Evening star., 1897-02-20
S O Me CYCLE CH A 7

S 0 NJ E G. G L E G H A 7
Whether the canal Is open to traffic or
not does not matter to cyclists using the
towpath They cannot use it under any
consideration. This is the statement issued
by the authority of General Manager G. L.
Nicolson. A Star reporter saw him recent
ly. and incidentally the subject was broach-
ed. The statement was made that the
tcwpath was closed to cyclists during the
busy season Of the waterway, which lasted
about eight or nine of the twelve months,
on account of the liability of frightening
the mules ard causing damage, there could
be 10 good reason given why the wheelmen
should be barred from the level towpath
row that traffic is at a standstiu.
The general manager took a different
view of it. I'VE have had good deal of
trouble in getting the proper authority to
keep the cyclists off the toWpath," said ne
land now that we have got them off We
intend to keep them off. If we permitted
them to ride on the path at this season of
the year there would be others who would
want to ride on it during the summer, TO
the damage Of the boatmen, and possibly
rot without expense to ourselves. The
best plan, / think, and the plan under
which / am now working is to keep them
off entirely, show no favoritism and grant
10 special privileges j might lnCl1e0ldIiy
add that Mr.. Conway Sans, the chief con-
sui of the Maryland division of the League
of American Wheelmen mas been making
strenuous efforts to have the order re-
scinded and allow wheelmen the free use of
the towpath. We have mad a good deal of
correspondence on the subject but nothing
has come of 1t, and there IS no pru,a oility
Of anything resulting from it. outside of
reitera ton of the order. The lock tenders
and officials Of the canal all along the route
have received stringent orders in regard to
the subject and no bicycles will be allowed
on the place"
Being unsuccessful in getting any salts
faction from Wheelmans point of view
from the general manager regarding the
general use of the towpath, the question of
taking wheels across the canal Was brought
Up There are several places along the
waterway where wheelmen would like to
earry their wheels across one of the locks,
&c over into Virginia and ride home on
different route. This is especially true of
the trip to Dickeyis. at Great Falls; but
the lockman has Invariably refused to al
low the wheels to. be taken across Mr.
Nlcolson again took an anti-wheelman's
view of the situation and refused to issue
an order to the locktender to permit the
taking OF wheels aeross the canal. The
canal at this point, said he lis the most
dangerous for the hoatmen and mules All
along this point you will find that the sides
OF the waterway,iare not sloping. but a
sohd perpendicular Wall. If mule once
help for him and he will surely drown
There is no way of getting him out If
l permit wheels be taken across at this
point the cyclists have to walk several
hundred feet ON the ,towpath, and il the
mules take fright at the cycles and jump
oNeFboard the heatmeh will not ogly be nut
IN plight, but the canal company prin1ar-
lily Is responsible for aothe loss The
canal boats are sptr passengers Just
rne same as people are passengers an cars.
II passenger on car gets hurt through
the failure Of the corporation to take proper
precautions then the corporation Is respons-
ihle SO it is with US. We are responsible
FOR the safety of the boats, and 1t would be
lack of precaution our part if any
beat or outfit was damaged by our permit
ting cycling on the towpath. We have had
experience In the past and We must profit
by It,"
There is lamentable lack of places
where runs can be taken. To the general
observer there may be abundance of
places, to which pleasant trips may be
made, but to the ciubman, especially in the
case OF the captain. the situation is just
the reverse. This is not SO strange cor.il-
erlng me fact that the captain Of a club is
Obliged to call run once week, and
sometimes oftener. Allowing eight months
OF the year as suitable for cl1b I'll ming,
giving an average of four runs 10 the
month, 1t will be seen that there are thirty
two club runs during the course of the
year This only includes the long trips, the
snort evening trips that can be taken dur
ing the pleasant evenings of summer not
being touched upon at all. With this situa-
ton before him the club captain finds 1t al
most matter of impossibility to call thir-
ty-tWo runs to as many different places In
the course OF year. AS a result a good
many of the runs have to be duplicated.
This is not so bad for one year, but the
same places have to be visited over and
ever again, things become lnonotonous. and,
like Alexander, the wheelman signs for
new worlds to conquer. ..s,.l .-.-
An attempt is now being made to secure
new cycling resorts. 1t is reasonably sup
where from fifteen to thirty miles from
this city, which would make excellent trips.
While the sightseeing at the end Of a bi-
cycle run might prove interesting, the most
bicyclist is the dinner. The surest way to
reach the heart of the bicycle rider is
through his stomach. Many faults are
overlooked for a good meal. This has been
demonstrated over and ever again.
The pretty lithographic maps formerly
furnished freely by the geological survey
now cost cents a sheet. For the cyclists
the maps are invaluable. All of the roads
are shown. and the general topography of
the country, together with all railroads and
streams. The change was not made by the
omciais OF the geological survey. Last
tablishing the sale of the maps. The bill
passed both houses of Congress, was sign
ed by the President and became operative
this week.
The maps which have been published un-
der the supervision of the officials Of the
survey so far include only Virginia and
Maryland, with the border maps of the ad-
Joining states. Counting the border sheets
there are fifty-twd separate sheets for the
state of Virginia,d .aad twenty-three for
Maryland. These snaps cover every inch
Of territory In the tswo states, and give
every village and,hamlet. The maps are
Invaluable for touring. and those cyclists
who neglected to setia set before the new
law went into effect missed good oppor-
tunity. AsS
In regard to an, ihHniry about the first
wheel and the patsntse, the following may
be of interest. Abcutal767 what Is thought