The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-08

put in possession of a printed circular
detailing the work that Mr.. Potter has
done for the league. They call attention
to the fact that he obtained the passage
Of the bill giving wheelmen the same
privileges as any other vehicle owner
on public highways: that he increased
the membership of the New York state
division from 2900 to Fl ,000 and, lastly,
that Albany is the place of his birth, and,
the convention being held here, it would
be a deserved compliment to elect him
president.
If all the delegates attend from the
various states, IS of them will face Lieu
tenant Governor Woodruff when he calls
the preliminary good roads meeting to
order on Wednesday. In addition, q
great number of wheelmen who are not
delegates are interested in the conven-
tion, and in the movement for good
roads.
The number of delegates from each
state is guaged by the number Of en-
rolled wheelmen in such state. New
York comes first, with SO delegates;
Pennsylvania. 20; Massachusetts,, 26;
New Jersey, IA; Illinois. IL; Missouri and
Ohio, each; Connecticut, Iowa, Ken
lucky, Maryland, each 6; North Carolina
and Wisconsin each q Indiana. g.; Kan
sas, Maine, Colorado, Minnesota, Ne
braska, south California, Tennessee,
Texas and Washington, each A; Arkan-
sas, Arizona, New Hampshire, Oregon,
each 3; Michigan, s; Utah, Vermont,
Virginia and West Virginia, each 2; Ala
bama, Florida, Delaware, Montana, Ne
vada, New Mexico. North Carolina,
North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Caro-
lima and Wyoming, each 1. The actual
work of the delegates will not begin un-
til Thursday morning, and then 1t is ex-
pected that a great deal of time will be
consumed in discussion Of the many i'm
portant questions which will be pre-
sented for consideration.
One Of the reasons for holding the con-
vention in Albany was to impress the
New York state Legislature with the
strength of the union, and, If possible,
have this state become the pioneer in
the movement for good roads. The en-
tire session on Wednesday will be given
up to this matter, and it Is altogether
probable that hearings will be arranged
before some of the legislative commit
tees on Wednesday afternoon on the
good roads bill, introduced by Senator
Higbee. In addition to Lieutenant Gov
ernor Woodruff, 1t is expected that
Speaker O'Grady, Assemblyman Arm
strong, who secured the passage Of the
free bicycle transportation act, and
Senator Charles Guy, who has just had
reported favorably a bill giving hi
cyclists an exclusive strip Of roadway
along some New York highways, will! all
be present and address the meeting.
Superintendent of Public Works George
w. Aldridge, who has granted permits
for bicycle paths along the Canalbermo
bank, has also been asked to say some
thing to the gathering The league has
appropriated $1,000 for the purposes of
this meeting, and for the printing of and
distribution Of literature on the sub
ject. On the eve of this meeting, State
Engineer and Surveyor Adams, in his
annual report favors the wheelmen 8
bill. and says:
IT believe that, since the management
of the great bulk of this work will be 30
largely of an engineering nature, II
should oil be placed In the charge Of q is
department, and that Of the superin-
tendent of public works, exactly as Is
now the case with all other public work
of this character; and, as these two de-
partments now have an effective organ
ization, reaching into every county in
the state, 1 believe that no new, cum
bersome or expensive commission Is re-
Quired for this purpose"
The reports of the secretary and
treasurer will be presented to the league
on Thursday, and will contain an in
teresting and rather startling array Of
figures. There are now In the league IA
026 members. of whom 2o.s26 reside in the
state of New York: 11,204 ip Pennsylva-
MIA; 9711 in Massachusetts,, and 4597 In
New Jersey: Illinois comes next in num-
Der, followed very closely by Missouri
and Ohio From third In the list Of states
as to membership. New York division
has gone up to first place: and. from
having IL per cent of the entire mem
bership. New York now has 81 per cent.
The gain In membership during the last
year OF the entire national league has
been about 2600. As to the finances, the
report will show that, while In the ex-
yenditure of money for pushing the
good roads crusade. the organization Is
10, hoaIfhx safo ho In a tYoAourV