Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-10-01
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centralized at $40 900. and the riders OF
the city were asked to take stocK at
81 a share. Subscriptions came III quite
rapidly, and by the middle OF May WORK
had begun on the first section OF 1he
nath which occupies what was once
tho towpath of the old Indiana canal.
This path had not been used Tor many
vears and when work began on IL II
was little more than mere leVee, WIFI
a rank growth Of trees and SHRUBS on
one side and the slow running waters
of the canal on the other. Inc canai
is on the east side of the path' "hlch
gives the full benefit OF the shade Oh the
trees during the afternoon.
The path extends to suburb ten
miles distant. All Of this is so well
shaded that except early in the AFTER
noon a rider can scarcely get glimpse
of the sun after IL o'clock. The pain
varies in length, conforming to the top
of The leyee, but is not less than eight
feet wide at any place, and IN some
nlaces as much as twelve rect. Inc
Ieyee was first dressed OF with rodo
scraper and then coat or SraVel.
slightly mixed with earth, was we'll
hacked with heavy roller On top
of this was rolled a thin coating OF Gin
dprs and sand mixed, making as smooth
a coat as could be desired ana one that
has no suction to cling to the tire.
AT many places along the path rustic
seats have been placed, and at one
point. where there are two very me
springs there are a number of long
rustic benches. and a bicycle track that
can accommodate nearly 100 wheels.
The towpath section of the path is
all that is finished, but the directors OF
the Wheelway league will begin work
this week on the second section, which
will extend across the hills and valleys
to Fall Creek, a distance of about six
miles. 1t will then follow the north
bank of that stream back to the city,
making about twenty-four miles in all.
Thus all but about six miles of the path
will he on the banks of water courses.
1t is for that reason that it is claimed
10 be the most picturesque path in the
United States.
But that is not all that makes it a
pleasant place for riders. One mile
from the beginning of the path is Arm
strong's park, popular place Of amuse-
ment 1t contains one of the open-air
summer theaters of the city. Every
night in the week there is a drama pre-
sented at this park, and picnics fill it
during the day. Four miles further
north is the most popular resort near
the city-Fairview park-a place owned
and maintained by the Citizens Street
Car Company. 1t is on the east bank
of the canal, and the bicycle path is on
the west bank. making the path the
best route for bicyclers to take to set
to the park. This is beautiful woode
park of more than 200 acres, with hills
and dells, the hills rising abruptly from
the canal bank. Fully 10000 people
visit this park every Sunday, and be-
tween 5000 and 1000 every other day
during the entire summer.
Five miles further out on the path
Is the suburb of Broad Ripple, where
the suburban street car company main
tains park only little smaller than
Fairview. 1t is here that the bicycle
race track is located, and it is this park
that is the Mecca of cyclists. It is at
the end of the path so far as built now
Two miles out the path will pass
through Hammond's park, a private
picnic ground, where large dam in
the creek gives deep water for boating
purposes for more than a mile. The
path will have right of way through
the park.
The formal opening of the path was
the occasion of the opening of the four
lap bicycle track at Broad Ripple The