The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-05
is ST. PAUL RISING IN THE ESTI-
NATION OF PEOPLE IN OTHER
CITIES.
CHAINLESs WHEEL TO STAY.
COMPETITOR OF THE Or
DIARY.
BICYCLE ACCIDENT
PUZZLE.
Companies Do Not Know What to
DO About Bicycle Risks-The
Wheel in Politics.

While the carnival agitation Is on, it
may be remarked that the visitors to
the city this fall, a host of them, will
carry away with them most vividly a
recollection Of the cycle path system
Of the city. The hosts who ride aWheel
now are quick to observe the differ
encees in facility of locomotion and the
advantage that st. Paul has, in spite
Of typographical inequalities, not only
over the sister city, but other cities Of
similar size, which will result in their
carrying away an excellent impression
of Minnesota's capital. The Milwaukee
Evening Wisconsin points them out as
a model to the city fathers of the
Cream City. In a recent issue it said:
''The land owners who have been con-
suited have given their consent to the
WauWatoSa path being built where the
sidewalk would be, were one put down.
The committee fears, however, that the
path will be used so much by pedes-
TRANS that it will materially interfere
with the rights of the Wheelmen and
difficulties may arise as to who has the
prior right. If the path is to be six
or eight feet wide, the trees along the
roadside or an abrupt embankment
will be disagreeable obstacles to over
come, and the committee is busy MAX
ing a personal survey Of the roadside.
w G.. Birkhaeuser has started the ball
rolling by indorsing a promise of $3.50
and subscriptions are guaranteed by
the committee to nearly make up the
fund necessary for building the path.
"The st. Paul wheelmen entertain the
lot 10 In 11cn Of vol
paths by pedestrians that the local cy-
Gle committee labors under, but expe-
rience has demonstrated that these
fears were groundless. While the cy
Gle paths in st. Paul are extensively
used by pedestrians, there is no COM
plant from the wheelmen. In fact the
paths have served to raise the wheel
men in the estimation of the general
public and there is no place in the
country where bicycle riders are SO well
treated and willingly given all that is
due them. 1t is this treatment that
commands the first attention of the
stranger.
while the St Paul city fathers were
little inclined to help the wheelmen
when they first began to build the
paths, it was not long before the coun-
Gil began to make concessions, and at
the present time, although the st. Paul
cycle ordinance is as strict as that of
Milwaukee and rigidly enforced, there
are many sections of the city where.
bicycle riding on sidewalks is permits
sihle This is in making connections
with the cycle paths. In most in
stances the plank walk is built very
wide and Wheelmen are required to
pass pedestrians at a low rate OF
speed.
1.-The st. Paul cycle paths are builtsof
gravel, upon a natural foundation. I'm
most cases the path is six feet in
width, but in some places it is eight
feet wide. Way out in the country,
with the exception of White Bear path,
the track varies in width and in some
places narrows to two feet. Gravel
makes an excellent path, one that can
he used in all kinds of weather.
milwaukee is liable to meet with the
same difficulties that confronted the
st. Paul wheelmen and with problems
that they are still working upon. One
of the greatest troubles that the st.
Paul people have is from cows The
cattle unfailingly take the path in wet
| weather and the result is that it is
| badly cut up. The farmers also have
a habit Of driving on the path when
| the roads are bad, and all the efforts
| that have been made to stop the prac-
tice have failed. The best that the
wheelmen could do was to sink posts
| at the points where the farmers were
| likely to drive on. An effort was made
to secure the right to enclose the path
| with wire fence, but it failed. These
are two evils that still exist Tamper-
| ing with the path is a source of little
| trouble, for if it is done and the Of
tenders are caught the penalty is Sc
we're. st. Paul boasts Of fifty miles of
| path, more than half of which has
been put down this year. Repairmen
are employed who go over the paths
awheel'
A safety detachable toe clip is among
the latest novelties. It's inventor as
serts that comfort and safety is in
sured by its use. 1t can be placed On
any pedal simply by pushing it on the
pedal shaft. 1t is secured to the shaft
by strong springs. No tools are re
quired in adjusting it, and the inven-
tor says it will permanently remain in
proper position until released by ones
foot. He also says there is no possibil-