The times., 1898-07-03

Indianapolis, Ind, June 30.-There IS no
question Of the success Of the New5y
Oval. and indianapolis has now one Of
the most unique as well as one Of the
fastest bicycle tracks in the country.
Every day the local amateurs and pro-
fessignal riders are speeding on the oval.
knocking chunks, SO they say, of of all
The Indiana records. OF course. none Of
these trials are authentic, but some Of
the boys have been riding the track un-
der 2.l0. Considering the fact that the
Nha3eback is new TO them and the wheel
way has been open only three days their
work is exceptionally good. and Supt
Ashinser divides his time between look
ing after the large force OF men who are
sun working on the stands and bleach
ers and keeping his eye on the riders as
they speed over the four-lap inclosure.
lie thinks that he has added another
Laurel to his wreath as a track builder,
and that he has succeeded in the Newby
oval in striking out Whatever criticism
thar may be attached 10 his name in the
event Of the Madison Square affeir OF last
Fan
The track IS all that it was promised
10 be, and TO those who look at its sloping
surface for the first time il appears very
like q freak in cycle track construction,
but IL is not. Before the ground was
broken every angle, every slope, every
turn. had been figured out mathematical
~. and the assistance Of some of the best
known builders OF the country has been
sought and their opinion received. Her
bert FolIz. architect OF the oval is also a
member Of Chairman Motifs racing board,
has made cycle racing study, and has
brought forth many new and original
ideas IN building the indianapolis track
Not only has he furnished a surface for
the riders which they Will thoroughly ap-
precia1e. but he has looked after their
comfort in the way Of training quarters
more carefully than has been done at any
other track in the country.
The facilities for handling big crowds
and for the accommodation of thousands
OF people during the week Of the meet
have been provided for with great care.
The seating arrangement is all that could
be asked and the entrances and exits
plentiful and commodiOus- The track is
four laps 10 the mile, made 50 in defer
ence to the wishes OF racing men The
home stretch is 80 feet wide, while the
width Of The turns in the back stretch
are > feet The turns are banked 10 feet
and built along the most novel OF cycle
track construction, the whale-back plan
Features Of the Track.
This means" says Mr.. Foltz, "that
section through the turns shows a curved
line at the surface. the banking starting
from the curves at the ratio Of four
feet in height for ten feet at the base and
gradually curylng outward until II reach
es a plane almost horizontal at the eX-
treme outside This is done primarily to
form q starting and stopping place for
the multipiz-pacing machines in paced
races. In addition, this makes the track
much safer on the turns, preventing
chose riders who swing wide from strik-
ing their right pedals against the track.
and permitting those who desire 10 drop
ont Of the race to do 50 without chances
Of injury to themselves or other con-
testants.
The surface of the track is matched
and dressed with white pine, laid with
the rough side up. the splinters having
been carefully removed by going over
the surface with wire brushes. leaving il
rough enough so that wheels canno;
slip. Before the planks were nailed on
the surface they were dipped in a wood
preservative. which not only adds to the
longevity Of the track but removes the
glare OF the-sun on a light surface. One
OF the hardest problems 70 work out was
that Of connecting the turns with the
stretchers, and the riders can go off and
on the turns without having 10 hold their
wheels under them. The stretches are
laid east and west with the stand and
ampitheaters on the south side facing
north. This was done 10 avoid as much
as possible the afternoon SUM-
DR. H W. Bates, in his work entitled
"A Naturalist on the River Amazon" de-
scribes an attack by a column of Ecit0ns
upon a fortress. e.. a great mound
shaped communal dwelling of another
species OF ants. The army began its as
sauits upon the works in a most syste-
matte manner. vating a series Of
mines. Operations were so thoroughly
organized that some OF the assailants