Evening star., 1897-05-15
THE NATIONAL MEET

PHILADELPHIA. Pa. May 15-Neyer
before has the national meet been held in
city where there are many bona fide
hustling bicycle clubs. Neither in I,ouis-
vile. Ashury Park nor Denver-in Chicago
eVeh-~hen the national meets were held in
those cities-was there anywhere near the
number of cycling organization that ara
now In this city. Louisville could boast Of
but half dozen clubs last year: Asbury
Park of even less in 1885. and so on PhiIa-
delphias clubs are all active organization
with membership ranging from fifty to 800
the latter being the total of the Century
Wheelmen. probably the largest league club
in the country. There are thirty-five or
forty of these clubs with membership OF
upward of 100. and the total of attached"
whee1men will reach considerably over TO-.
600.
Many of these clubs making prep.
arattonS to entertain clubs and parties
from other cities-a sort of combination
chaperonage. il were. They will me 4
their guests at the depots. and see to their
comfort during the week endeavoring
meanwhile to render the burden of being
entertained as light as possible. This Will,
of course, be of great assistance TO the
general entertainment and reception conn
mittee and will be carried on under the
latter body's indirect supervision.
In reponse to numerous requests We apy
pend the full makeup of the committees
appointed UP to date:
Executive committee - Thomas Hare.
chairman: c. A. Dimon, ID. r. Perkenpines
Joseph EstOclet and John A. l.. Carson.
Race meet committee-C. A. Dimon,
chairman: John Heishley, Walter Gilbert
F. X. Quinn and ]. j. Gessleman.
Transportation committee - s. SpenceP
Chapman, chairman: William r. Tucker
Gordon Chambers, William S. Harper jos
seph ID. Bicknell. George ID. Barrow and
N. II. Parks.
Hotel and accommodations committees
w. p. Street, chairman: G. z. Halberstadt
o. p. Tatum, j. A. Templeton. c. 4. Dillan.
John Clifton and George III. Lokes.
Souvenir committee-D. X. Perkenpfne,
chairman; +. r. Torkington, Fred. NesoIA
G. r. Owens. ]. Powell Atkinson and Wils
liam M. Mcmahon.
has written a friend in this city that he
will leave the antipodes In ample time 10
get into shape to pull down some of the
plethoric purses that will be hung up for
the professionals during the two days
races at Willow Grove.
Omaha, Neb., is already moving to secure
the 'os l.. A w. meet. The energy of our
western brethren is commendable and
should their aspirations he realized they
may rest assured that Philadelphia and
Pennsylvania will not only do their share
toward making the meet D success, but will
be largely represented at Nebraska's me-
tropolis in August, 1S9s.
For the benefit of the visiting newspaper
men the press committee announces that
during the meet the present headquarters
at 16 Chestnut street. in the heart of the
newspaper section, will be placed at their
disposal. Telephones. typewriters. ETC.; in
fact, every possible convenience for the
speedy dispatch of their work will be pro-
I vfded. and members of the committee will
be constantly on hand to offer the out-ofa
towners every assistance i'm their power.
Chairman Motifs arrangement of the nas
tional circuit is peculiarly pleasing to the
managers of the national meet. When the
extreme western limit of the circuit. Dem
iS bod has, xrfl1 tat
journey to the east that will culminate in
bringing together in this city during the
first week of August the largest and most
important gathering OF prominent racing
men this country ever saw. Many of the
crack-a-jacks will not join the circuit until
this eastern trip commences. and at all the
important points en- route recruits will be
added to the ranks so that by the time
Philadelphia is reached the pick of the
speedy amateur and professional riders Of
the United States will be in lire to do bat
tie for laurel and lucre at the greatest race
meet ever held in the history of the League
of American Wheelmen. In addition, the
executive committee has assurance that
not few famous foreign flyers will also be
on hand. Chairman Mott will so arrange
the schedule that the circuit "chasers'' will
be given week for rest and preparatory
work previous to the Willow Grove races.
This has been the custom In former years,
and 1t has always worked well.
Lou" Peck, secretary-treasurer of the
Massachusetts division of the L. A. w.
writes tn2t a Dig defeSdtlOn from inc Day
state will be here during the meet He
says that, owing to the large number who
will participate. the touring COMMITTEES Of
the division will probably take charge OF
the trip. <7re-S :
George F. Kast Of Louisville local con.
sui and chairman Of the local tours comp
mittee Of the '96 Meet Club, writes US THAI
he wili bring party Of nifty from that
hustling ..blue grass city to attend the
meet.