Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-11


12500O, If not larger. At the rate of in
crease for the present year, the number
will be above that.
During the week there were three new
members admitted to the local division,
which makes the total membership now 9Il.
There were no renewals at all. 1t now
be gins to look as though the Loo mark
will not be reached this year. though there
is hardly any doubt Of this number beng
reached before next spring. The new men,
bers are fellows:
John H. Magraw, 1926 street northwest.
DIR. j. W. Shaw, 1853 Rhode Island avenue.
Clinton p. Townsend, room Isl, patent
office.
There is hardly any change in the lead
ers in the competition contest of the ma
tional organization. j. A. S. Heath of Phil
adelphia Is still in the lead, with 2,6Q2 ap-
plications to his credit. The second man is
fully 1000 behind him. He Is j. Samuel
applications to his credit. j. H. Wright of
the same place is third. with 1 ,491 applica-
lions. and Samuel l.. Tanguy of the same
city is fourth, with 1,131. The total num-
her of names received through the competi-
ton contest up to date is y, 439. The last
week, out of an increase of 800 members.
2O2 names were sent in by the competitors
in the contest.
The election of the Massachusetts, di-
vision has resulted in the choice of Sterling
Elliott chief consul. His opponent was
George w. DoIntee of Maiden, a member OF
the racing board for New England. The
contest prior to the election was hot one,
and on account of previous remarks Dorm
tee was vigorously assailed by number OF
cycle papers and ridicuied by a good many
writer's on cycling topics. Elliott received
total of 6,t2O votes, while Dorntee re-
ceived LOIS.
A danger sign has been placed on the
~lxaf I,xyf IA lnor 70 he sod hor0
the roads are in such bad condition as
to make riding dangerous. The signs are
about 10 by ~ inches in size. and have a
hand pointing in the direction of the dan
gerous riding, with the following painted
in large letters: ITO cyclists. Ride with
caution. League of American Wheelmen."
The signs are to be placed where there are
steep hills. unguarded gullies, enlbank-
n ents or other dangerous things.
The executive committee of the league
will hold meeting on Tuesday, January T.
at 277 Potter building, New York city, to
recommend the place for the next meeting
According to the official announcement,
formal invitation from the Indiana state
division and from a committee of citizens
of the city of Indianapolis has been re-
ceived, in which the members of the league
are invited to hold their annual league
meet for 1898 in Indianapolis. This invita-
ton confirms previous paper of the same
character sent to Secretary Bassett In July
last.
IN order that this invitation may be act
ed upon only after the most impartial
hearing and consideration, the executive
committee has postponed action until Tues
day, January 4. at which time meeting
of said committee will be held in the city
of New York, and positive action taken
toward the disposition Of this question
A new departure by the League of Ameri-
can Wheelmen will soon be officially made
known to the members of that organiza-
ton. The idea originated with President
Potter and it is thought that 1t will result
in securing great popularity for the L. A.
w. Maps have been obtained from the De-
partment Of the Interior of all sections OF
the country. and it has been decided to
make copies of these, with the purpose in
view of furnishing pocket maps to all
league members. showing the roads in the
section in which they live, as well as the
topography. They will be the first really
good maps that the whee1men of this coun-
try have ever had. 1t has not been decided
whether to give the maps to the members
or charge nominal sum for them. The
probabilities are that they will be given
away. 1t is anticipated that the distribu-
tion of these maps will result in nearly
doubling the l.. A. w. membership. Work
is progressing rapidly on the maps, and the
first copies will be finished within a few
days. The proofs are very satisfactory,
and those who have seen them say the
maps will compare favorably with the gov
eminent maps of France and Germany.
A New England manufacturer of bicycle
bells has arranged a bell which will con-
tain on the top surface the emblem of the
League of American Wheelnen. OF course,
only members of the L. A. w. will be al
lowed to attach this bell to their machines.
The next national assembly of the League
of American Wheelmen, which will con-
vene at ST Louis On Wednesday, February
8, 1898, will be composed of about $50 dele
gates from the various state divisions. The
opening day will be devoted to good
roads," the usual custom, with dinner to
follow, and no other business will be al
lowed to interfere. 1t will take two ad-
ditional days to complete the work of the
assembly. and some lively discussion is
looked for over questions pertaining to the
sport of cycle racing. 1t is expected that
The Pacific coast riders who followed the
California secession movement, and were
permanently suspended for competing in
unsanctioned races, will apply for rein
statement. and that their requests will be
granted, as the seceders' organization has
Practically yielded to the l.. A. W.
The question of admitting the profess
sional riders to active membership is sure
to be brought up. and, though the PROPOSE
ton was overwhelmingly defeated last year
there is a growth of sentiment in favor of
giving the professional a representation of
some nature In the league, as 1t controls
all his actions on the racing path, which
furnishes him a means of livelihood 1t is
altogether unlikely that the word lama
teur" will be stricken from the constitu-
ton, but an associate membership for pro-
fessionals might be created, which would
be satisfactory.