The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-03

built on d scale that suggests "a glass
rooted coliseum. is about 10 be erected N
New York IT VIII be acoud TO none in the
world. even the Paris institution viii pale
before its maEnifcence.
The principal promoters of the new
movement are at present members of the
Olichaux Bicycle club. probably the most
exclusive club of its kind IN New York
il is their intention to erect build
ing at least fifteen. and possibly twenty
stories high on West Flfly-eighth street,
as near as possible TO rhe southwestern en-
trance of Central park Among the promi-
n6nt members OF the MichauN club who
manifest great interest In the plan and are
active in promoting It, are Col T. A.
Brown. Mrs. John Jacob Astor. Mrs.
Adolph Ladenburg, Mrs. Herbert Carpen-
ter. Dr.. Roosevelt. "a cousin OF the IA
nous police commissioner, DIT. Fowler,
and Mr. J. d. Rockefeller.
Mr. John Waller. an architect Of u
Broadway. has been engaged to draw up
the plans of the new building and Mr.. Rob
err GignouX, a lawyer OF IL Broadway. one
of the Originators of the scheme, viii at
tend 10 the legal end of the organization.
il is proposed TO organize vol
untary association, limited to member
ship Of one thousand, each member 10 pay
$500 as an initiation fee. The association
will not be Incorporated, but VIII be or
ganized On lines somewhat similar IS those
governing the New York stock exchange.
Already there have been listed nve hum
dred names of men and women who have
eignified their willingness 10 put up the
required $1,000 apiece for the privilege OF
joining.
be enclosed with walls somewhat after
the style of a rOll-tOp desk, so that they
may be kept wide open In warm weather
fftrnf 1rr oil cd n hA "a M tor
months. There Will also be an observ-
atOry extending up from the roJt,
whence a birds eye view of all New
York may be obtained. The top or ROOF
floor will be for the exclusive use Of the
members of the association. At pres
ent every bicycle academy In the city is
more or less public, and there has been
a steadily increasing demand for greater
privacy.
teet lOngs by lJO VIDE, ana IL IS intended
TO have a hrst-class track, circling up
from the main or ground floor to the roof,
after the fashion of the leading bicycle
academy in Paris. The track, IL is saiJ,
can be so nicely graded in a building of
the dimensions named. that no eXertiOn
will be needed in making the ascent than
there would De IN mounting the easy slope
Of a low hill, and riders could coast down
at their ease, with no danger whatever
of being run away with. The distance
from top to bottom on a track of the kind
contemplated, would be about three miles
which Is longer than the track in the
Paris academy. OF course there are TO
be elevators ana stalrWays in the huild-
ing, in addition to the track facilities.
Other novel features will be introduced
wherever practicable. Mr. Gignoux in
tends to spend the summer months abroad
visiting the leading academies in London
Paris, Berlin, Vienna and ST Peters burg
and viii make note Of all the features
most desirable in the New York academy.
The arrangements for privacy for the
members will really mean something
There viii be a suite of retiring rooms for
fNfflgr In aaffa
ance. There will be lockers for the mem
bers 10 keep their riding costumes in, at
PENDANTS to clean and repair them Anoth-
er novelty VIII be a large bicycle stable,
where the silent steeds of the members
VIII be cleaned and repaired and stabbed
when not in use. Instead Of a blacksmith
there VIII be wheelsmith regularly en-
psoyed by the management to keep the BIZ
cycles in good order, and a force OF host
lers Will be IN constant attendance to look
aIter them. The floor next TO the top viii
be devoted TO the public in general; and
especially adapted to the use of fast riders
or "scOrChers." Abundance to this track
may be had by paying small fee. but the
top floor, as has been stated will be re-
served for the use of the members eXclu-
sively
In addition there VIII be Turkish and
Russian baths. some for the exclusive use
Of the members of the association. and
others for the public in general There will
also be a large gymnasium, and swim
ming tank for the sole use of the mem
bers; and instructors in fencing, boxing
The rest of the building will be rented
and il is expected that the financial re-
turns will be great enough to support the
association, and pay the organizers a fair
interest on the thousand dollars member
ship fee. The ground floor has already
been spoken for by the agents of large
bicycle factory. who win have their prin-
cipal Salesrooms there; and IL is thought
that nearly all the available space will be
readily rented to persons engaged directly
or indirectly in the bicycle industry on
the third floor from the roof 1t is proposed
to open a restaurant with sides as far as
possible constructed of glass, so that the
people may have good view all over the
city while eating. 1t is hoped that some
Well-knOWn caterer, such as Delmonfco
will be induced TO take hold of the restau-
rant, ana provide an eating place that will
surpass anything of it's kind in the world
at very moderate charges.
In summer when there is little or no
need of indoor accommodations for the
members of the bicycling association. the
top floor Will be used as a mammoth
summer garden, where the best Vaude-
vile talent that can be obtained viii be
engaged to provide amusement for the
public; and this it is thought win mean
a large addition 10 the income of The as
ISOLATION. Mr.. GHgnouX in discussing the
scope and plans Of the new academy re-
Gently said:
The Michaux club, which is at present
the leading bicycle club in town, win dis
organize and join the new association in
body. At present that club is limited to
a membership or one hundred and nifty.
but there are three hundred and fifty an
plications for membership on its list, ana
the applicants have all expressed Them
selves in favor Of joining The new asso-
citation. None of them considered that an
initiation fee of 81 900 excessive because II
was shown positively that there was every
probability of their getting good rate Of
interest on the money. At first we thoush :
of building a One-story academy some
thing like the Seventh regiment armory
In style, and of using ii exclusively as a
private bicycle academy Such a building
would cost at least 100000, and there
would be constant tax on the purses Of
The. members TO support it; so we finally
decided upon the larger building"
What win the proposed building cost?''
he was asked.
ground and all, but don't think there viii
be any trouble in raising that amount,
Such an academy, / think as do MANY
others, IS an absolute necessity in New
YORK. Why, we are even behind JaDan I'm
The use of the bicycle. There they have I'd
academies 10 speak of, but every one rides
a bike Letter carriers, messenger boys
and girls, policemen, all classes in faFt
from the highest to the lowest use rh5
wheel in transacting their business Is
Tar as academies are concerned. New Y0r,
Is behind every other city of importance In
either Europe or America. We hone how.
ever 10 spring into the lead with the new