Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-20
cor. NIELDs, SUGGESTION.
He Would Like To See a Road specially 70,
Cycling.

AstNc W oee "a ttOhd Dpcclhlty lot
Cycling.
81 have suggestion for tbe NON.
bers of the Wilminqton Bicycle Club, -
said Col. Benjamin Nields to a re-
porter OF The Gazette few days
ago. In view of the fact that the
roads leading out of the city, tho club
should build a five milo course on
the side of the kennett turnpike or
some other road which is easy Of access.
rms would be appreciated by all
bicycle riders, who would willingly pay
toll for the use Of the road. "
The colonel, who is an enthusiastic
wheelman, spoke at length on the sub
Ject, and in his opinion such road
would be paying investment. Mr.
Nlelds had been apprised Of tho object
of the bicycle fair--the raising of fund
ior q race track for wheelmen.- ho
made the suggestion and thought his
idea, IT carried out, would be better
source of revenue than the race track
plan.
Well, as a matter Of fact, both arc
needed, and it ia question ia the
minds OF many which of the two is the
more needed. Without a track Will
mington cannot hone to gain much dis.
tlnction in the racing world. A track
properly laid out and properly kent
would be of inestimable value to those
who seek to achieve fame in the arena
Of competition, while bicycle road
over which all could ride with pleas.
ure would he appreciated by every per.
son in the city who rides for pleasure.
At present there are no roads which
can be called good leading out of tho
city and for that reason many riders do
not venture in the country while in.
wardly they yearn to do so. The straw
that breaks the camels back is the
bad road that confronts the rider
Everything else is in shape for a
breath Of fresh air on warm summer
evening but the roads are of such un-
certain quality that TO attempt TO ride
over them at dusk is almost perilous
task. Therefore, many who would like
10 60 do not go.
Col Nields' suggestion is an admir-
able ono IL it could be put into practi-
cal operation and successfully managed.
But there are great many obstacles
in the way. The securing OF the right
of way would be "a troublesome hurdle;
a great outlay would be necessary to
put the rond in ridable condition and
unless the parties controlling the bicy
Gle road could get the turnpike com
pany to cooperate with them in charg-
ing toll tho plan would be impractical.
bic. III the turnpike company should
refuse TO charge toll or If 1t should be
restrained by law from collecting toll
from wheelmen the only way to get any
revenue from the road at all would be
TO fence it in. Then here is another
expense and an ordinary fence would
be no safeguard. Therefore it would
be necessary to do great deal Of Pre-.
limnary thinking and work before en-
barking into the scheme at all.
However If the proposition could be
successfully put into operation ii would
undoubtedly become exceedingly popu-
lar with all people in Wilmington who
ride wheels for pleasure that would
not appreciate such road within easy
roach Of the city and there is no ques.
ton but that they would show their ap-
probation in material way. They
would Willingly pay nominal toll for
the privilege of using the road.
Several members of local bicycle clubs
VINO were spoken to on the subject were
OF tho opinion that no club in the city
could afford to take hold of such a
matter at the present time but one or
two made the suggestion that stock
company ho organized for the purpose.
One gentleman, merchant who uses
a wheel thought it would he capital
idea and in his opinion the revenue
would he large enough TO warrant
good outlay.
1t is probable that several moneyed
men will look into tho matter and il
they can see thoir way clear to reaping
a respectable annual dividend they may
form Il company if the idea could be
put into operation.
1t is quite likely that road as sug.
gesteI would pay company controlling
It. The novelty would ,be so great to
Milmingtonians that they would
readily support the road when it should
be ready to use.
The colonel suggested five-mile
road Ten to - miles would probably
suit the people better and would bo
more popular.