Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-27
so M e CYCLE CHI A 7

ALREADY the question mas Deen asked
whether this city will have a cycle show.
That has not been determined The chances
are even for and against such display.
Tho people most interested in the matter
are the dealers themselves, nearly all of
whom are organized under the local cycle
board of trade. Their will in the matter is
final. If they decide upon holding such it
is quite likely that the event will be held.
If they decide adversely the chances are
equally good that no show will be held.
AS is probably remembered by most cy-
clists, there has been only one cycle show
in this city, and that two years ago. Last
year it was thought for time that show
would be held, but things did not material
iZe properly. 1t was decided that if any
show were to be given it would be under
the auspices of the cycle board of trade.
While it is too early to prognosticate, it
seems quite certain that if a show is given
this season it will be managed by the
board of trade itself, and thus minimize
the expense to the members of the organ
ization. The season for cycle shows does
not open until next year, some time in Feb
ruary, so 1T will be seen that it Is rather
early to talk of anything definite being
done.
Speaking of the local cycle board of
trade brings to mind the fact that the or
garization still exists. and while not known
amount of good for the members Not only
they able to purchase sundrieS at a
much lower price. but they also manage to
keep tab on the hard pays and make
them come to time when purchasing a
wheel. There is some complaint among the
members that this system of tab is not
Kept as strictly as 1t should he. The code of
signals used is as follows: A slow, but will
pay; b requires constant drumming; { had
to call in wheel. but was subsequently re-
deemed: d took wheel away from him; F.
returned wheel, unable to pay; r trouble
some about repairs; G absolutely bad; IL
see us before you sell this party. These
signals have accomplished more or less
good. and are thought to completely cover
the field, so far as it regards the dealer. 1t
will be seen that there is no symbol for a
prompt payer, but it is to be supposed that
the letters 20 X will fit such a case.
A subscriber calls attention to an error
in the road book of the local division of
the league, which was issued a short time
age. The communication says that route
IT, OIL Gage of the book giving the proper
course to Bethesda Church, Montgomery
county. Md, Is slightly off as regards the
conditions of the roads in dry and wet
weather The book places the character
Of the roads as good and fine in dry wealth
Ell, but fair in wet weather. From Tenley
town, or Tenley. as the book gives it, the
grade of the road is given as level. This
is great mistake. says the subscriber.
during the past mcLth or two will be able
to find this out without the aid of spec
tacles. IT the first place, the road from
Tenleytown to Bethesda is not level. On
the contrary, it is worse than rolling, there
being one bad hill just the other side of
the crossing of the Glen Echo railroad at
Somerset Heights. In the second place, the
condition Of the road cannot be considered
as fine in dry weather. In fact, 1t can
hardly be considered fair. and in wet
weather it must be miserable. bordering
to vile. The old Rockville pike. which
starts just the other side of Bethesda post
office, is in vile state. hardly passable for
vehicles. much less bicycles. The Bethes-
da road, which is the one considered in the
book. is becoming equally as bad. In fact,
the road has been SO long without improve
synonymous with bad. have had occa-
sion to use the highway before the bad
weather set in. and am well acquainted
with its condition. The macadam base is
washed badly, and large stones and small
boulders project from the road, making it
wise for the rider to pick the softest spots
to he found for cycle riding. If a new edi-
ton Of the road book is to be issued this
mistake ought to be corrected, as people
not knowing the character of the highway
might be tempted to try it."
The Star reporter heard two stories dur
ing the week. one against the bicycle. and
the other partly explaining cause which
has been attributed to the general use OF
the wheel. The first story comes from a
well-known hat dealer, who says that his
trade has suffered in consequence of the
increase in the cycling population. with
the advent of the bicycle comes the use of
the bicycle costume" said the dealer in
question. 1.-The costume is designed to give
comfort, even to the wearing of SHOES, the
manufacturers recognizing this and turning
out special styles of footwear for cycling.
So with the hat manufacturers. The golf
cap has proven to be comfortable thing
for riding, and the people have become
used to wearing these light things upon
their heads. In fact, they have become
SO much accustomed to them and the at
tachment is so strong that they wear them
almost constantly. The caps are small can
be easily carried around, and. if necessity
arises, can be thrust in the pocket. AS
result you will notice that more caps are
worn now than ever. People may be seen
with overcoats on, and yet have a small
golf cap on their heads. Some people wear
them every day and Sunday, too. Before
the advent of these caps the public used
to wear heavier and more costly hats, bur
that day seems to have passed. We sell
golf caps, but the style that retails at %
cents seems to be the most popular. We
have styles at 80 cents each that go we'll.
Selling at such figure there is only
small amount of profit. This can easily be
seen. The large sale of these small caps
reduces the sale of the higher priced head
gear, and consequently reduced the profits
of our bus mess. We have to sell half
dozen caps to make the profit on one hat
that retails at 81 or $3.50. l must admit
however, that in my opinion there will be
less badness If the caps are worn gener
ally
The other is told by n Georgetown livery
stable keeper. 1t partly refutes the state
ment that the bicycle has practically killed
the liz cry stable business. AS one rider
facetiously remarked, carriages were used
now only for weddings and funerals, and
1t would be only question of time when
the bicycle supplanted them in these func-
items. This livery stable keeper stated
that while the bicycle has undeniably in
jured the business. it has not accomplished
half as much in this direction as it is
charged with. THE electric cars have
done just as much harm to us as the BIZ
cycle" said the man, Especially the sub
urban roads There was time when a
person, II he were out in the country, had
two courses to pursue He either had to
walk or had to hire carriage. Now
things are different. Electric railroads go
to every place of interest in the vicinity
of the city, and for 8 cents a person NAV
secure five and perhaps ten miles Of rid
ing much less than he could on a steam
railroad for the same price. 1t is not every
person who will spend the money and buy
a bicycle to take only two or three spins
out in the country. They must have more
use of the wheel than that before thew