New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-09
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
THE L. A. W. TO RETAIN CONTROL OF
RACING.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS SAID TO HAVE CON
WINGED THE LEADERS THAT THE oRGANI-
ZArroN MUST NOT ABANDON THE
sPoRT-A PLEASANT CITY
RIDE 49, NOTES AND

ZATIoN MUST NOT ABANDON THE
sPoRr--A PLEASANT CITY
RIDE - NOTES AND
| COMMENT
Recent Developments appear to have convinced
the leading officials Of the League of American
Wheelmen that it would not be for the best
interests Of cycling for that organization 10
give up control Of professional racing at this
time. a few weeks ago many of the prominent
leaders In the League of American Wheelmen
were outsDoken in their antagonism to Keeping
control OF the sport and several OF the Eastern
divisions formed sort of combination to vote
together VITA that object in view at the Ma
tional Assembly of the League Of American
Wheeimen, which will be held at Providence
on the second Wednesday in February. de-
cded change in sentiment has been noticeable
during the last few days. and some of the best
posted men in the League Of American Wheel
men say that there is no doubt that the
League will be supreme in both professional and
amateur racing affairs at least for another year
This information will he received with positive
regret by the professional riders who have re-
belled against the organization and who are
now riding in the West outside the sanction of
the League. Most OF the professionals were
convinced at the time Of their strike" that the
League officials had practically decided to give
Up the control OF the sport with the close of the
present outdoor season. But for this several OF
Them at least. would not have been so hasty
In giving defiance 10 Uncle Jerry OF the
Racing Board. Said a League official yester-
day: Il was heartily in favor Of having the
League give up the control of the sport, but
not into the hands stretched out for II.
The League willing and anxious TO give up
control Of professional racing, and to merely
look after the amateurs, but cannot afford
TO do II now. When it was at first considered
~ hat tiIr
spring up into whose hands the sport could he
turned over but in this have been dsap
pointed. ] trust that the riders will not go too
far in their apparent hostility TO the League of
American Whcelmcn. for they will probably
have 10 suffer for every transgressiOn. With a
good State interstate and a fine National cir
cult arranged for next season. and the clubs
promoting the meets as they did Of yOre. | can
foresee a season of rare good sport for all con-
cerned meeting OF the track-owners. pro-
motors and rides will be held at the Grand
Central Hotel in this city tomorrow Just what
position the traCk-owners will take Is a mat
ter of conjecture. Some of them favor cutting
away from the League of American Wheelmen
and OF conducting their business To suit them
selves. Others however take sensible
view Of the case. and they prefer paying up
their Indebtedness and remaining under League
of American Wheelmen coors. There are those
who maintain that as the meeting has been
arranged by those hostile to the League, the
delegates Will be Overwhelmingly in favor OF
joining in with the outlaw riders.
Il enjoyed the finest part Of Manhattan ISL
and last Sunday" said well-krowr Brooklyn
rider yesterday "You know what a delightful
day II was with a balmy atmosphere and just
the right combination Of conditions for full en-
joyment. in spite OF the fact that the sun was
a little too warm. l took the Lewis-ave. and
Leonar6-st route TO the Greenpoint ferry to
cross the East River. The asphalt strips on
East Twenty fourth-st. are in prett, bad con-
diton. but they better than the granite
blocks, and enable one to reach First-ave Then
through Twenty -sxth-st. the way TO the new
pavement Of Fifth-ave. is the most direct route
II one wishes TO go northward The finest resi-
dence region of the greatest city of the land is
(quickly passed through on the wheel. and Cen
trail Park is reached. Entering by the Scholars
Gate the rider soon has the choice of going up
the East Drive or crossing over to the West
Drive. which is perhaps the more picturesque,
with its many curves and somewhat steep grades
as you go northward. | enjoyed every inch Of
the way, although familiar with II. and found
that a large number Of riders were of the same
mind as myself in choosing the direction Of their
Sunday ride. | had made up my mind TO go TO
Grants Tomb. and had thought of going through
One hundred and -eighth-st 10 Riverside Drive
But upon leaving ;he Park by the Strangers
Gate. al EiChth-ave. and One hundred and
L.. l
my wheel up the hill Of Mornngside Heights. to
gain the superb view from the site Of the
Cathedral of St John the Divine. Then l rode
on past the Columbia University buildings and |
up the grade from the Boulevard to the vicinity
Of the noble monument of the great hero Of the !
Civil War whose fame will not be ecllpsed by |
any acquired in the late contest. The View from |
Claremont across and UP the noble Hudson |
was the sane beautiful and attractive one. |
which have carried in mind from repeated i'm |
pressions gained by previous visits including |
one on the bleak and clustering day when the |
dedcatory exercises OF Grants Tomb were held |
and Cabinet Ministers and other officials Of every
rank sought in vain to find comfortable spot |
from the inclement weather. No greater con- |
trast could be found than between last Sunday |
and that belated March day in April which was |
the anniversary Of the birth OF the hero or |
AppomattOX. The thousands of visitors on foot, |
In carriages on horseback and on wheels in the |
vicinity Of the Tomb showed the popularity OF /
the spot selected for that memorial When the |
Riverside Drive is continued by the projected !
vladuct across the depression between Clare |
mont and Washington Heishts so as to con- !
meet with the Boulevard Lafayette, a variety |
will be given to the trip 10 the Grant Monument /
which Is not now afforded and an attractive /
part Of Manhattan Island will be made /
easily accessible Al present if one goes up the !
Riverside Drive he has TO return by it or leave
the attractive river view for the monotony OF |
regularly laid out city streets. That the great
majority Of riders prefer a comparatively level |
road TO one with steep inclnes Is shown by the |
fact that they enter leave the Riverside /
Drive by One-huudred- and-eghth-st. from the /
instead II going over the drive /
along the river south Of that connecting link.
But the stcepness of the grades there need deter I
no experienced rider. and they only add To the |
beauty Of the trip by tn. waterfront Of the up
town part Of the city. Through Seventy-sec-
ond-st made my way back to Central Park,
and took another look at its beauties before
turning 10 Brooklyn. becoming tired of the
phat before reached home. and wishing that
there q beautiful boulevard from the
trance Of Central Park TO the arch of the gate
Of Prospect Park"