Evening star., 1898-03-12

up to revive interest in bicycle racing in
| the monumental city, but hitch has oc-
Cured in the original program and the
chances are about even that the race will
come to Washington. Just what the hitch
amounts to is hard to say, but it is of such
a character as to make the transfer to this
| city q strong probability. Further develop
ments in the matter are expected soon.
There will be a clash between the base
| ball and the bicycling sports this season on
| two most desirable dates. According to the
| schedule of the Washington club it will
play at home May 80 and July 4. Last year
| the local base ball team was away from
| the city on both of those dates. The race
meets at the international Athletic Park
| on those dates, being the only sporting at
traction for the days, drew quite a large
| number of spectators. With a base ball
| game in progress, double game as holi-
day attraction, good many will go to Ma
| t!onal Park who otherwise would witness
| the bicycle racing. AS rule there is a
| difference between the base ball fan and
| the bicycle fanatic, but there are some peo-
| pie who are about half and half, and who
arc apt to attend whichever sport their
| fancy dictates.
The bicycle race meet promoter takes all
| these things into consideration. The en-
tertaining of such ideas, gees long way to
the success of a meet. 1t is quite likely
| that on both of the above named holidays
strong card of racing will be presented
to act as counter attraction for the base
bull game.
Just at this time of the year the Conduit
road is receiving it's annual repairs. The
road is under the control of Capt. Gaillard
Of the engineer corps, who is detailed in
charge of the Washington aqueduct by the
chief of engineers of the War Department.
Since the beginning of this year wagons
have been at work hauling stone and de-
posting large piles of the same at points
where some attention is demanded. AS
soon as all of the stone has been hauled
the movable stone crusher is brought into
use. and the cracked stone placed on the
surface of the road Later it is rolled down
and covering of dirt placed over it. But
While these repairs are being made the
read Is left il rather bad condition for
use by the local bicycle riders. The sharp
edges of the crushed stone are responsible
for more than bad puncture to the
pneumatic tires.
The wheelmen who visited Cabin John
bridge last Sunday found the road in any
thing but a good condition. On the stretch
by the lower reservoir big patches of
crushed stone have been placed, while
again beyond Brills old place there is an
other good stretch of the stone. A num-
Der Of other places along the road have also
been covered with the stone. Inc riding to-
morrow may be all right, but at any rate
inside of a fortnight the highway will be in
splendid condition.
A cause for complaint among wheelmen
which arises every fall. and is again COM
ing to the front, is the matter of the early
Sprinklng of the streets. There is moth
ing so disagreeable for riding as a newly
sprinkled street. The street cleaning de-
partment starts in work shortly after noon,
it seems. about this season Of the year, and
continues until the work mapped out by
the contractor is finished. This is the time
when the most bicycles are ridden in the
city.
good story is told of Representative
Shafroth of Colorado. VINO is regarded as
an enthusiastic wheelman, though but re-
Gently converted He was seized with
the bicycle fever while in Chicago, and,
like all cautious and sensible men, bought
an old machine to use until he could ride
well. When he came to this city he
brought the machine with him, and en-
joyed riding around the smooth streets,
regardless Of appearances. The repre-
sentative entertained the idea that no thief
would think Of stealing such a looking
wheel, and was rather careless of Its
safety. He frequently rode it to the Cap
itol, and while attending to business on
the inside left the machine outside un-
locked The other day, after the House
had adjourned he came out to mount his
wheel and was surprised to find that some
thief had made way with it. Though he
has no mount at present the representative
thinks he knows enough about riding to
get brand-new wheel, and will take pre-
cautions regarding its safety.
The wheelmen of Maryland are making
q good fight for better roads, and bill
for good roads now before the state legis-
lature at Annapolis has the support of
many hundred farmers all over the state.
Another bill will be introduced which pro-
vides for state stone crushers, to be placed
at quarries in various parts of the state, to
furnish material for road building. Bonds
issued for the Improvement of roads are
to be exempt from county, city and state
taxation, provided that they sell for not
less than par and bear interest not less
than 3la per cent On petition of two
hundred citizens Of any county who are
each paying taxes on not less than $500
worth of property in the county the county
commissioners may submit to a vote of the
citizens of the county the matter of issuing
bonds for the construction of roads. Ap-
peals are being made to the leaders of
both political parties to use their influence
on the members to pass the bills.
THE COMIMG kfhTNu DANC