The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-16

The annual meeting of tie X. I. niy:-
sion, l.. A. w. was held at the Narragan-
sett hotel last evening. The work uone
ly Ii and its plans for the coming year
were tho topics OF the evening. Wheel
men from all over the state were present.
making IL representative gathering.
At the conclusion of the meeting resolu-
tions wers passed expressing the thanks
cf the division To Gov. Dyer and TO Gen.
Stone
Chief Consul George l. Cooke presided
and after the reading OF the minutes by
Secretary Nelson III. Gibbs the report of
the chief consul WIS pr ssnted, the sub
stance of when was~,s follows:
The oiyision has shown gratifying in
crease during the past year. The num-
Der OF member at the opening was l0S-
while we now nave 1923. This IL n gain
of 546 or al increase Of 80 l-2 per cent,
the percentage Of renewals Is n showing
that We sill keep we'll above the average
In that respect. What gives the me st SAT-
isfaction is the retention OF old mem bers.
cN those who joined previous 10 April.
lS5, W per cent. have renewed. This js
a splendid record.
After briefly mentioning the cases
which have been brought before the
rights and privileges committees and sue
cessfully fought IN court, the chief CON.
sol continued: by this time the bulk or
those who do not tDeM selves cycle have
wholesome respect for our association and
endeavor TO observe proper use OF our
highways which favornby affects those
VINO are not, but should be memb bars
Again much respect y en- ter tanned for Us
In legislative bodies, SD that We now sell
dom have to contend with obnoxious
statutes and ordinances. BY this time it
Is understood that what wo seek is not
III
we shall stand OF equality with all who
use the highways. And To this fact. backed
by our strength and excellent oraaDiza-
tion, 1 attribute the respect by whicn we
are held.
1he report then referred TO the neces.
city for general gathering and the sue
tess attend ng the Held day. In brief
form he referred 20 racing business, stat
ing that IL remained a question whether
the ]. A. W. should admit the proies-
sional riders.
After referring to the good roads legs-
lation passed Curing the year. he stated
that the division would soon issue a road
map TO It's members.
For the touring and TRANSFORMATION
COMMITTEES, Ch,irman John r.. Barrett
presented report saying that during the
year the routipe work of the committee
had been accomplished in helping mem
bers on their lines. The field day had
been most successful, having twice as
large an attendance as tho one held last
year. and despite the large appropriation
made the meet cost the division only
few dollars.
The report Of tie racing board present
1d by It's chairman, James Smith, is in
brief as follows '.rhe task OF the racing
bosrd for 1897 has teen much greater
than ia Drevious years. Yet so well were
nprfpprnad ma
very little in the way OF adverse criticism
i take great pleasur, in thanking my
colleagues on the racing board for their
valuable assistance
THE statistics for 1897 STOW that TIE ere
has been racing on four bicycle tracks
ana on four trottinR tracks. There have
been "a meets, having % open events. 40
closed events and exhibitions with n total
of 1915 entries. The national cir,uit dates
brought an entry list OF riders and fur.
Dished quality Of racing which should
satisfy the most exacting and the OK
hicit riding of two of the great mid,ile
distance paced riders, gave Us an oppor-
tunity within our own division to see
what has proved this year to be the most
po"uar branch of the sport
There were no division championship
runs this year. The manner OF awarding
and conducting These eyents in former
years has received much adverse criticism
lbe present racing board passed vote
that no championship should be run until
after July 18th. 1t was also voted that ir
case the Held day OF the division was held
after July 4th, and at place where
there was bicycle track that the CHAIR
man Should apply TO the com ittee hav-
ing the Held day In charge for permission
tn make the champion ship races feature
OF the meet. This would have been the
b,st time To give all the league members
OF the division n chance to witness the
races. 1t would also have given riders
who cannot afford the time to train all
the season, chance TO com pete In all tho
championship races ana put them on
more nearly an equal footing with those
who receive favors from dealers and man
ufacturers and finally would rave secured
prizes OF advertised value. ] would advise
that another year tne racing board con-
uuct race meet on the field day, or IL
not then deemed advisnhln M any snit