of the
immense interest In bicycling in the United
States:
Number of bicycle riders. 100000;
Cost OF wheels to riders, 500, 600, 600
Invested in bicycle clothing oy riders, no.
100000.
Invested in sundries by riders dncluding
Number OF reputable bicycle manufacture
Capital invested in bicycle factories. $780,
Number Of large tire factories, 5.
Capital invested in tire factories, s., 000, 000
Number or manufacturers OF sundries. &C.,
100000.
Capital invested in retail establishments
repair rep os shops, race tracks and cluhhouses.
Total capital invested in cycling. ssoo.oO0,-
Persons employed in bicycle factories, TO-
Persons employed in making sundries. 5O,-
Persons employed in tire factories, 5000
retail dealers and repairmen, 22,000.
Iotad persons connected with wheeling,
Output Of wheels for this year, 1,O0oOO0.
output OF tires for this year. 3.OOo.0O0.
Work began last week on the new bicycle
track at the Broad Ripple park. 1t viii be a
four-lap track. well banked and fixed for
Kershner Bros. who have leased all the
park privileges. 1t is expected that it will be
finished by next Saturday The track is be-
ing built OF the natural soil, which contains
sufficient amount OF sand to make it pack
well, yet not get too hard. 1t will be rolled
with a heavy steam roller. During the
season there will be a number of races on
the track. There will be an admission fee
charged to see the races, but the track will
be so cut off from the park that the park
will not be closed on race days to those who
do not care to pay to see the races
The match race for 500 between Jasper
Parish, a single wheel rider, and Emory
Sprong and Arthur O'Brien. tandem riders,
Of Elwood. will occur at the Elwood fair
grounds on the racing course June g. The
race Is to be a ten-mile one and time limit
Of 80 minutes has been fixed, the loser to
receive 20 per cent. of the net receipts at the
gate.
1t now seems as If there may be over $50
entries for the Memorial day road race. 1t
was at first thought that 100 would he fair
estimate, but considering the number OF en-
tries that have already been received, it
would not be surprising to find $50 by the
time the entries close Tuesday at noon. Aft
all entering afterward will be compelled to
start at the scratch.
Last week the prizes were placed ON exni-
bition in the When window. They make an
interesting show.
The arrangements for the race are about
completed The cross streets on Meridian,
north of Fourteenth street, the starting
point. will be roped off so as to prevent We
hicleS from fntarferno with fha racor1 III
has been decided to adopt Louis Kecks sug-
gestion to check all riders at Broad Ripple
by new method. This will be the furthest
point away and ali riders who pass there
will naturally take the race course instead
of cutting across to reach the end of the run,
because it is the best and shortest route
Each man will be given a little brass check
just as he starts in the race, with a number
corresponding to his entry number. When
he passes the checkers at Broad Ripple he
will have to throw off the check, which will
be the evidence that he has made the circuit.
Checking the riders has been a very difficult
problem iniroad racing where there are very
many entries. 1t Is most always the case
that the course is laid out so rider Nigh.
cut off a part of the circuit and return I'M
time to win the race easily. To prevent this
all are checked at the furthest point from
the start. The custom is to have one man
with book take down the numbers as they
are called off by another man when the rae
pass. but when several pass at the same
time it is difficult to get all the numbers.
This system has caused an endless amount
of trouble in road races and this new sys-
tenn will be given trial. If it proves sue
cessful it Will probably be adopted in all the
road races in the future. -
Many OF the local riders who have entered
or expect to do SO, have been putting in their
spare time going over the course, so as to
become perfectly familiar with all its crooks
and turns, and to learn where the best rid
ing Is TO be found and where to make spurts
to the best advantage. Most of the out-of-
town riders VIII be here not later than Fri
day morning for the purpose of becoming
familiar with the course. This ds a very i'm
portant thing in road racing.
The entrance fee Is 81. Blanks can be OBJ
tanned from any of the local dealers or of
the Indianapolis Bicycle Club. Out-of-town
riders can secure blanks by writing to the
cycle department of the Journal
The following is a list of the prizes for
the race:
Time-Munger bicycle, Munger Cycle
1st-Ben Hur bicycle. Central Cycle
2d-Patee bicycle Peoria Manufactur- -'V."
ing and Rubber Company ........... 5000
Specsal-Outing bicycle, Hay & Willis $500
5d-Elm Tires, New York Store....-.... 1900
4th-Ind'ana and Indianapolis Rubber
Company 1900. ....................... 1900
Sth-Suit, When ...:.. .......-:......... 100
pany -. ......,....... ..............- 1000
7th-Hat. Dalton Hat Company. ..... 200
Sth-Electric Lantern, Il. A. Haines
Company $500. ................. ..... 500
sth-Kodak. c. Myer & CO. .............. 500
l0th-Fishing rod, Gus Habick ...... :. 500
11th-Tourist case Kip Bros. .......... 500
Hth-Searchlight lantern, New York
13th-Cycle shoes. c. Myer & Con-. 500
1ith-Cyce shoes, G. Myer & Co... 500
15th-CutIing saddle. JOS. Pfieger....... 500
16th-Vapor Il. KOehiing Il Son.. $50
11th-Rest saddle. Dickson K Beaning.. 400
lSth-Best saddle, Dickson x Beaning.. 400
19th-Twentieth Century lantern, w.
Il. HQlton Manufacturing Company. $50
20th-Banner lantern, Lilly Stalna-
kerr. ........ ........... ............. $50
2lst-Sweater, III. II. II. Cycle Co..
22d-Shoes, II. T. II. Cycle Co.. $50
2Sd-Golf stockings. Paul Krauss 1890. 800
2fth-Golf Stockings. p Z. Ault & Co.. 800
25th-Cycle watch, G. Reed & Co... $50
26th-Luggage carrier, Van Camp Iron
Company ................ ............... $50
27th-Pump, Van Camp Iron Company. 200
2Sth--Golf stockings, William WATSON 200
29th--Sweater, c. c. Fisher & Co... 200
30th-Sweater, G. @. Fisher & Co... 200
3ist-Shoes. c. g. Fisher & Co.......... 2.25
32d-Speed Indicator, c. G. Fisher &
CO....... .-..-.--....-. ZUU
Gle Company -. ANNOUNCEMENT. 150
s4th-Carrier-O. +. Kieinschmidt $50
35th-Wood handle bars, III. Lauter