The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-12-16

This Now Done by Every American Rail-
 road Controlling Lines Aggregating
 6s,Oo0 Miles in Length-Cycle Path
 Construction.
 Bicycles are now carried as baggage with out extra charge on American railroad lines aggregating over 6S,0OO miles in length, an increase of about 30O0O miles since last February. Coast line and river steamers and ferries having a combined length of route of 136,000 miles are also carrying b- cycles the same as other forms of baggage and without extra charge. The principal coast line steamers on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts are included in this list and all the big trans-Pacific lines to China, Japan and Australia are in line with the same policy. In France all railroads carry bicycles as ordinary ba~rage, and the in crease of receipts within the last year. due to wheelmen's patronage, has been very sub. stantial The same effect is noted in this country as shown in the case of the Long Island Railroad company, which last year carried about 30,oO0 cyclist passengers and this year about 10000, each paying a full first class fare.
 committee of the l.. A. W. will meet committee of the Canadian Wheelmen's association at Buffalo this month to discuss matters of interest to the two organiza- tionS.
 The cycle path construction along the lines of country railroads Win be pushed more vigorously in 1898 than ever before. From the practical experience thus far gained 1t is shown that the best surface for cycle paths Is composed of a thin dressing of crushed sandstone. This material packs 4sa n1n- IL. just enough grit to "bite" the tire and pre- vent slipping, drains quickly, resists the formation of mud and for ten months in the year supplies an ideal wheelway. It Is su- perior to the cinder surface In that the lat ter sticks to the rubber tire and Is easily picked up and loosened by passing wheels, and in dry. weather is blown off and seat tered by strong winds. cycle path should not be less than five feet (better six feet in Its narroWest part
 bill will be introduced in the New York legislature at it's coming session, providing for the general construction of cycle paths throughout the state. Its provisions will be announced in a later bulletin.
 The executive committee of the league of American Wheelmen has arranged for the purchase of large supply of maps from the geological survey department of the United States government, and will dispose of these maps among state divisions where they can be used to facilitate touring and encourage the recruiting work of division officers ilueSe ulHJS dEe Ol LLe ullSSl uuufLy, DplnG made at great cost from accurate govern ment surveys. They show all roads and streets, town and county lines, and even the location of houses and other buildings and are therefore splendidly adapted to tie wants of touring cyclists. These maps are being mounted on muslin and folded in con yenient form for the pocket, and will be ready for general distribution by February,
 More than 52,000 new members have ioin- ed the League, of American Wheelmen since the meeting of the national assembly at AL bany last February.
 Informal announcement has been received that the Swiss, Belgian and Italian govern ments have decided to admit touring L. A W. members across their frontiers without requiring the payment of duty or the deposit of money at the customs stations. This privilege will be formally proclaimed as soon as necessary papers are executed and filed by the officers of the L. A. w Sample membership tickets have been forwarded to Paris, Berne Brussels and Rome for distri- button among the customs stations. so that an L. A. W. membership ticket can be rec. ognzed by comnarison with the one on hand at each station.