The evening times., 1896-09-30

The L. A. W. still keeps up its unprece-
dented growth, :he applca tons received
each week showing increases overthe ugurcS
for corresponding weeks in 1890.
Secretary Bassett's last weekly report
shows that 1S6 Applications were received,
while the sa me week last year brought III
ONLY 800 The lea que now has a total mem
bership of S,233. Last year, particular
lyat this time, Utah, for example, was rarely
heard from; but the increase has been 800
per cent, and the same figures apply To wy
uming Idaho has increased 90 per cent,
Nebraska 100 and Nevada 500 per cent
PENNSYLVANIA turned in 2S2 names last
week, thus til aking the lead over New York.
Penns ylvaIka now has or members and
has passed Massachusetts, which Is Ill third
place New York filed 2l3 applications,
New Jersey 40, md the Bay State only Is.
The leading divisions are: New York,
1880; Pennsylvania, 1921; Massachu-
sets, 9,337; Illinois, 3,il2; Ohio, 2;2ti;
Missouri, 81 40; Wisconsin, ,L62.; Iowa,
,442, and Indiana, 942.
The stupendousI growth OF cycling can
not he better a;tested than by the notable
increase in the uuIni,Cr of bicycle clubs
i'll New York city. In LIe autumn Of 1895
the number of cycling organizations III
the metropolitan district Was l2o- Today
the number is zoo.
In 1895 New York had 81 clubs, Brook
I
Jersey 81. sToday New Yo9k alone h;-.
so. Brooklyn and Long Island SO ond
suburban New Jersey 80.
Not week goes by that does not mark
the organization OF new club Accom-
panying the Increase in clubs, there Is
corresponding growth ~ Club menter-
ship lists The older clubs have made
rapid additions to their lists, SO that to-
day they relarger in size than at any other
time in their history, While they are all ell
joying prosperity.
one club. which was organized less than
fourteen months ago, now has 300 mem
bers, and as there are thousands of UBat-
tached wheelmen, continued prosperity is
naturally to be expected. IL is worthy
Of note that the bicycle clubs, as a general
rule, are conservative, and are not building
expensive clubhouses.
Building operations that Involved too
much capital did more several years ago 70
check the athletic club boom i'll this cOun
try than any other one thing.
1t is now extremely doubtful whether
Walter c. Sanger, the well-known bicycle
rider, viii go against records this fall, as
was announced some tine ago. When lie
left the national circuit i'll the East several
weeks ago he started Westward with the
intention of going TO Denver. where he
proposed 10 go against the unpaced mile
NOW ny
200 20. but because of his inability to
close satisfactory deals with Inanufac-
turers to pay his expenses. he has partly
concluded to abandon the trip.
The Gold Bug Cycle Club was organized
in Baltimore last night.
II can be safely said that this is one Of
the most unique bodies known to cycle
dom. By 1t wheeling and politics are
combined, it being the object Of the pro-
motcrs to operate one in connection with
and in the interest of the other. The
mode OF procedure viii be to call runs to
lie suburban points and there hold meet
ngs in favor OF sound money.
This plan of campaign may be carried
on on quite an elaborate scale, and 1t is en-
pected to enlist the services of large
number of cyclers in the scheme. The
club was organized with thirty seven men.-
hers. who were divided into two compan-
les