Evening star., 1897-04-17

VJ !
The only regret that appears to exist
among the local wheetmen is that the rae
ing season will not open for fully a month.
The opening race meet will not be held
until May 81. Decoration day falls on Sun
day, and that throws the observance Of
the day by the cyclists as late as 1t ever
can be. The spring season this year has
developed remarkably early, fully a month
earlier than usual. Last year May was not
exactly pleasant month for cycling,
though there was a race meet about the
middle of the month, which was favored
with what was termed extraordinary
weather but which in reality was no bet
ter than any Of the good days of this week.
The splendid weather of last Sunday
proved a boon to local cyclists. and there
were a large number who ventured out on
the roads for the first time this season.
They found everything favorable to them.
There was no wind to speak of and no mud.
while the bright sunshine enlivened up
things. making everything agreeable. 1t
seemed as though large percentage of
the wheeling fraternity must have sought
the Conduit road and Cabin John bridge,
judging by the many wheels that were
stacked at the place. representing an out
hay of over $4,000, according to the figures
taken by some gentleman at the place with
a calculative turn of mind.
Club Runs for the Week.
League of American Wheelmen. tomor-
row, for Ashton. Md. starting at am;
Wednesday, for Silver Spring, starting at
7:3O pm Both runs from Franklin Square,
18th and K streets.
Columbia Athletic Club. tomorrow, for
Marshall Hall, starting at o'clock from
club house.
Century Cycle Club, tomorrow. for Rock
vile, starting at 0 am. from 1920 New
York avenue.
Washington Road Club. tomorrow, sec
ond annual run to Harpers Ferry.
Cycle Board of Trade.
The cycle board Of trade is hustling for
the opening race meet, May 81, together
with the meet Of July 5. the Fourth of July
falling on Sunday, and the national circuit
meet. Though an application for sane
ton. with the necessary deposit. has been
made for the last named meet no date has
as yet been given out. The local board has
nothing at all to do with the arrangement
of the date for the circuit meet. This Is
decided by the chairman Of the racing
board of the league, who, securing all the
dates, arranges them. IN order to save as
much trouble as possible for the racers
who follow the national events. AS all of
the applications for circuit meets are now
in, it Is expected that Chairman Mott will
in a week OF so announce a list of dates
which will conclude the local event.
The main effort of the board at present
is directed toward the Decoration day meet,
the opening meet Of the season. The COM
mittee in charge has practically six weeks
mittee in charge has practically six weeks
time in which to complete all arrange
ments. The entry blanks have made their
appearance, and with these out the first
work of the committee Is done. An effort
will be made to have outside riders parti-
cipate. and inducements in the shape of
good prizes have been hung up. 1t Is the
intention to make the professional races
a feature Of all Of the meets held by the
board.
At recent meeting of the board of trade
the following committees were appointed.
which will have charge Of all the events
controlled by the board: Executive COM
Britain and w. D. Hadger; press COM
mittee. John Woerner. jr.. chairman: W.
Cline jr., and L. B. Graves: treasurer ].
Hart Britain; general manager. VIM. Get
committees have had letter heads and
envelopes printed and have started in ac-
tive work.
Columbia Athletic Club.
There will be no race meet held this year
under the name of the Columbia Athletic
Club. There is such a decided opposition
to the idea of such an event that the mat
ter has not been talked Of by the members
Of the cycling contingent. This practical
conclusion will virtually mean that no meet
will be held at all this season at Van Ness
Park. unless the grounds are given free
to some charity for the purpose of holding
a race meet. This brings to mind the fact
that the construction Of the fifth of mile
track by the CLUB never did prove a pay
ing investment for the organization. and
the construction of the International Ath-
letic track practically killed it.
Last Sunday about twenty-five members
of the club, under Capt. Stiles. took a run
to Dickey's, at the Virginia side of Great
Falls. The trip proved very enjoyable, as
the day was excellent and there were no
mishaps, one Of the main things being the
serving of the usually sumptuous dinner
by Mrs. Dickey.
If the weather is favorable tomorrow the
club will take trip to Marshall Hail. rid
ing down awheel and returning by the
boat This trip promises to be one of the
most well-attended runs of the season, and
many members have signified their inten-
ton of going who usually refrain from par
ticipating in the club excursions.
John Lawson, the terrible Swede, was a
member of the party last Sunday. He went
a short distance beyond Cabin John Bridge
and returned to the resort. All the club
members were impressed with his quiet
ness and gentlemanly bearing.
AL numerous points along the road the
club riders were photographed last Sunday.
The pictures will be developed and the
best one will be used as an illustration in
the next issue of the Winged Arrow, the
club paper.
Century Cycle Club.
The Century Cycle Club made run to
Surrattsville last Sunday, and after TAX
ing dinner at Mrs. Wheatley's Village
Hotel. the boys pushed on to Marshall
Hall, where they returned to the city by
boat. The members of the club enjoyed
themselves immensely while at Surratts-
vile, and all are of the opinion that 1t
is one of the finest runs out of Washing
ton. The accommodations at Wheatley's
are something excellent.
At the last meeting of the club Edwin
Smith was elected to membership This
member Is one Of the youngest In the
club, but can hold his own with the long
distance riders.
The next run OF the club-tomorrow-,s
AUCTION SALES.