Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-29
WHEELMEN'S LEAGUE
ANNUAL MEETING HELD IN THE
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE..
A PLEA FOR BETTER STREETS.
The League Wants fbe Council to
Give WheeImen n Track Along
secretnry-Ohicers Elected.


dressed the meeting briefly, congratu-
lating the wheelmen upon the growth
and work of the league as a permanent
guardian for the rights of the wheelmen,
and upon the work done by them la the
laying Of a substantial foundation for
the procurement of future Improvements
which will rebound TO their credit.
He then reviewed the efforts OF the
league in endeavoring to secure a smooth
surface on one of the streets, and called
upon the members to stick TO their pur-
pose In a conservative, business-like man
ner, saying that the best businessmen
OF the city, the rich and poor, male and
female, rode the wheel; that large appro-
priations were made each year for those
who used horses and those who walked,
but he could not recall where a dollar
had been spent for the several thousand
wheemen,
sECRETARY'S REPORT.
Mr. X. X. Florance, the secretary,
made his report on the work of the board,
in which he says:
The league for the past year has been
particularly alive 10 the interests of the
wheelmen. They have felt that as the
number of people increased who used the
>bicycle for business purposes. and, IN
great many instances, as their principal,
If not their only means of pleasure and
recreation, and for their health, that their
| interests should be more taken into con-
sideratiOn by those who control the public
affairs.
Recognizing that the streets of the city
| leading to the good roads beyond are
| I'm such wretched condition as to be en-
| tirely unsuitable for the use of the wheel
| and in view Of the fact that the wheel
| number
users of these streets, they have en-
| deavored to get from the city the modest
| concession of improved cutters up one
/ Of the streets, suitable for the use OF
| wheemen. Could they get this improve
ment, would make the ride through our
city pleasure, instead of being, as 1t now
/ IS, burden, and It would make the use
| of the wheel possible within a reasonable
| time after a rain, whereas now the most
| moderate rain makes the streets of the
city almost totally unfit for use by bicy-
cles.
In the spring the Board Of Governors
| directed n letter to the members Of the
! City Council and Board of Aldermen,
and the board was highly gratihed at
the great number of responses favoring
| the Improvement we ask.
We now have a petition before the
Council for these improved cutters, and
. H..
ready made, they are not able 10 grant
this request at this time, the fiscal year
begins on January LIST, and out of tile
next appropriations for street improve
ments this improvement, for the benefit
of the vehicles propelled by man, shoul,
be made.
BICYCLES OK RAILROADS.
Your secretary desires TO report thai
our league, with the cooperation OF th'
League Of American Wheelmen, and bl
the active endeayors of your president
and Board of Governors, succeeded ii
, getting passed by the last Virginia Legs
lature an act requiring the carrying o
bicvcles by the railroads as baggage
without extra charge. Particular thank
are due TO Mr.. J. l.. Anderson. the pre-i
dent of the league, and also member o
| the House Of Delegates, for introduclni
and looking after the passage OF I'M
bill Valuable assistance was also rem
! dered by Mr.. b. b. Munford, in the sen
ate.
In the spring the police Of the city te
moved the signs. etc. from The rove.
poles. and inadvertently threw the tack
i'm the cutters, causing punctures 10 nu
merous bicycles. The league called tn
attention OF the Chief of Polio % th
ordinance on this subject iofol"dH', ID
throwing of glass and tacks in the stree'
and heard no more complaints.
The question OF horse racing on IN
: Boulevard and reckless driving to IN
left both on the Boulevard and I'm th'
citv have received the attention OF lh'
league. and they have appropriated
to have signs. Keep TO the klght, pa
up on the Boulevard. This question
driving 10 the left should undoubtedly 10
ceive the attention OF the league.
| ba al "A
ton of the seal Of Virginia in dark-bIue
with the letters "R. l. W" around same
They have used their endeavors to nav,
the rocks removed from the BouleFaIu
and are glad to note an Improvement II
this respect and would state tnat I'M
wheelmen of the city are TO be conBtdtu
lated upon the fact that there VIII sooI
ne n strip of granolithic on the BouleVaiu
such as they so earnestly desire on Grace
street. and the league makes IFS ackhoWl
edgments to Colonel Cutshaw, the Cl'y
Engineer. for his efforts I'm this respect
THE MIsSING-LINK TRACK.
The Missing-Link track became in nee
Of urgent repairs. and the league appIo
priated sufficient money TO make same
and called upon the wheelmen or the CIT!
for contributions TO this track. Iher'
were some responses but they were no
what we SuOQlQ ItdSplidbiy 49,
ed and the Wheelmen are urged TO seh'
their subscriptions to the secretary OF th'
league, that he may keep this track IN II
present good condition.
The meeting heartily endorsed the 81
forts Of the board 10 obtain the improve
. ments on Grace street, and they Wer
uraed 10 use their utmost endea'ors u
see that the Council did not again over
look them i'm their appropriations 10
street improvements. The question o
raising a certain proportion or the monel
FOR this track by popular subscription
and calling upon the city for the balance
was discussed. and referred 70 the Boar'
of Governors. -.,,..-.,.,.
THE OFFICERS CHOSEN.
Mr. Anderson stated in his remark
that ne would decline reelection. IN
election of officers resulted as follows
For President. s s. =. Patteson; Flrs
Vice-President, Ed. C. Mayo; secon
vice President. DR.. Frank X. steel MI
r Florance was reelected secretar
, and treasurer. H..
The following gentlemen were chose
m serve with the above as the board
: | Governors for the ensuing year; Jackso
cuv e. T. ID. Myers, Jr.. Richmond LeWi'
Thomas Christian, Clarence 7. BoyNI
Noses Thalhimer, r. G. Hiden, q. Il. FOL
Ioclx J. L. Anderson, Hawes Coleman
y w. Cooper, j. l.. Hill, and W. = Foho
, THE PRESIDENTS REGISTRATION