The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-30

with the exception of a bad strip be-
tween Fort Smelling and Bloomington.
The amendment of the Century Road
clubs constitution in admitting pro-
fessionals to membership, which was
recently adopted, will have the effect
of increasing the interest in road rae
ing. The season of '98 will undoubted-
ly witness the lowering of many existing
| national records, both for mileage and
century riding. In Minnesota, it is be-
Heved that the adoption of this amend
ment admitting professionals to mem
bership in the club will be a great adj
vantage, as it will be the means of
gathering into the ranks Of the club
some of the fastest and best road riders
in the state. The records of the two
classes, amateur and professional are
to be kept separate, and the new ar
rangement will work for the mutual
benefit of both.
In october, 1884, A. A. Hanson, of
Minneapolis, then an amateur cyclist.
and member of the Century Road club.
rode over the Mortified century course
in seven hours and three minutes from
start to finish. His record has never
been equaled by any amateur wheel
man since that date, Notwithstanding
numerous and desperate attempts have
been made by scores Of ambitious anna
ture riders. In 1896, Hanson, having
become professional, withdrew from
the club, but his Mortified course rec
ord still stands. The medal still re-
mains in the custody of the club. and
the first member breaking this record
will receive this medal. It is alto
gether probable that the medal will
leave the hands of the club before the
season is over. When it is rememberd
tnat In "a bicycles weighed anywhere
from thirty to sixty pounds, it will be
seen with model of SO the record ought
to be beaten. There are a whole LOT of
ambitious riders in the city. who are
working up their muscles with this In
view, and road racing around ST. Pau1
promises to be more popular than ever
this year.
Inc bicycle census, which the asso-
ciated Wheelmen are taking. with the
alu OF volunteers from each ward, goes
merrlly on. Three wards have heen
completed to date. The returns of tho
second, Ninth and Seventh wards are
all In 1t will take some time to audit
the reports Of the canvassers. Chair
man j. E. Meyers, under whose snna,
vision the city is being canvassed. re-
ports that there will be the largest
nu1nper OF owners of wheels enrolled
In the Seventh ward In cases u,ba,o-
there is more than one wheel j., the
iamlly, the name of the head of the ia M
ny only is taken. In that way onIv
tnose entitled to vote are enrolled tb1Is
giving correct list of the legal votars
IN the city riding wheels In some fam
mes In the Seventh ward there are as
many as six wheels. includinr tbo 80: as
dren's 'i-e GILL
The census which the wheelnen orc
taking will accomplish much good and
VII! make them new element in local
politics. About three weeks will he re-
CURED to complete the census.
Inc following extract from a letter
written to j. E. Meyers, of ST. PanI
by E. w. Pattison, a member of the
committee on good streets of st. Lonis
gives some idea of the advances made
oy 81. Paul wheelmen as compared with
opher cities. The population of St
Louis is double that of st. PAM ana
as seen by the extract below they have
only twenty miles of cycle maths
against thirty miles built in st. PAM
IN three years. The portion of the let
ter referred to reads as follows: cone
thing In your letter particularly inter-
ests me. That is the taking of the
census of wheelmen of your city. That
IS matter which 1 have urged over
ana over again upon our people. But
the task Is such a Herculean one there
mas been Discrimination to undertake
It, L should esteem it great favor if
you would inform me as to the method
you have. 1 am strongly of the opinion
that we shall never be able to accom-
plish anything, as wheelmen, In this
city, until we are able to reach person.
ally every rider. That can onlv he
done by having the name and address
of every cyclist in the city.
one other thing. You speak of thir-
ty miles of cycle path in your city. We
have something over twenty miles of
path here, but our paths are rendered
almost useless by reason of their use
by equestrians and vehicles. How do