Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-16
CARING FOR BICYCLES
The Question Becoming Serious Considera-
ton in the Departments.
One Omcfal Says That Appropriations
Can't Be Used to Stable
Them.

The question of the stabling of bicycles
is being vigorously agitated in the execu-
tive departments and other public places
and the discussion has resulted in a serious
controversy approaching a conflict Of au-
thority in the State, War and Navy De-
partments building. The wheelmen en-
ployed in those departments argue that the
government should provide adequate faciii-
ties for the protection of their wheels dur
ing Office hours. Most of the officials, while
expressing willingness to provide proper
protection. say that those benefited should
defray the expense of the same. Under
the existing system racks alone are pro-
vided. They are arranged in the court
yards. but as they are uncovered they at
ford no protection from the rain. pc
tition is in circulation asking that sheds be
erected for the special care of bicycles.
This petition has received many sigma
from the Office well as from those who
do not ride at all, but believe in the equity
of the request.
Position of the Authorities.
One of the officials adverse to the propo-
sition that the expense of the proposed
stabling should be borne by the govern
ment made the following statement OF
the position Of the authorities on this ques-
ton to a Star reporter todey:
The saving Of time and of car fare to
the clerk who uses the wheel is important;
the saving of the same clerks time to his
employer is also important. But the num-
Der of wheels has SO increased that 1t is a
question how and wnere to stable them
conveniently. In wet weather they carry
much mud into building; in dry weather
they carry dirt from the street, SO that
coral of bicycles sometimes smells like
a stable. The American and English En-
cyclopedia of law (vol 1, I'd edD says: 1t
g M xxyl1I tahl ichnI aith Nv ,,lic i.I
decision or by statute that in legal con-
temptation the bicycle is to be regarded
as carriage or vehicle. Particularly in
relation to its use on the highways, the
bicycle is entitled to the same privileges
and subject to the same burdens as other
vehicles
In Holland VS.. Bartch, 12O Ind, 46, the
court says:
and defined the rights of persons riding up
on and propelling bicycles, yet such as
nave unanimously placed them upon an
equality and governed by the same rule as
persons riding or driving any other vehicle
or carriage, ard we think this the proper
rule to adopt. Although the use of the BIZ
cycle for purposes of locomotcn and travel
is quite modern yet it is a vehicle of great
convenience. al d Its use is becoming quits
common. While travelling upon the high
ways by means of horses has been in vogue
much longer, and is much more universal
at present than by means of BICYCLES vet
persons travelling by means of horses have
no superior rights to those travelling upon
the highways by improved methods of
travel. which are adapted to and consistent
with the proper Use of the highway
IL appears, tfen. that the great legal al
thorities compare the rights of cyclists with
those OF drivers of horses as to rights but
by no means with the rights of pedes-
TRANS.
The modern wheel is made to stand the
lnciemencies of the weather quite as much
as buggy or a brougham
ON Saturday there is a man who makes
= business of checking wheels near the
SroundS while the riders so inside the Pres
ldent gardens to hear the music At the
tneaters there is man to check the
wheels In sone of the departments a lin
lted number OF wheels are stacked in the
corridors, while in others provision is made
LOT them under sheds or in court yards
Can't Use Appropriations.
The appropriations are SC made that
they cannot be used for tie care or protec-
ton of clerks wheel any more than for
his carriage. The clerks in some of the
departments have paid (by subscription
Tor the erection of sheds for covering their
wheels, and by a small monthly contribu-
uoh, employ man to clean and oil their
Wheeis While this comes lightly on each
INDIVIDUAL rider, it aggregates enough to
pay man to care for the wheels Abou.
ohe-tenth of the government clerks are
70" Wheelmen and the number is increas-
ing In the near future l predict there will
oe DleEcle stables near public buildings
winch Will do lucrative business"