New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-17

CYCLE SHELTER t1OJ
general public for time. but the majority Of
the meets must depend largely upon the sup
port Of the wneemen themselves. The intro
duction of the riders from the other side Of the
Atlantic will add zest to the sport this year.
but those who have made close study of racing
are Of the opinion that the American riders VIII
be more than able to hold their end up with the
best of the foreigners. In the middle distance
paced department Michael and Linton. ire
Welshmen. are possibly the best. but this sort
Of racing Is a new thing to the American rider.
and the chances nre that before the coming
season IL over America may develop man
who may win the championship in the end As
for the sprints. 1t looks as If Bald, kiser, Car
diner. Cooper end Butler will be able 10 give
the foreign riders all that they may want in the
regular races While good riders nave
been brought over by the different promoters
and associations the number does not INCLUDE
the best men of France and England. Vt Is
doubtful If either Platt-Betts or stocks, the
record holders Of England will be seen on this
side Of the Atlantic this year. and the same
can be said Of Bourilllon and Jacquenn, me
French stars. Stocks with McDuffee. holds the
one-mile record of 1:35 %. while Platt-Betts
has done the distance in 1:3i 20 Many or
E. c. Bald's friends would like To see the
American champion Splinter give some attention
10 the middle distance paced racing game. He
any sort Of a contest. Gardiner is expected TO
make excellent pace follower and the man
Duffee. Starbuck Johnson and scTeral lesser
lights are also looking for the scalp Of tho
midget There are some who think that Michael
may not be the undisputed cOnqueror that he
was last year. Michael will probably contest In
ten or a dozen races during the season, from
July to October. 1t is doubtful If he will do
much indoor work next winter.
Close students Of sports are beginning to dis
cuss the why and wherefore that the men Of
modest stature seem TO be the best fitted for
robust athletics. A few years ago the baseball
managers of the country looked upon giants
the only sort Of timber from which great ball
players could be made Little men were looked
upon with suspicion. and they secured a place
on a team only after they had demonstrated
their superiority their bulkier rivals. 1t
the in pugilism until Fitzsimmons
showed that he the best man at any weight
in the prize fighting world. Now the teams OF
the National Baseball League made up
largely of men Of average height and weight.
The extra heavy men seem TO have been pushed
aside by the livelier athletes Of lesser weight.
1t is the same in cycle racing. ard II is particu-
larly so in regard 10 the middledistance paced
racing. Most Of the great middle distance racing
experts men of small or of average stature.
A race between Michael and StarDuck always
looked like contest between men and a
boy. Major" Taylor. while muscular and strong
is small Of stature. and his friends expect that
racing this year. Edward Taylore the French
man. weighs less than 12J pounds and Chase.
the Engshman who came to race Michael
last winter. is even smaller. Platt-Bctts. one %
the best riders in Englan is also n small man
physically He has just returned from Aus
traa. where he astonished the racing experts
OF the Antipodes. The fact that these little fell
lows make such excellent men in paced racing
is accounted for by the experts by tire fact that
they carry no superfluOus flesh. and that. being
small. they get all of the benefit Of the multi
cycle pacing machines in front of them.
One day last week a mining engineer OF this
city. who is an enthusiastic: cyclist, made a trip
to Coney Island his wheel over the Cycle
Path Of Brooklyn He is of an inquisitive turn
Of mind. and as he leisurely propelled his wheel
along the peculiar aspect OF some Of the crushed
stone Of which the path is made attracted his
attention He dsmounted and taking some OF
the crushed stone In his hand examined It care
fully A studlous look overspread his face and
after walking along for few feet ne carefully
gathered up handful OF the crushed stone and
put 1t In his pocket. Going back q few yards
he scooped UP another handful and put that I'm
his pocket Then he remounted his wheel and
proceeded on his way to the island. When he
reached home he went to his laboratory and
taking the collection from his pocket. he as
sayed the stone He found that il contained
gold and ne found. further. that the stone was
what Is called triassic traprock This stone
can be found In quantities in only one locality
In New-York State and 1t has long been adj
mitted that 1t is the best sort Of material for
road building. There is plenty Of IL along the
Palisades This statement. however should not
cause klondke rush for the Palisades for the
gold Is not there in sufficient quantities to pay
FOR the mining. The expert estimated that the
sample he had obtained from the Cycle Path
In Brooklyn would assay about 20 cents to the
ton. When the discovery was mentioned 10 an
omcer In BROOKLYN. yesterday he scratched his
mead ana said: We'll. don't know whether It
Will be wise TO give that information IN tho
public or not. Just tell the average cyclist that
there IL gold In the crushed stone on the path
ana the hrst thing that know the path will
disappear. Everybody will be rushing down
there and carrying home pocketfuls OF the
crushed stone. and there Will be no covering
Tor the path In a short time. 1t is difficult
enough to keep the paths In order as II ia ="
This goes to prove that nothing II too good for
New-York-not even q golden cycle path All
the surface OF the path Is not Of traprock rnuch
OF II being limestone. ~
With shelter-house in Central Park. a CYCLE
path IN Battery Park and asphalt strips to the
IL 49,