Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-03
BICYCLE SMALL CHAFF.

Sporting News.
 Christmas is over now and as soon as the people recover from the drain on their purses incident to the proper ceeles- bration Of the holiday the bicycle business should and will pick up, and warm the hearts ofsfhe dealer. So far this hasn't been very cold winter, but you can get a long argument on that score from any one of the half hundred or more oily tongued representatives, of the trade who have been burning fuel and paying rent without receiving any income for the past two months. It must be rather disheartening to sit in a store full of bi- cycles, sweaters and ''sich," day after day and week after week, with nothing to Go but read of the prosperity that has come to others since The election and not take in enough to feed the office cat; but then, look at the difference when the trade does open up in the spring and or ders come so fast that they can't be filled ard wheels sell like tickets on good thing at the race track. MT. Dealer then has things all his own way and IS in position to dictate to the rest of the cycling fraternity. This desirable condi- tion comes around with the regularity or slippers from your wife at Christmas and follows that event more closely each year. If this backward advancement continues, in the course of time the an- nual opening of the trade will occur so early as to miss an entire year. How ever, this state of affairs cannot come to pass just yet and the busin5Ss season or 1887 will probably set in only few weeks sooner than in 1896. More inquiries about new models are made at the agencies now than during the same time in any previ- ouS year, and, altogether, the outlook for big sales in the spring is good. There are always a few scattering sales imme- . diately after Jan. 1 and from indica- tions these will be made with more regu- larity than heretofore next month. Some of the local agencies have not yet received their '97 models, but they will all be in within a few weeks and the sellers will be ready to do business as soon as the public manifest an inclina tion to buy.
 If the League of American wheelmen as whole will work for good roads this coming year as will the New York d. vision of that rapidly growing organiza- tion, then cyclists generally will rise up and praise the League of American wheelmen and give 1t their dollars and material aid. Highway improvement IS acknowledged to be the greatest work the league had before it, And good, or even fair, roads are in such small pro- portion to the bad ones in this country that a small beginning in this direction will give the league a prestige that 1t just now lacks. Chief Consul Potter, of the New York division, has framed road improvement bill with the approval
 
 cials, and with the combined influence of the wheelmen and the farmers it is confidently believed favorable legislation will be secured. The work will be push ed vigorously and no doubt will be aided much by the good roads congress to be held at Albany in February in conjunc ton with the national assembly of the League of American ~wheeelmen. This will be an event of widespread impor- tance, since gentlemen prominently iden- GI l.s1 sections of the United States will be in attendance.
 Have atmospheric conditions any ef- feet on the time made by record breakers in this country and is the climate con- ducive to greater results than are at- tained in England? This is a peculiar theory, but Tom Linton, the famous Welsh rider now in this country, is au- thority for the statement that England today takes a back seat in trials against time, for the simple, reason that the eli mate of America is better adapted to at- tempts of this character.
 In order to refute this statement it is we'll to consider that England knew cycling before 1t was thought of in this country. For twenty years back the Britons have been known for their suc- cessful attempts to achieve glory on the race track, and up to three seasons ago, they dominated to no small degree. But when American pluck and perseverance came to the front to demonstrate that back bone and muscle could overawe the best time ever made by an English eye list, the effect of the sensation to the wheelmen in Great Britain was electri- cal. For @ time they refused to place credence in the cablegram reports, which stated explicitly that the worlds records had been demolished, and that every British mark was in jeopardy. They did not believe that Johnson rode a mile in 1:56 3-5, but when half dozen Ameri- cans reduced the figures, they were com pelled to accept it.
 Now, as regards Linton's theory, it is we'll to recall the recent visit of John s. Johnson to England. Upon his return to this country, T. ". Eek told c. F. Acker- man, sporting editor of the Syracuse Standard, that the fastest riding Johnson ever did was upon the English circuits It was upon English soil that Johnson lowered several worlds records last sum- mer, records the English riders strove to reduce for year past With the same climatic conditions that confront the Britons, the American did what his for eign competitors had failed to perform shattered worlds records. If there is a better refutal of Linton's theories it is yet to be brought to light.
 Great interest in the coming election of national officers of the l.. A. w, is man. 1feSt In St. Louis and expressions of opin- ion as to whom the Missouri delegates should support for the presidency are heard on all sides. Most local wheelmen are inclined toward Chief Consul Isaac B. Potter, of New York. At present he seems to be the strongest man in the field and the desire that ever prompts individ- uals to get into the camp of the winning side in an election will throw the votes of many delegations to him at the last moment, which, together with the votes already pledged, will very probably elect the New Yorker. His strength in Mis- souri is attributed to the stand he has taken for local option on the Sunday racing question. The only objection to Potter in this section is the fact that he is an eastern man, and we in the west would prefer to elect a chief executive who lives closer to the Mississippi A. Chessy Nor rison, of Milwa aukee, answers this descrip- ton, but, on the other hand, he is for ninst" Sunday racing, which will surely cause him to lose the southern and west ern votes. The other candidates, barring Sterling Elliott, the present incumbent, will scarcely be in the race.
 Elliott's administration has not been one to entitle him to reelection His use