The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-05-31
A SACRAMEHTAN ABROAD.
AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM
FRANK T. DWYER.
He Writes About Good Roads, Pa
triotic Scenes, Cycling and
Other Things.

1
writes to friends here in very enter
tanning way. Three of his letters to
wheeling and good-road friends contain
passages of interest concerning the Yo-
semitic road BILL in promotion of which
/ the Record Union" it will be recalled,
| sent UP the petition of the people of
California last fall, the idea of asking
| the Government to construct a free
model road over its national park in
Yosemite having been first suggested
| by this paper.
Mr. Dwyer is one of the pioneer good
road advocates in California, and has
taken a profound interest in all road
Improvement matters. He is likewise
a prominent worker in the League of
American Wheelmen, and went on the
| National Convention of that body re-
Gently, and is an enthusiastic cyclist
and an eX-officer of the Capital City
/ Wheelmen. On these topics and some
of the things that have impressed him
as an observer he writes with exceed
ing spirit and intelligence to friends in
this city, but with no idea of their find
| ing way into print
From Ashville, N c., under date of
| May 18th, among other things he says:
Il shall go from here to Washington. I
want to look into the situation of the
Yosemite good-roads bill introduced by
Congressman DeVries of our district,
and what its prospects are for becoming
a law. If the bill carries an appropria-
ton Congress may object ITO passing 1t
at this session, owing to the heavy eX-
penditures required for war purposes.
| Yet it would be best for California, of
| course, to have the bill become a law
as soon as is possible, even if the ap-
preparation be sacrificed temporarily. It
might be provided, perhaps, that the
sum necessary should be expended in
the judgment of the Secretary of the
| Treasury or of War, or withheld by one
or the other if the exigencies of the
| time so demand until the end of the
war. I would like to have the views
Of our people upon that idea when l.
only short time.
| 'Uncle Sam knows how to build and
maintain good roads. I have been rid
ing recently over the splendid ones
which traverse the Chickamauga Ma
tional Park. There cycling is an end
| less delight None of the grades are too
steep for average riders to make with
out ,dismounting. There are miles of
magnificent coasting that will make a
disgruntled, confirmed dyspeptic feel
that he is the happy, reckless boy Of
years ago.
These roads are crowded every day,
and on Sundays are overcrowded with
people 'goin' to see de sojers.' Most
any old thing in the vehicle line is to be
seen carrying people to the camp. Such
is the condition of the roads that many
walk the whole distance, and think
nothing Of it, though the camp is dis
tant ten miles from Chattanooga.
Nearly every girl who goes out to the
| camp gets a soldier to give her a but
ton from his uniform, and this she has
made into hatpin to remember the
donor and the occasion by.
"In the afternoon the ladies of color
| throng the camp Of the negro regi-
ments. They are there in all shades,
from coal-black to just little yellow.
When one of them has the good fortune
to be entertained by an officer (all the
commissioned officers are white) she is
intensely proud and happy, and takes
good care that everybody around knows
it. 1 was very much pleased to hear
that our club &C. c. W. won the third
and final race for the trophy cup"
Writing from Washington under date
lof May Goth he says: Have had two
Hong talks with Congressman DeVries
concerning the Yosemite road bill, in
(which we of California take such an in
terest. I ascertained that the passage
Iof the bill is dependent upon the action
of the Speaker. It will not be taken
up until he recognizes a member for
that purpose.
This evening Congressman Hilborn
LOT California introduced me to the
Speaker and the three Of us had
Ilong chat on the subject and the pur-
poses Of the bill were discussed
had been warned beforehand that the
Speaker would not commit himself If
he should decide either for or against
US, and he didn't He said that the
nation was interested in matters more
important than scenery just now; mat
tiers demanding the time of Congress,
and that it would not do to increase
the amount of national appropriations
at this time
1--WE pointed out to him that the bill
carries no appropriation for salaries
of the Commissioners, but merely a
small amount for their incidental ex-
penses in examining into the whole
matter, etc, and that their report
woud give Congress authentic informa-
ton gathered by reliable and disin-
terested men. Mr.. Hilborn also called
his attention to the fact that the Gov
eminent has established the precedent
of building roads in its national parks
and that the needs Of Yosemite should
be fairly considered as we'll as those
of Yellowstone.
Mr.. Reed said that there is a limit
to the Governments expenditures, but
fortunately he didn't say that the limit
had ever been reached. He chatted
means nothing, as he does the same
with everybody. Of course I cannot
say whether he will permit the bill to
come up or not, but Mr.. Hilborn be-
lieves it is all right now. i have sent
to Boston for a certified copy of the
resolution indorsing the bill adopted by
the National Assembly of the League
Of American Wheelmen at st. Louis.
(Mr. Dwyer was it's author.) Mr.. De-
Vries thinks it may have a good eff
! feet. I am to have final inter-
view with Mr.. DeVries on the subject
of the bill tomorrow. If the bill can
be got up there is no doubt about its
passage and its being sent to the Presi-
dent for his approval"
Under date of the Oath of May, Mr..
Dwyer writes of patriotic matters and
social impressions as e cyclist, and
u -