Evening star., 1896-06-20
CHAT OF THE WHEEL
Promising Outlook for the Racing
Season.
COMING PARADE OF The CYCLISTS
Arranging for Night Contests at the
International Track.
OSSIP OF THE CLUBS

The outlook for a successful wheel racing
season in this city is promising, and this is
due to having a track upon which the sport
can be carried on. The field day meet Of
the Morton Cadets is going on this after
| noon, and the two bicycle events on the
| program will be interesting. Outside of
| this meet there are two more local events,
not including the two-days meet of the
national circuit, which will end here in
October. The Queer Wheelmen race meet,
which will ccme off July 4, is expected to
arouse considerable interest. One week
from that date Company c of the Washing
ton Light Infantry will have a field day, AT
which there will be several bicycle races
On top Of this comes the gold meet of
The Arlington Wheelmen, and this race
promises to be one of widespread interest
The prizes will all be gold medals Some OF
the medals are valued at $3o, and gradu-
ate down to $40 In value. Mr.. u. r. Lar
comb on behalf of the club, will visit the
meet at Cambridge. Nd. July 3. and dis
tribute entry blanks among the MARYLAND.
iacers. Mr.. William Gettinger will leave
later Tor Philadelphia and New York where
he will work in the interest Of the meet
The interurban races will also prove to 70.
an attractive card. The racing board of the
Maryland division Of the League of Amer
lean Wheelmen held meeting THURSDAY
evening to complete arrangements for the
races, and telegram forwarded to Man
a&er Mexican OF the Int ternationaI Park re-
guessing his presence. Mr. Mexican was
unable to be present, but wired an engage
ment FOR Monday afternoon, and gave his
views, which have been published substan-
tlally In The Star. with the exception that
ne VIII urge q two-mile race for the teams
or possibly longer. If lap limit can be
placed In order to insure fast time. BY es-
,anllsling certain time limit for each
lap allowing SO many points to the men
who cross In regular order the sum of
these counting at the end OF the race a
fast exhibition could be guaranteed. A
five-mile race could be held as well as a
two-m1le race, and brisk pace kept
throughout, which would maintain the in
terest of the spectators. especially as the
finish or every lap would be almost like the
finish of a regular race
If all ARRANGEMENTS are carried out there
are likely to be several night races al the
International Park. and II they prove sue
cessful regular evening programs Of some
sort can be looked for. Tns management
is now negotiating for the lighting Of the
entire park with electric lights, and some
conclusion will be reached m few DAYS
1T is calculated that over 1"o large arc
lights VIII be used to illuminate the
grounds, making the place as light as day.
A long line Of poles Will be erected around
the inside OF the track at short intervals
SO that person in the grand stand can
-.
grand stand will be we'll lighted and also
the bleachers, as we'll every section Of
the grounds.
Another improvement at the park is the
completion OF the ertesan well, which has
been worked on for some days. During
the week a fine flow of excellent water was
struck, and now pipes being laid to
carry the water to all paris of the ground
furnishing drinking water to the patrons
as well as for sprinklng he track when
necessary.
The proposed parade Of wheelmen is be-
ing carried on with a hump. and the boom
ing of the affair Is apt TO make q big sue
cess of it, besides rejecting much credit
upon the league. Out of the ten reputa-
BILE cycling clubs in the city, without a
haps that club may turn out if the laem-
bers change their present decision.
The parade promises to be unique IN a
variety Of ways. In point of numb ars It
will exceed any previous demonstration of
the sort that has been held in the city. 1t
has been few years since bicycle parade
has been held in the District, and the last
one drew out large crowd, in spite of the
fact that the entire turnout did not exceed
100 cyclists. In this parade there We're no
prizes offered for the best decorated wheel
or anything else, yet without any induce
ment there was good turnout, considering
the number of bicyclists in the city at the
time. and the wheel decorations We're
unique. In the proposed parade there will
tions. largest club turnout and similar
th.rgs, and this is calculated to be an in
centive for the cyclists to turn out in goodly
numbers. A conservative estimate places
the number of riders in line the comm Y
parade at between 5000 and 10,Oc0.
Since the local division of the league took
hold of the matter there has been consid-
cradle activity among clubs In the interest
of the parade. The United Wheelmen have
indorse1 the plan, and the Washington
Road Club has not only done likewise but
las referred the matter to the entert aim
ment committee to secure a good turnout
and provide for suitable decorations. The
club will undoubtedly have float in line
and pretty one at that. The Queer
Wheelmen have also taken to the matter
with spirit. and are now at work on some
plan calculated to give the club a good ap-
pearance in line. The Columbia Heights
Wheelmen have also backed up the project,
and will turn out good representation
with wheels, decorated in good style. The
Miles Cycle Infantry have ent cred into the
matter with considerable interest and they
Will not only turn out their full quota of
Uniformed men, but the ranks will be in
creased three or four times the present
number by other members of the National
Guard who ride bicycles, and who will par
ticipate. The Eastern Athletic Club is also
In favor of the parade, and the enterprsing
organization in the East End can he count
ed upon as showing up in full numbers.
he other clubs of the city are also expect
ed to fall In line. and at the meeting OF the
day evening at 431 10th street, delegations
are expected from all sources.
The Columbia Athletic Club will hardly
turn out as an organization, though most
likely most of the members will turn out as
individuals. The Capital Bicycle Club is
another organization that may not turn
cut, although several Of it's members are
heartily in favor Of the project, and they
will do all in their power to have the club
make good showing.
X X
There will be bicycle meet and ball at
the Takoma Springs Hotel next Saturday
afternoon and night, in which considerable
interest has been aroused. The arrange
ments are in charge of Mr.. Frank B. Mar
tin, an enthusiastic wheeman, who is do
ing all he can to promote the success of the
enterprise. 1t Is expected that cards Of in
vitation for the meet and run of the after
noon will be issued early next week The
run will be followed by a dinner or open-air
luncheon, with a grand ball at the hotel in
the evening. 1t is proposed to have prizes
for the most graceful and fetching rider of
the fair Sex, for the handSomest man i'm a
| bike suit, and for the most original costume
for bicycle ball. Mr. Eugene De Riya a
wel-known wheelman, will have charge of
the decorations and arrangements of the
ball room suitable to the occasion
The line of march and the run will be n
nounced later. The cards of invitation can
be secured al the hotel by proper parties
All riders and their best girls are corda Ily
invited to help make the occasion a merry