The herald., 1897-10-25
as are the old ordinaries is not far dis
tant.

as are the old ordinaries is not far dis
tant.
The failure of the Fowler Cycle COM
pany of Chicago is not surprise in
trade circles in the east. The company
was formed by Frank Fowler and the
wheel was about as we'll advertised as
any wheel could be. For some reason
the trade which was phenomenal for
the first two years, fell off and Fowler
sold out, went to Massa chusetts and
started the Westmins ster factory, while
the old company continued the fight
The end came last week in it's assign
ment. Too many high-priced bicycles
in stock and the sensational drop in
prices this year tells the story of the
failure. The company is to be reorgan-
ized.
1t begins to look as If the League OF
American Wheelmen will, after all, have
to recognize and assume friendly rela-
tions toward the California Associated
Cycling clubs. President G. H. Orr OF
the Canadian Wheelmen's association
has been in California for a month and
has been quietly investigating the
strength and personnel of the Califor-
MIA organization. He has positively an
nounced that he can see no reason why
| his organization and the California one
should not affiliate, and it is almost GER
| tain that the c. "A. c. c. will receive the
endorsement of the Canadian body. This
in itself is a great deal for the western
organization, but there is something
still more important behind it, viz: rec
ognition by the International Cyclists
union. Such recognition would be al
most certain to follow the endorsement
of the c. A. c. c. by the Canadian body.
If the international organization took
such action the League of American
Wheelmen would have to assume fried
ly relations with it or else leave the inter
national itself. By the way the league
does not stand any too we'll with the
International union for the reason tha;
the L. A. w. has paid less attention to
union matters than any other member
| President Swain of the c. A. C. c. will
retire at the conclusion of his term of
office. He positively refuses to stand
for reelection, saying that he has beer
at the helm long enough and 1t is time
some other man was assuming charge.
He has made most excellent president
The membership of the L. A. w. has
passed the 100000 mark and is well on the
way toward an additional 10000 In point
of numbers alone this organization is
the greatest athletic body in the history
Of the word.
z. c. Bald has gone to France, where
he will compete with the European
champions. Ball has led the field OF
American racing men for three seasons
and will try to duplicate Zimmerman'e
victories across the water. No Ameri
can since Zimmermans time in the rae
ing game has been able to hold UP Amer
lean colors in France.
After years of struggling the wheei
has at last beaten the horse. Salvators
record, which has stood for seven years
as the best speed for mile ever made,
except by the locomotive, 1:35is, has just
been lowered in England by the English
man, ]. W. Stocks, who is one of the
phenomenal short distance riders of the
world Stocks clipped Us of a second
cyclists everywhere are predicting that
the horse is behind the age.
The gain in bicycle racing speed has
been altogether phenomenal. 1t has
steadily dropped since 1890. Early ir
that year w. c. Jones pulled the mile in
2;2O 3-5, from a standing start, the Gus
tom of those days. What followed sta
tistics best can tell. At the close Of 1891
the record was reduced to 2:15-still with
a standing start. In 1892 the flying start
came in, and 1902 3-5 became the figure.
At the end of 1898 the two-minute mark
had been lowered, and John S. johnson,
paced by a running horse, had cleared
the mile 1:56 3-5. During 1894 Johnson
made a record of nine seconds better, |
and in 1895 Berlo cut the time down to
1:40 2-5. The following summer it looked
as if the limit had been reached, w. w.
Hamilton making the time in 1889 1-5.
This year, however, his record was as
sailed. E. A. McDuffe lowered it ex-
actly one second, and later J. Platt-
Belts, a famous rider of England made
the mile in 1877 3-5. This stood until
Stocks the other day passed the winning
post in 1885 2-5.
+
"A curious law case involving bicycle
has been decided in Iowa. A Mr.. Slowe
escorted a Miss Kramer to a theater
where bicycle was given away to the
lady holding a certain number, drawn
by lot. Mr.. Slowe bought the ticket
and Miss Kramer won. Slowe secured
possession of the Wheel and said he
would keep it, but she sued, and the court
decided the wheel was her property.
Here is challenge which looks like
business. 1t is signed by M. J. Berry,
manager of Shoemaker, and is dated a
Riverside:
Il am ready to back Scott and Russell,
the team selected to pace the Tabor
Shoemaker race today, against any
ANA teur tandem team in Southern Cal
ifornia from one mile up to five for $100,
the Corona team preferred. I will bar
Tabor from taking part in this contest.
AS an evidence of good faith have this
day deposited $40 with the editor of the
Enterprise, which will be forfeited if ]
fail in any way to fulfill this contract"
Berry lives in this city. The challenge
was issued Immediately after Tabor,
the Corona crack had welshed in his
proposed race with Shoemaker al River