The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-26
NEWS OF THE WHEELMEN.
RIDERS COMPLAIN or THE CONDITION
or A~aPHlLTED sTRgETG

The number Of riders out on week days il
surprisingly large at present, and even with
the hne weather taken into account as an In
ducement, the procession Is large enough TO
plainly show q marked increase over last
year In the total amount Of riding. While
the country roads are now at their best. there
Is loud complaint over the condition Of many
OF the asphalted streets OF the city. in spite Of
the activity /of tho new organization that
styles Itself the Van wyck New York State
Good Roads League of Whoelmen." The
watering carts. or "slop buckets" as the
riders have learned TO call them. make no pre-
tenco OF living up TO the agreement made by
the street sprlnklinG association to the effect
that a dry strip is to be left in the centre Of
the avenues. The drivers OF the carts are so
lavish in their uso Of water that the sprink-
lers seem like q nuisance. Mos. OF the as
phalt routes are flooded. and those where
there is tho most travel are kept In terrible
condition because Of the dirt and refuse on
them. that become a slippery slime when
wetted. Eighth avenue suffers particularly
In this respect, and riders who happen to move
along soon after one OF the sprinklers has
freshly flooded the surface have to proceed
with extreme care to avoid a fall. On Hudson
street the asphalt strips Of both sides are full
OF ruts and holes and many Of the latter are
filled with dirty water that gives any rider
happening TO strike It q shower bath. These
strips are not ft to be ridden on at night.
When the strips are dry they are usually Gov
ared with the sweeplngs from the street. Ex-
Commissioner Warning ordered that the street
cleaners should not sweep any dirt on the
side strips, but this order seems now to be for
gotten. One place that IL especially danger
Gus at night is near Reade street, where q
block paving stone lies in the gutter. to be
used as q chock under the wheels OF trucks.
This stone has caused many an upset. and Is
still doing business at the old stand. because
the truckmen keep it there.
Manager Frank Sanger has cent out the
prospectus OF his cycle exhibition to the trade.
It states that the show has been arranged in
response to q pressing demand from promi-
nent manufacturers and a general call on the
part OF the cycle trade press. The spaces will
be the same size as in other years, but will
rent for half the price. No exhibits will be al
lowed exceptingicycles and motor vehicles and
accessories. Sanger says that nearly half the
spaces have been engaged. The show will
run from Jan. 81 to % inclusive. excepting
Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. McIlrath. the globe circling
riders. did not arrive yesterday as expected.
They are looked for to-day. They are on the
Pennland and checkers and escorting parties
have RECEIVED their notification to be on hand
couple have been away more than three years.
their start being made at Chicago on April 10.
and after travelling through that country went
to China, Burmah, India. Persia, Russia.
P Pr .Sdn, Germany, France and Esn ngdlaann In
and have met with many adventures. According
t9 their letters home the trip has cost them
yolvers and while travelling in Asia found use
for them because OF the attacks Of road rob-
bers.
A resolution condemning and prohibiting
six-day races has been framed by the commit;
it viii be handed to the Board Of Aldermen
with the expectation that 1t will be introduced
as an ordinance at the next meeting.
This weeks official report from Secretary
Abbott Bassett on the L. A. W. membership
The total membership. il, 1881. adrop Of 1854
week 90 new applications were received. as
year ago. The New YORK state menbership
Is 1875; Pennsylvania. 1885. and Massa-
The announcement is made that c. Frank
Years been prominenit In the afiairs Of the New
jersey division Of the 1. A. W., has consented
Dc Sen Dse0% fh 3 f iaisnds Of ff Rir eae Pa aSo ind f1ssii
him to make the stand are entering upon the
prosecution OF a vigorous campaign in his be-
at a nesting Of leaders Of the New jersey di9fie
sion in. Newark. when they received Kireker's
consent to go ahead.
ATLANTA. Oct, 25.-Frank Starbuck. the crack
bicycle rider Of Philadelphia. met q crushing
pSoed raee h for 81 !S5t n HE mem IN q se e%Snfy to lie
equally RMSt . : SO ia far as iR Id merit
makers. Those allotted to StarbUck could
not do him Justice with regard to speed.
Dufree''s PAGERS In making effective pick-ups.
the trst mile enabled the Boston racer to score
other lap was scored on him ,bX the
and his teams. Starbuck made a bold at
tempt to repair his fortunes by sticking
to the rear wheel OF MeDufEee's machine and
get an inch in front Of the Bostonian. The frstt
mile had been reeled on in two minutes and
was. kept up, for the greater part Of the evening.
In the eighth mile McDufee placed another lap
SnotRer lap TO the good for McDnffee. In The
second lap Of the twelfth mile Stnrbuck ped;
allied to the RACERS entrance and left the Held
80 minutes and 20 seconds. BY the time the
twentieth mile had been rolled of the watches
McDuffee quit the track. having won 500.
Thirty per cent. Of the prize money went to
A rider who. was met on the road yesterday,
sermon to deliver to his friends on the folly OF
q bicycle. He said:
Hereafter any one who borrows my wheel
will have to do it when am, not looking. No
one SHOULD ask another 70 lend a. bicycle any
more than to lend a tooth brush. A wheel will
not travel right II II ls being managed by or
three persons any more than a horse will, have
always believed this. but l have been lax and
have let my cousin. a boy. use my wheel asmurh
as he choseidurinR the week on the condition
that he would keep it clean and in order. |
went to take It out on last Sunday and It was
with mud and rust, As had an APP
l could not stop. but simply swore
and started on: Then found that both toe;
along. but the wheel seemed to run unusually
hard. Thought 1t was due partly TO the wind
ipgs. After a couple OF, miles / began TO feel
the work, In my knees. which was not regular.
Then / looked and saw that / was. sitting
lower than usual. Tho boy had lowered
the saddle. l Stopped and dove in my tool
bag for a wrench with which to raise the
saddle. The. wrench was not there. You can