The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-10

proportion 10 the size OF the JOB 81 present
but comparatively few OF this army ~
rislers are l.. A. ". members. The league
has been greatly benefited BY the boom,
however. and its membership. even Al this
time o. the year. Is jumping up at the rate
Of over - per week.
When the plans FOR gathering in this
million OF unattached riders shall have
been pat In operation, an organization VIII
soon be formed that VIII be truly for
midable IN size. There Is a great future
IN store for the L. A. ". It's officials con-
naeatly expect 10 see the membership IN
creased within year until IL reaches l19,-
o.. ana they look forward 70 the dag when
haif 4 million wheelmen shall % banded
together for antual good
The possibilities Of Influencing legislation
by an organization OF such strength are
unbounded Instead of thankfully Accept
iag any small fae0rs IN the way OF Just
laws they could dictate 10 the lawmakers.
What the league il most In need of j.
Advertising. There are many Thousands Of
riders who have either never heard OF its
existence or who have but dim idea OF
lis character and aims. To introduce these
scattered wheelmen to their organization
AMI 20 explain the benefits Of membership
IS the task nov before the officers Mr.. J.
b Potter. chief consul or the New York
stata division. is trying 10 do this in
novel way. he In making al attempt 10
have inserted IN the catalogues OF bicycle
makers an advertisement far the league.
The New York state division, with IFS %
Co members. Is probably the only state
organization that can afford 10 go 10 such
an expense.
The l.. A. ". was formed in 1870 at New
port r. l. and Kirk AunrOe. president
OF TIE New York Bicycle Club. vas ITS
nrEt president The league Was not for
nally organized. however. until the follow
iag fall when tho board OF officers held
meeting "a New York city. Tho member
ship al that time was 80. The objects Of
the league as originally defined by the cen
s,iiuton were 80 promote the general
Interests OF cycling. TO ascertain, defend
and protect the rights OF wheelmeu; 70 en-
couFaEe ard facilitate touring" To these
objects was added. eight years later, and
- secure Improvement in the condition CT
public roads and highways"
During al the sixteen years OF It's exist
encs these objects have been kept In view,
asd the greatest efforts o. the league have
been along these Hines. Witasn the last
seven years tho league has spent SlN,eo
b. pushing the agitation for good roads.
Us work Wss begun IN n modest, almost
agoiogetie way. and its early requests for
geoa roads legislation were met with ridi-
suie an3 opposition. Since then there has
been q change. Thousands of our law
makers have become riders themselves.
aad nowadays a wheelmans measure is
Received and given due consideration. TIE
rnveguors OF several states have taken Ia
sorahie notice OF wheslmen'S requests in
their annual messages. ard IN a dozen or
more state legislatures hflls have been IN
tr0duce1. LARGELY IL rot wholly through tho
snfgence % l.. A. W. members, with tie
Improvement AZ highways "a the chtect.
In Us gosi roads crusade the league has
saent thousands Of dollars in printing and