The evening times., 1896-01-17

raising the money have already beer
| mapped out. When the National Assenibl
OF the League of American Wheelmei
meets at Baltimore the 10th of next mont
the affair will be formally fioated.
Though the idea has definitely crystal
| lied and arrangements have already bee
made for floating 1t. the projectors wis
10 get the Endorsement of the League O
| American wheelmen before bringing Il
before the public.
Ever since bicycles have been ridden Il
Baltimore and Washington the idea OF
| cycle path between the points has beer Ia lket
OF among the riders of the two cities an,
| those from various parts Of the country VIII,
| have come touring this way.
| The plans have now taken definite shap
! in connection with the Building of the Co
| lnmbla and Maryland electric railway.
| Those vino are Interested say that th
electric company Is already pledged TO pa,
| half of the cost.
| A survey has been made along the lin
| OF the road with the idea OF the cycle pa n
| and experts have made estimates as to IL
| cost. Strictly speaking, the scope OF tn
| plan is for two cycie paths. Each of tn
paths is TO be five feet broad. one to b
| constructed on each side OF the electri
road bed for the exclusive use of cyc,ers
THE CYCLE PATH.
The engineer who has surveyed the
| grad dies, e1c., with the idea of building
| This cycle path OF the best macadam m, esti-
| males that il Will Gust between $50 COO
aud $50 200. Those who have Deeu 4uIeily
| but actively at work in the matter have
drawn up all plans and specifications and
presented them To the president of the
elec:ric road company.
iNcse plans contemplate the organiza-
tipu Of stock company with shares liked
al $40 each, aud tha I the railway company
because OF the advantage which the cycle
paths, it is asserted, would be to the
road, is 10 take half the stock the wheel
men piedging themselves for the balance.
As an auxiliary Ia the stock compa ny,
there is to be organized a monster cycle
club with yearly dues. The members of
the club will be entitled Ia unlimited use
nf The paths, and TO Il clubhouse TO be built
half way between the two cities. Those
cyclers who do not join the club are TO be
charged toll.
The men who have been working on the
plans say that the president of the rail-
road company carefully looked into these
plans aud indorsed them, a few day later
presenting them Ia the stockholders and
chief engineer Of the company, by whom
they were also indorsed, and orders given
the engineer to figure out the exact cost
Of construction. Here the matter stands at
present.
The engineer of the road has not sub
mitted his estimate OF the cost OF such
an undertaking. the estimate of 100000
being made by an. engineer i'll the employ
Of the promoters OF the proposed COM
pany, and one thoroughly familiar with
the grades and engineering features OF
the proposed paths.
Whether or not the plans eventually ma
terialize. they viii excite the widest inter-
est among cycIers all over the country.
The construction Of the bicycle path be-
tween New York aud Coney Island by the
wheelmen OF those ueighborhoods serves
as a precedent in the efforts of the local
promoters.
1t is estimated that the cities of Baltimore
and Washington contain 40 coo wheclmen.
The situation bet weeu Baltimore and Wash
ington is physically such that, with good
road, there would be no limit To the runs
there. In spite OF the very had roads which
the wheelmeD hive TO traverse. there Is
now more riding between Baltimore and
Washington than between any long dis
tanoe points in the state.
The distance OF forty miles Is considered
lust right since the perfect construction
of the wheel. Cabin John Bridge and the
Great Falls of the Potomac are the Meccas
some time or other. and often many times.
for about every cycler in Baltimore. IL a
Washington this would make Just about a
century run. and would be the most popular
century run in the country.
The first known ride to have been made
between Baltimore and Washington was by
Jere W. Lord and John u. Lord. lr.. in
1884, when the two not only made the
round trip on oId-fashioned high wheels,
but made up century by riding around the
city. Harry Park. trick rider of this city.
also claims the credit for being the first
one to ride To Baltimore from Washington.
COMMON OCCURRENCES
Though the ride to Washington was con-
sidered i'll those days the greatest Of cy-
cling accomplishments, it has become a
very common occurrence in recent years.
The sandy condition OF the road between
here and Baltimore causes many OF the
Baltimore wheelmen to go by train to this
city in their trips along the Potomac.
Judging from the number who make the
trip, in spite OF the poor roads, It seems like
ly that the great number of cyclers to use
a cycle path would make 1t pay. At least
so think the highest authorities in the L.
A. W. who have been approached on the
subject.
The Coney Island path was built chiefly
by the money of the cyclers. AS the NUM-
ber OF riders interested in the present
scheme Is nearly as great as i n the con-
struction of that famous path. and, if the
railway company will pay half the costs.
the promoters figure out that by the time
the daisies come up work Cl the path will
have started.
Representatives OF the cyclers and the
Maryland Road League laid their road
plans before Gov. Lowndes and members
Of the legislature yesterday, and said that
arrangements for the introduction of the bill
had been made. After its introduction in
the Senate by Senators Norman B. Scott,
OF Hagerstown. and Lewis c. Carrico, of
Charles. it will be referred to the Senate
Committee OH Roads and Highway
This committee will confer with similar
committee on the part of the house. as soon
as the latter committee is appointed. The
cyclers and the road league men worked
all day at Annapolis. and talked to many
legislators about the matter,
The NEST Interesting event of the day
was the visit to Gov. Lowndes. They say
the governor grasped the situation per-
fectly, and seemed pleased with the bill
as shaped. He suggested that the ap-
preparation for the expenditures by the
State engineer be trimmed from $4,000
each year to that sum for each two years.
This was asaccordiDgly done.
The feature of the bill on which the gov
ernor dweit with enthusiasm was that
putting a premium on all vehicles with
broad tires, and the front and rear wheels
of which do not track. Each such vehicle
would be practical road roller after the
roads are once made good. and so the
governor thought it. The plan of the bill
is to exempt such vehicles from all taxa
tion.
Robbed In a Sleeping Car.
Cincinnati, Jan. 17.-Charles E. Catten
a nd Of N a tn In