The times., 1898-06-26
THE IADIAHSP0LIs MEET
Scenes Along the Famous Broad
Ripple Cycle Path.
SOME PICTURESQUE POTS
The. Path Is Perhaps the Finest in
America. and Extends for "A Dis
tnnce OF Eight MiIes-There Are
Plenty of Resting Places Along
the Koute-Other Cycle News.
fsnocial corresnondenee Of The Timcs)

Especial Correspondence of The Timcs)
Indianapolis. June 24.-The Broad Ripple
cycle path has almost a national reputa-
fion. Since its construction three years
ago by committee Of wheelmen of IN
dianapolis who took the matter into
their own hands, and, assisted somewhat
by local dealers and manufacturers, push
ed the work to completion, the path has
been ridden by hundreds Of people from
almost every State in the Union To say
that they were delighted with the Smile
run between Indianapolis and Broad Rip
pie is putting it mildly, and the verdict
has been almost unanimous that it is the
finest wheeling course in the United
States.
The path all of the way is built on the
tow path of the old Lake Erie and West
ern canal. 1t originally began at Thirtieta
Street. Since that time it has been
brought down almost into the heart of the
city. The canal has been the scene OF
some exciting incidents and is the birth
place of many bits of Indianapolis history.
Before the days of the wheel il was fav-
orite boating resort, but since the cycle
path has been built its beauties have been
studied more from the wheel than from
the skiff.
The best entrance to the path is prob
ably by way of Seventeenth Street. The
tow path at that point is high above the
lands beyond, which falls away into
wide stretch of river bottoms. The path
swings north along the banks of the
canal heavily shaded on the east by tow
ering elms and sycamores, and in the
morning the big trees on the east bank
throw their shade across the water. Al
ter riding out half mile the V-aduct Is
reached. Here the canal Is bridsed over
Fail Creek and on one side Of tins bridge
q Whealway has been constructed Be
yomd the viaduct the path continues north
for over a mile part OF the way close
TO the Big -Four Railroad tracks. but pre-
vented from entering into the unforbidden
territory by fences II swings IN ana out
among the trees close TO the canal, and at
times forces the rider 10 be bit care
ful
The water entrance is at Thirteenth
Street and here the real beauties Of the
path begins, and the path policemen have
full charge. From this point the .ath
narrows 10 about ten feet. on one side
Is the canal and on the other, forty feet
below. IS White River. The trees line
the bank 50 closely that there IS no dan
ger of falling into the river. 5ut MANY
an unfortunate wabbleT or the victim OF
a sc0rcher has been dumped into Jhe ca
nal The bank on the east side rises to
d hiIl thirty or forty feet and II Is only
a. monday OF early in the afternoon
that the path is not heavily shaded all
the way. Some distance from the city IS
Z famous spring. Here Is d delsh-ful
resting place where rustic benches and
wheel racks have been constructed.
After leaving the spring the canal
rrr-.-. d md 10 mar ID
course closely. On the east side Of the
bank the Country Club is passed. The
clubhouse, brilliantly lighted AZ night
serves as a Beacon for the wheelmen.
Just beyond the Country Club are the
Palisades and Golden Rod hills. On the
canal side all is quiet and peaceful, but
the ripple Of the river is heard through
The trees and dense foliage on the other.
-Four miles out the path crosses Aiichi-
gan road. At this point is Bellevue, one
Of the well known resorts near the city,
and which has become within the last
two years a popular resting place for
wheelmen. The clubhouse nestled in the
valley offers cool retreat Tor those who
have been unable TO resist the hard,
warm. going Of the path and have been
exceeding the regulation ten miles an
hour ordinance. Some Of the prettest
scenery along the route is about Belle
Vue- The path passes the Fresh Air Mis-
sion and Fairview Park, one Of the best
known gardens spots about the city. Be
yond FairEfew the hills on the east break
into farming lands, while on the oppO-
site the river makes a big detour and
for the first time the path branches into
sunlight II Is only a run Of q half a
mile TO Illinois Street and from there to
Broad Ripple the ride is a mile and a
quarter. For wheeling in the cool of the
evening nothing can exceed this run from
Illinois Street TO Broad Ripple, and for
scenic effect combined with the real pleas
ures Of cycling. the stretch along Belle
vue Country Club and Fairview offers
panoramas which once seen are long re-
membered by those who have Travelled
the route Half a mile east Of Broad Rip
pie is Broad Ripple Park, which IS usu-
ally the objective point of those going
over the path
The people Of Indianapolis and particu-
larry the members Of the WheeIway
League through whose energies the path
was built viii encourage every visitor to
Indianapolis next August to go over this
famous route They viii be well repaid
for the effort, even if they make the trip
in the glare Of the MONDAY sun. Should
they ride along in the dusk Of evening, it
VIII be an outing which they viii always
remember.
Executive Committee Meeting.
At the last meeting Of the executive
committee Of the IS Meet Club. it was
decided to get out novelty in the way
O. a souvenir program. The old style of
an elaborate many-paged book has been
abandoned, and in its stead viii be a small
pocket edition. handsomely Illustrated
setting forth fully the advantages of In
dianapolis. It viii be easily carried by
the visitors and probably more Of them
will reach the homes of those who attend
the meet than the more bulky affairs
which were gotten out in Louisville and
Philadelphia The meet club has charge
of the work and while thase who desire
may come into the volume, there viii
no attempt made 10 force the space on
them.
Notwithstanding the war, indications
are that the '9S meet viii be the greatest
gathering Of wheelmen that ever took
place in this country. The requests for
information and accommodations are be-