The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-24
INCIDENTS OF CYCLEDOM.
POINTS ron RIDERS IN THEIR TOURS
AROUND THE COUNTRY.

Representative Armstrong Explains the
Good Roads Bill just Passed by the
LeEis1aturs-soms of the Poor Riding
ThorouEhfRres In Greater Now York.
A vacation spent on a bicycle can be made
one OF the pleasantest episodes OF a mans ex-
p%erlonce. To an individual who loves pastoral
beauties and human nature. and who Is capa-
bic Of cleaning material for reflection from
what no sees about him.. there Is no more ideal
way to pass a week or a fortnight. The steed
that carries the tourist does not tire until he
does. II does not have to be fed. and can be
put up for the night In almost any place. The
bicycle does not balk. 1t travels as fast or as
slow rs its passenger chooses. 1t lie true
that It does need to be cleaned and that
1t may break down. but the chances
Of It's oollRpsing while on a tour are
fewer than In the case OF q horse that
IL driven half so far and as fast. These arc
some Of tho reasons why a trip OF several days
on q wheel is something no rider who can gain
the time should forego. The stronger reasons
are that from the saddle Of a wheel n man does
more observing than from a seat astride o
horse, In q buggy or a parlor ear. The swift
rush through the air Is felt differently from
what It Is in tho other modes Of travel
mentioned and tho effect is different. On
a wheel, because OF the smoothness
and straightforwardness Of tho motion. the
rider feels himself TO be cutting the air
more than when bouncing on q horse. Then
there is something in the swaying gliding mo-
ton OF an easy gait on a country road that
soothes and brings one into thoughtful harmo-
ny with the rustling leaves OF tho trees. There
is nothing too eXtravagant to say about the Sc
ductiveness Of the bicycle when it is employed
for a country tour. Only the most stupid Of
men could make q rural cycling trip at leisure
and fail to return with information regarding
many things Of which he before was ignorant.
There are many different kinds OF bicycle
tours. Most of them are too formal with too
much preparation involved. The cycling tour
abroad in company with several others is all
right, and so It is at home. but there is another
kind which is best of all for the vacation Of the
hard-worked man. This is the lonesome
"knockabout tour" There are some. Of
course. so constituted that they could not 60
anywhere alone. They can find no compan-
ionship in nature or in their thoughts. but
for those who are not OF this temperament
and have never tried the "knockabout tour"
there is a revelation of delight reserved. The
idea in a trip Of the kind is to start without oh:
jectiye point and without maps or guides Of
any kind. taking a direction toward some por-
route is determined by the Condition Of the
the tRHeu ss raa bier sss' Of the PLACES Sas and and the ReG COM
pany found. Riding easily, there is no danger
two but what a train will land him home
in a day ana a night. Knocking about OF q
to as being one Of the happiest Of all ways to
spend O vacation. The absence of inmates
TestfS are a a G6at The OF sense sae ec oi }Tresp Ssssf5fitSns and d
boundless freedom that is. temporarily gained
linn more ers,i SO; hi l. Is : n6 familiar snsa m ssyip with With t 2id3
he does either afoot or horseback. and this is
e9rroborated by those who have tried the
week from ten days Of it in New Jersey says:
Il saw more and learned more about the coun;
c cr1 a0p anu and m rest than tnanA / sah eGS Eo xa @0 possible sH5ie
IN SO short q time" In startling on such a trip
Light liz TIM marching afdnt order %def is the thing hi Thin nanneis
that will stand wear and an amount OF linen
thing. 4 few extra articles for, wheel repair
are apt to prove more seryiceabls than extra
and tire.mending materials are. all, important
IN the KIT: One man who has tried lonely trips
fbS Srs f that ed IN q h eaTfS an sle eRts0 1sh the oa hand1 By
s and d. 4 4 ] his soS SSSfs 3, S SaSash H 70 c5 r:
ried only a single change Of clothing. a large
assortment OF repair material and even one
countrytownsa at night, he managed the dress
his clean shirt and white collar and long trou-
he saved his down Street" shirt and clung to
his serviceable tannels. An excellent point in
that one OF the most convenient articles In
his kit was a collapsible drinking cup for use
at the country wells and springs.
SO few Of those who are working in behalf of
road improvement realize the opportunities
which they receive under the provisions Of the
HiRbie-Armstrong Good Roads bill. passed by
the State Legislature last spring. that the New
ing an explanation Of the new law and what Is
possible UNDER il. The elucidation OF the bill.
creators. is excellent. and il cyclists, especially
those in suburban districts. were thorough
be the means Of some worry material Improve
ments in their local highways. Regarding the
THE act provides that any Board of Super
visors may adopt a resolution declaring that
public public interest nfeGe st, d hiGS a h 6ae l improSyf n e cft OF "a q
a majority Of the Iiineai feet, fronting upon such
Geopy Of this resolution, is then to be trans;
/. mitted to the State Engineer. who shall
It'll sfhwa Se'f indieased wiR e ! Of s shS piece pub 8.
lie importance to, receive state aid: II so, he
fcations for its Improvement and an estimate
l Of the cost to be made. and transmit copies
Board Of Supervisors. with these facts and fig;
ures before them. may then adopt a SECOND
. be improved. crit may refuse to 60 any further
I with the matter II it so chooses.
know now how a Sq @ReE' Il fh SifI COST to asf imprd merely q ee e
I tain piece Of highway; It IN need edo only adopt th(
. m first T Of thu eost 1 trde E e ch bne Pia and p rsfd iss t eS 81
any further. II it chooses. after ascertaininG
i ii may, but cannot be compelled to do so
II. however. the Board OF Supervisors adopts the
I second resolution. it must transmit a copy o.
It TO the State Engineer, who then adyertisel
n for bids for the work. II no responsible bid II
made within his estimate. he must make a new
estimate and transmit it to tho Board Of Super
y visors, and II the Board OF Supervisors ther
a adopts a new resolution. based upon the new
7 estimate. DECLARING that, nevertheless sucl
Z highway shall be improved, the state Engines
. Each Board Of Supervisors has. under tn,
Z general highway lazy. the power 70 elect
. oficer, the State Engineer must act through
q him. II 1t has not. he must supervise the per
= formanoe OF the contract himself.
y ment OF highways shall be taken up In the orde
. IN which the final resolutions are received b.
o the State Engineer. but he shall not undertake
I. any work in excess OF the appropriation mad
= by the Legislature for the purpose from year t
a year. The appropriation made this yearto star