The morning times., 1896-04-17
ENEMIES OF THE WHEEL
Small Boy Delights to Strew Dark
Streets With Glass.
Police on the Lookout for the Mis-
creants-An old Annoyance Re-
newed This Year.

The summer weather which has swooped
down on Washington so suddenly has
brought the wheelmen out again in full
force and incidenLly there has come with
them a renewal OF that nuisance which be-
came SO annoying last year-the dark streets
filled with glass.
1t seems TO be the particular delight or
the small boy, and Others who are old
enough TO know better, to sprinkle glass,
tacks, sharp nailheads aud broken pieces
OF metal along the side streets and in
dark places where the wheelmen would
be sure to strike them. or course, the
result is a puncture.
There is untold annoyance, considerable
expense, aud an evenings pleasure is
spoiled. The nuisance was referred TO
several times last summer and complaints
10 the police were numerous. In many
instances the entire street was strewn with
broken glass for several yards aud the
rider who was not on the watch would be
sure to have his tire seriously damaged.
This practice first obtained aloug the
conduit road aud it was the Tavorlte sport
OF the country boys living along the road
side TO sink broken horse shoe nails IN Tie
footpaths and roadway. The ulght Rider
would be sure TO strike them; receive
miles to the city trundlins his useless wheel
beside him. The street urcBinS OF the
City soon initiated their country brothers
and for a time last summer IL was almost
fatal to venture at night on those streets
which We're not lighted by electricity
Complaints at police headquarters be-
came SO frequent that Il man was detailed
especially 10 watch for the miscreants and
capture them If possible. During mid
summer il is almost Impossible 20 ride
during the day on account OF the heat.
Night is the wheclmans paradise, and as
soon as the sun goes down the streets are
filled with bicycles. Each rider is COM
pcllcd by law TO carry lamp, both for
his o Own protection and the safety Of ,thers.
But the average bicycle lamp is OF lit
tie value is a pathfinder. Ii serves TO show
the location of the wheel, but its power
is so limited that even should a rider detect
glass in the roadway by means OF his
lamp, he would be so close upon Il that
il would be Impossible FOR him 10 stop
i'll time. Wheelmen are compelled 10 pro-
vide for the safety of others, but very lit
lie is done toward keeping the streets free
from those Instructions which are so
fatal TO the rider.
There is a law in the District which
provides against the thro wing or placing
of glass or like substances in the public
thoroughfares. This Ia W the police enforce
rigidly on every occasion where they can
capture the guilty party. This law pro-
vidcs a fine and other heavy penalties and
they will be enforced TO the fullest cx-
tent in cases where it can lie shown that
glass was thrown in the street purpusely
TO injure bicycles.
Already this year there have been
number of complaints, and the nuisance
promises to assume larger proportions than
last year unless speedily checked. The
number of persons who own and ride
wheels is increasing every day, and busi
ness is combined with pleasure in their use.
Already several well-known people have
called at police headquarters and asked if
there was no way by which the au-
thorities could prevent such wantOn mis-
chief The police have been instructed in
all the different precinct to keep bright
lookout for the miscreants. 1t is also
probable that man will be detailed from
the detective bureau, and should the
offenders be captured IL will go hard with
them, as they will suffer the full penalty
OF the District law.