The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-12

Decision of the Supreme Court Last
Week of Great Interest to Wheel
men - Great Interest Is Being
Taken in the Como Road Race
Run to saltwater by the Capital
City Club.
Bicyclists. if they care aught about
1t, have little reason to gratefully re-
member Representative E. E. Smith, of
Minneapolis, who, it has been discov-
cred, was the father of the bill in the
last legislature which resulted in the
decision by the supreme court that a
bicycle is no longer exempt from execu-
ton in this state. The legislature of
1885 conceded to the cyclists, not the
professionals but the practical users
of bicycles, the fact that a bicycle
might be an essential to a mans every
day life. 1t was exempt by adding
ii to that section of the old law of 1868
which eXempts a sewing machine from
levy.
Smith. who is a Minneapolis attor-
ney, wanted to have one typewriting
machine. similarly exempted. so he
dragged down from the shelf of his
library, the 1894 statutes and prepared
an amendment to the law, and forgot
all about, if he had ever known of, the
amendment of 1895. The result Is that
as his amendment is worded cyclists
who are financially unfortunate have
no exemption at ALI This is an error
that the cyclists association will have
a chance to correct at the coming ses-
sion of the legislature.
The recent rains have played havoc
with the cycle path system of the Twin
Cities. The old paths have stood the
deluge fairly well, but those more re-
Gently constructed have been considera-
bly, cut up by wheels passing before
the bed had become hard again. On
Summit avenue the association has
found it necessary to relay several
strips of path because of it's impaired
condition.
Work on the Cleveland avenue path
has been practically abandoned until
the ground dries. The order promul-
gated by Mayor Doran when the sea-
son opened, instructing the police de-
partment to vigorously inforce the
ordinance which prohibits vehicles driv-
ing on or across the cycle path. has
been we'll enforced, and little damage
has been done in that way.
The Capital City club will make
run to Saltwater today, weather per-
hitting. The first section will leave
the club house at 6 a. m, and the sec
ond at s. The first will get to Still
water in time to attend services at the
prison chapel. The members are in
vited to bring their friends and other
cyclists will be welcome also.
The Laurel road race on the 18th and
the Harriet road race on the 18th and
a prospective meet of some kind for
Fourth of July, are sharing the wheel
ing interest just now.
The Commercial Cyclers are also
planning a series of club runs.
The Baltimore whee!men are making
hard fight against the proposed an
nual tax of S. on all bicycles. Chief
Council Sans, of the Maryland division
of the l.. A W., is leading the opposi-
ten. He argues that it is all wrong
TO tax bicycle worth $50 as heavily as
4 carriage worth $1,000.
The greatest bicycle meet Of the year
Is to take place at indianapolis, Aug.
10 TO Is. Efforts are, being, made by
from st. Paul to Indianapolis and re-
turn. In that event a large party of
\ local enthusiasts would go down to see
the battle between the giants of the
circuit.
A festive mule entered an emphatic
protest against the popularity of the
wheel at Chicago last week. The mule
was browsing along one of the boule
wards attending strictly TO business,
and occasionally wigwa gging a signal
of peace if let alone. A wheelman came
along pumping, in an distracted man
ner and gazing on the scenes passing
by He collided with the business end
of the mule. Instantly there was ac-
ton. The wheelman flew skyward and
rd
Three doctors were working on him at
last accounts, with small hope Of mend
ing his fractured skull
The gold medal hung up by the Cen
fury Road club in 1897 to be awarded
TO the first amateur member of the
club who succeeded in breaking the
Mortified century course record of
hours 3 minutes, still remains I'M
claimed. AS this record was made in
1894 at a time when wheels were not
up to their present state of perfec-
ton, it seems strange that the amateur
riders of the state seem to experience
so much difficulty in reducing it. Dan
Carmichael (profeSSionaD made a rec
ord of hours 10 minutes over this
course last fall-but earlier in the sea-
son, before. becoming prof, he failed
on two separate occasions to lower
those old figures of hours minutes
Tom Bird also failed to break this rec
ord while in the amateur class, al
though he should be credited with sew
eral earne st efforts to do so. Soon af
ter becoming transferred to the profess
sional class he made the trip with ap-
parent ease in 6 hours 40 minutes
There seems to be some hoodoo in
connection with all amateur attempts
to lower this record. Last season.
among the many speedy riders who
made the vain attempt were: w. L.
Price, Minneapolis; Archie Mathies,
st. Paul; William Martin, st. Paul: D.
F. Catmichael, st. Paul; Tom L. Bird
st. Paul; Charles Palm, Minneapolis.
The Mortified course record medal
(value $3.50 is beauty and well worth
striving for SO many attempts have
been made during past seasons with
out success that the first cyclist who
succeeds in cutting down the figures
of z hours minutes over this course
in accordance with the record rules
OF the c. r. c., will find himself about
as well advertised wheelnan as there
is in the state, and he will be honored
by his less fortunate brethren. Road
record rules can be procured by ad-
dressing Walter Faraday, chairman
read record committee, Z. r. c., Will
mette, Ill.
There is no tandem record for 100
miles In Minnesota. and the riders who
make century over any of the num-
erous century courses this season can
put on little speed and establish a
state record. 1t is very seldom that a