The herald., 1896-10-02
.NH[ELMEN HAVE A TINE
Formal Opening Of the Road
Clubs Home
A UNIQUE BICYCLE PARADE
Hundreds Of Illuminated Wheels We're
in Line
on the Side-A Strong Pull Yor
Improved Highways.

The wheelmen of this city made a
unique demonstration last evening to
mark the formal opening of the Los An
geles Road clubs new headquarters at
9l7 South Broadway. The commodious
house and the pretty grounds were pro-
fusely decorated with Japanese lanterns
an hour before the time set for the be-
ginning of the program, and as the BIZ
cycle riders arrived and engaged in the
work of decorating and illuminating
their wheels they made lively scene.
The arrival of the police squad at 5
o'clock was the signal for final prepara-
tion to move, and in short order the
pretty procession was on it's way up
Broadway, nearly 800 bicycle riders be-
ing in line.
All the wheels save a few of those
classed as unattached" were beauti-
fled either by from one to half dozen
Japanese lanterns or floral decora tioN,
or both, and as they went slowly along
the street in a long line they presented
q pretty sight. The column was headed
by Captain Roberts and fifteen police
men, mounted on wheels. of course, and
it traversed the prearranged line Of
march in view of thousands of specta-
tors. In the parade were numbers Of
transparencies bearing the significant
legend, I'VE want good roads" These
mute appeals were reinforced from time
to time by the club yell, What do we
want? Good roads,"
There was much variety in this unique
parade, not only in the character of the
decoration and illumination, but in the
wheels themselves. Modern safeties
predominated, of course, but there were
tandems, old high wheelers, a tri-
cycle, duplex bearing 500 pounds
of flesh in the persons of Henry
T. Hazard and F. NJ. Townsend, and
other varieties Of the silent steed, in
cluding some freak machines improvised
from discarded bicycles.
The parade, accompanied by the pro-
fuse burning of red fire, the footing OF
bugles and the many confusing club
yells, rapidly traversed its line of march.
In the line We're the Los Angeles Road
club. East Side club, South Side club,
Crescent club, Los Angeles Athletic
club, Y M. C. A. club, Crown City Cy-
cling club of Pasadena, '96 league, Citrus
Wheelmen, and the miscellaneous riders
classed as unattached" There were IN
all exactly $50 riders in line as the pro-
cession passed the corner of Seventh and
Main streets, but stragglers enough
were seen in all directions to bring the
number up to 800. .r,
AT THE CLUB HOUSE.
1t was about o'clock when the parad-
ing wheelmen returned to the club
house, which soon filled to overflowing
with the bike boys and their guests. The
capacity of the rooms and the grounds
was taxed by the great crowd, and while
many people thronged about the re-
freshment tent outside another crowd
was within being entertained by the pro-
gram arranged for the occasion
c. f.. Morris, president of the Los An
geles Road club, acted as master of car-
emonies, and in brief address OF well
come, thanking all present for assisting
In making the occasion a bowling sue
cess, he introduced Police Justice M. r.
Owens, who made brief and pointed
speech in favor of good roads He said
he realized that the bicycle riders are
now in politics, and that their platform
consisted of one plank, and that is un-
equivocally for good roads. He urged
his hearers to demand that the board
of supervisors shall pay more attention
to the Improvement of county roads,
letter of regret was read from Mayor
RAIDER, who wrote that another engage
ment kept him away from the house
warming, but he wanted to be put on rec
ord as strongly in favor of good roads,
Then came some music by R. A. Dod-
son, c. p. Jones and o. j. Brott, COM
prising the Los Angeles Road club or
SFcSeio ,olu NHlic. tIlS WAS SO1US on
in the reception room John Drain was on
the portico making a speech to the crowd
on the lawn. Mr.. Drain told his hear
ers what his sentiments are on street
paving, grading and sprinkling, and
showed that If the plans could be put
into effect bicycle riders would have
nothing more to wish for in the city,
Louis F. Hetter made some brief re-
marks, in which he put himself on rec
he tfnv. .e,fr Afe.n L..
He said truly that there are ordinances
enough now in effect to bring about any
desired improvement, if enforced, and
that there Is no need of streets being
dusty, muddy or full of chuckholes.
Fay Stevenson then sang sore songs
to the evident satisfaction of his hear
ers. The Latenser Mandolin club gave
couple of pretty selections. Gus Gold
smith played some piano solos, and the
musical part of the program was round
ed by G. P. Jones and M. and r. Deity
playing on the guitar and harmonious.
Throughout the entire evening the
best of good feeling prevailed, represen-
tatives of all bicyle clubs comminslng
in the most friendly way. officers of
the club were everywhere, striving to
give pleasure to their guests. The Los
Angeles Road club, which was formed
last May, now has 140 memhc-s. all
pledged to that plank of their platform
demanding an Improvement of high
ways.
One of the guests of the evening was
Fred Fal lmer, who has just arrived in
Los Angeles after bicycle trip across
the continent. He is a member of the
company e, bicycle corps, Eighth regi-
ment, of New York, and started for this
coast August 18th, coming by bicycle
all the way in SO days.
Councilman Snyder was also present
but he escaped before he could be called
on for speech and consequently the
politics that cropped out during the
evening was quite one-sided.
Though the program was given
throughout and the excellent refresh
| ments disappeared, the wheelmen lin
gered to late hour in and about the
comfortable and well appointed club
house.