The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-05
NEWS OF THE WHEELMEN.
NOW RA MEETs NJ BE uADE
TO PAP BETTER.

The Prices or Aamissiou Should Ne Reduoed-
The lsntes Greater In Th,s Country Than In
Enginna-Twe New Members or the Nn-
tiopai RacisE Bsard-HnE Matches Proposed.
President Potter OF tho L. A. W. has COM
plotted the National Racing Board by appointing
Arthur w. Robinson Of Boston and J. Il. Sheri-
den OF st. Louis. Robinson will DO In charge OF
the affairs In Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont.
Massachusetts. Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Sheridens territory will include Illinois. WIS
consin, Iowa, Minnesota, Dakota, and Nebraska.
Chairman Mott is expected in this city to-day to
hold a conference with President Potter.
Local riders look forward to n big racing sea
son this year. 1t Is seldom that the racing men
advocate reforms In tho conduct of meets, but
the opinion prevails that tournaments, as con-
Quoted in this country, will stand some changes.
A well.known rider, in talking on tho subject
yesterday. said:
Everything points to n big year in racing. and
tho meet conductors should consider tho inter
ests and tastes of the public. Adviccs from Eng.
land say that crowds Of from 10000 to 10000
persons at tournaments Of ordinary character
are common In England. The popularity of rae
ing there is ascribed TO the nominal charges for
admission, which are less than in this country.
Tho average charge here ranges from 30
cents to 81 and $3.50. At special meets
hereabouts we have had successful hnan.
cial returns, but you can turn to q big
number Of tournaments held last year whore
clubs scarcely covered expenses. I think that
the admission to meets should be IS cents.
Then charge so cents and rs cents for reserved
seats, according to position, and 81 to $3.50 for
chairs in boxes. Such an innovation is sure to
bear good results. 1t stands to reason that the
bicycle public will patronize the racing fixtures
more readily at q reduced scale OF prices and
| the promoters will thrive and the pastime gain
new advocates. There is decided objection to
paying big prices for admission to races.
Another subject which demands attention Is
the arrangement Of programmes. Clubs and
promoters insist on sandwiching in seven or
eight races at every meet. or course. such a
step means Increased revenue from entrance
fees, but you can tire tho public with too much
| racing. No more than five races should be run
at any meeting, say three professional and two
amateur contests, or vice versa. The big field of
entries in five races necessitates various trial
heats. which really provides from ten to twelve
good contests. which are sufficient for an after
| moons sport. Last year the majority OF meets
were held at some distance from the city. Long
programmes featured the fixtures, with the re-
suit that it was often dusk before the final race
was run Off. This is not what the public wants.
A short programme of snappy racing Of two
hours duration will be satisfactory
IT., The new COMMITTEES Sann nnno Of the A. Ass8 SrsSisa0 Tyfsiii n.
mons. They arc as follows:
Streets and Roads-Iames o'Neil. Mecca; OF.
Doty. Morris; r. A. Myrick. Tourist.
~RacinElEdward Gebera4T, Riverside; E. s: Root.
Green; N. L" Bridgman. Metropolitan b. c.; James
Rights and LegIslation-F. +. House. Harlem; R. z.
Moran, X. A. c.; Joseph Oatman. Manhattan b. c.;
W. H. Klinker. Century; W F. Mcconnell. Royal Al.
Social Intercourse-M. B. Friedenrich. Harlem: W. |
r. Murphy. Bowling Green; W. J. Mccormack. New
York Tourist: f. s. Hart, Greenwich; d. +. Curley.
New York Firemen's C. c.
The first official declaration that the leading |
racing mon intend to resort to all sorts of
f frneln the = American Cycle Racing Associ ITtiiaG.
A statement issued yesterday by the latter con-
lit is quite true that w. A. Brady. represent
ing this association: did make a written con:
tract with Dudley Marks for the services of
this written agreement to attempt to force his
that this association may call the attention of
Chairman Mottof, the Racing Board to the con-
THE sUN some time ago called attention to |
the, fact that the Incorporating associations
Compete exclusively at their meets. FEDERATION
Of such practices by the L; A. ". means that
racing by the big men will DO confined to a few
agrees to match Major Taylor. the colored rider. |
against Tom Linton. the English crack. at any
distance from ten to thirty three miles. Each
man will be allowed an unlimited number of
June. A restriction placed on the men is that
now ne1vns and i the '"dk dale Of their i pr'f match taS' 'f In the
event Of failing to arrange a match for Taylor
for a race between Jimmy Michael and Linton
under the same conditions.
The statement of President Potter that he |
proposes to enforce strictly all rules, and show
no favor in the allotment of appointments. has
hnaU p Nnrn h u RnIny IN IN ~ M mn I.aaf n IN tho /
spcctive Of the rights and claims OF justice
GERS Of the 1. 4. w.. The best evidence Of the
urgent need of reform has been the scant inter.
tie MEMBERSHIP OF fn the e' New York Snd divisions vf $ 4. a
comparison of the enrolment of new members |
'ss. With the same months in 's7 shows a de.
cided decrease. This condition of affairs |
To nas sb S.G impsra ahe eT need of a an more Hl Seeided 9f st,n5
on racing questions. Irrespective of the fire. |
auent illusions by members of the League that
ganization. its officers confess that that depart
ment now ranks first. md accordingly must be
and support Of the public. Potter's position
having been publicly defined. members feel that
conduct Of League affairs this year will be salts
factory and worthy of merit.
Willie windle OF West Millbury. Mass. cx.
amateur champion of America. who retired
from the race track several Years ago. was in
to"h y a'NAo t"AA ~ " |
that while out of the racing game he still mani
tests a keen interest in the sport; He said that
he met Arthur Zimmerman n day or two ago,
and they compared their old racing days with
tho present. Zimmerman informed Windle
that he intended to sail for Mexico to-day. and
expects to race In the latter city on April z. 10
and IL. zimmerman also announced his inten.
ton to follow the national circuit this year. In
the last years OF the old high wheel and during
the early history OF the safety bicycle Windle |
ranked as one OF the fastest and purest amateur
riders on the track.
NOTES.
The road on1cers OF the Harlem wheelmen have de.
clded to formally open the outdoor season with a
club run to City Island TO morrow. Other runs for
the month scheduled are: ID. Williamsbridge; go.
Bergen Point; 27. Coney Island.
The division officers OF the l.. A. W have decided to
ask President Potter to divide the handicapping dis. |
trict In Illinois between two men. |
The Southern Cyclists Association. one OF the out.
law organizations on the coast, has a membership |
OF 2, 800.
II has been decided to restrict entries In the annual |
Chicago road race this year TO members OF the Associ. |
ated Cycling Clubs.
Messrs. schade. Moran, and DannemiLler are in
training to represent Georgetown University In the |
intercollegiate bicycle championships. |
4 meeting OF the Brooklyn Coed Roads Association
will he held on March :? |