The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-18
THE BIG BICYCLE MEET
THE L. A. w. AFFAIR IN 1895 WOULD
MEAN MUCH TO INDIANAPOLIS.
Omaha Is Practically the Only Conn
petitOr for the HOnOr-ChattanOO-
ga Is Also Mentioned

The movement to secure for Indianapolis
the national L. A. w. meet for 1898 has
started off in the right direction, and there
is now fair prospect that the city will be
successful in its efforts. The Commercial
Club, the Board Of Trade, the trade associ-
alton of the cycle manufacturers and deal
ers. the local L. A. w organization and
the associated cycling clubs of indianapolis
are all joined in making the preliminary
efforts toward bringing the meet here. The
work of these organizations however, will
merely extend over the Philadelphia meet,
which is TO be held Aug. to Z. After that
it will be in order to organize a meet club,
composed of business men and public
spirited citizens. who shall have power and
influence enough to bring about the CO.
operation Of all the citys interests in the
final effort necessary to secure the vote of
the assembly at st. Louis in February
That Indianapolis stands an excellent
chance in the race for the honor and ben
efits of entertaining the big convention of
wheelmen is apparent. AS the Journal
stated in it's early advocacy of this move
ment, Omaha is practically the only other
applicant for the meet. That city is too
far west to suit the wheeling population,
especially the League of American Wheel
men population, seven-tenths of which is
east of the Alleghenies. It is the policy of
the league however, to alternate holding
the meet East and West Last year it was
at Louisville, and this year at Philadel-
phia. Next year it must come West in
keeping with this policy. Railroad rates
are too high to bring to Omaha the large
number of league members to the meet who
usually attend and make the affair sue
cess.
Recently Chattanooga has become an as
pirant for the honor of securing the meet.
That city. however. stands little show and
would not be considered against Indianapo-
lis, though if opposed only by Omaha it
might show some considerable strength. 1t
is hardly well enough supplied with hotels
to accommodate the visitors, it has no BIZ
cycle track suitable for the meet, and it has
no means of entertaining a horde of bicycle
riders. 1t is a beautiful city. with many
historic associations, some beautiful
scenery and several places in the neighbour
hood which would be attractive to sight
seers; but people who attend the national
meets are sightseers only to the extent that
the Sights may be seen awheel The first
consideration with them is good cycle paths
and roads, Chattanooga has none of these.
1t has few miles of paved streets, but the
roads surrounding the city are very poor
and in bad weather impossible to wheel
men. Chattanooga could not successfully
combat Indianapolis in the fight for the
next meet.
Within the last ten days Saratoga, N. Y,
is reported to have come out as a candi-
date for the meet. 1t is understood, how
ever that Saratoga is candidate only by
reason of the objection of the Eastern
members of the league to allowing the
meet to go as far west as Omaha. New
York city is probably an applicant only as
& last resort to defeat Omaha, for it is a
late day for any city to declare itself an
applicant for the honor It is understood
that the Eastern vote would be cast for
Saratoga in preference to Omaha, but not
in preference to Indianapolis if this city
bids
1t is, therefore, a fight between Indianap-
oils and Omaha, with the feeling strongly
in favor of the former city but with the
latter city having already over a year the
start Of indianapolis in the contest.
Omaha had a large delegation Of citizens
at the Louisville meet last year creating a
sentiment in favor of that city for 1885, and
arrangements have been made to make a
big display at Philadelphia next month.
W III tAlA0 W At6Ailt NhC PtOplC wiz 80 W
Philadelphia to represent indianapolis must
be thoroughly representative men, who
have had experience in such matters and
who are men of sagacity enough to meet
and acquaint themselves with probable del
egates to the national assembly and i'm
press them with the Importance of sending
the next meet here. The delegation must
be strong one If it succeeds against the
big odds which Omaha has in some re-
spects.
1t may be that the vote on selecting the
place will be taken by mail before the regu-
lar meeting of the assembly in st. Louis.
The division elections occur in December,
at which time the delegates to the assembly
are chosen. The executive committee of
the league may then decide to have the
balloting by mail. In such case the cleo
ton will probably be held in January If
this plan is followed, the expense of bring
ing the meet to this city will not be so
large, for the claims of the city can be
pressed upom each delegate by mail.
1t is expected that the funds for paying
the expenses of the Philadelphia delegation
will be raised by the committee of five in a
few days, and that the next meeting of the
provisional committee can be called for the
latter part of the week. 1t will be neces-
sary for the delegation to go to Philadel-
phia day or two before the meet opens
probably by Aug. 1 OF. 2. If the report of
this committee. when it returns from Phil
hdelphia, is favorable and it is believed the
meet can be secured for this city, then a
regular meet committee win have to be
organized and the work of raising guar
Rntee fund for the entertainment of the
visitors will begin. This will not be large
amount, and part of the fund will be re-
turned in profits of the meet; but it all has
track will also have to be considered. 1t is
suggested that perhaps the street-railroad
company would be willing TO make an ar
rangement similar to that made by the
Traction Company in Philadelphia The
company built the track there and gets the
bulk of the patronage in transporting peo-
pie to and from it and also gets the gate
receipts. The Reading Railroad gave a
large sum of money TO the guarantee fund
at Philadelphia, and the other railroads
contributed literally.
DetrOit's Big Race Spoiled.
The suspension of Tom Cooper. Fred
Loughead and Mother Webb by the rae
ing board may cause a lot of trouble at
Grand Rapids and in the Michigan division.
The division meet is to be held ar Grand
Rapids July % and "a, and the biggest
event on the programme was a three-cor
uered match race between Cooper, Bald
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