The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-03
A NEW CYCLE PATH OPEN
THE BEAUTIFUL ROUTE TO MILLERs-
WILLIE READY FOR TRAVEL.
Difficulties in Obtaining Right of Way
arrival of Two Cracks
for the Meet.

The Millersville cycle path is now COM
pleted and yesterday the Wheeling League
committee announced it ready for the use
of the wheelmen of the city whenever they
felt disposed to try it. The recent heavy
rains have served to put the ground in the
right condition for rolling it smooth and
hard and Chairman Mckay offers the path
to the public with no apologies.
Little publicity has been given the Mil
lersville cycle path, which extends from this
city to one of the pleasantest little hamlets
in the State Millersville has long been a
Mecca for cyclists and it has been their
one desire that there be better road lead
ing to it, The old Millersville road was fair
at seasons, but was treacherous and de-
pendent largely upon the weather condi-
lions. For years cyclists have counted Mil
lersviiie as a, favorite terminus for either
daylight or moonlight trips. 1t is situated
about eleven miles northeast of the city on
the north bank Of Fall creek. 1t is far
from railroad station and is an ideal place
to run to for breakfast or for after din
ner trip by moonlight The hamlet consists
of no more than a dozen families and mill.
but there is a large tavern presided over
by a woman who has become famous for
the excellency Of her country" meals.
The Wheelway League, the corporation
which built the famous Broad Ripple cycle
path, took up the question of building a
path to Millersville more than two years
ago. 1t met many obstacles and two or
three times gave the matter up in disgust.
1t was necessary to secure rights of way
over a score of farms and other pieces of
property. Most of the property owners were
willing to allow the use of a strip Of land
along the bank of Fall creek and few de-
manded payment for thing which was of
no real value to them. But these few
proved a stubborn lot and it required much
diplomacy to reach a satisfactory conclu-
sion with them. The Wheelway League had
only limited source of revenue and could
not pay exorbitant prices as some asked.
But it finally, after a number of delays and
discouraging rebuffs, managed to close with
the owners of all the property through
which it was proposed to run the path, with
the exception of one. This property was
leased to tenant for period of years
While the owner of the property was per-
fectly willing to grant the use of his
ground to the Wheelway League, the tenant
thought he saw an opportunity for gain and
fixed an exorbtant price upon it. He failed
to make 1T clear to the members of the
be damaged, but fell back on the claim that
the passing bicycles would scare his cows
Members Of the league estimated that he
demanded $50 a year in satisfaction for the
damage done his cows through fright.
1t was the obstinacy of this tenant that
resulted in the construction of suspension
bridge over Fall creek, the feature of this
cycle path, and a feature that will make It
celebrated the land over. The Wheelway
League treated with this tenant until 1t
grew red in the face in a fgurative way.
The fellow seemed to believe that he had
the league. at his mercy and that it would
be compelled to come to his terms and
members of the league felt that he was
right until one member hit upon the idea of
crossing Fall creek on suspension bridge.
1t was known that satisfactory arrange
ments could be made with property owners
on the other side of the stream and it was
learned that the bridge, could be built at a
tenant for the the right 81 " way across the
ground he rented. without saying a word
secured a right of way up the creek on the
south bank. 1t ignored the obstinate farm
er and began the work on the path.
HOW THE PATH RUNS.
The path is now finished and will be
thrown open to the public to-day. 1t is
even more beautiful than the Broad Ripple
path along the banks of the canal, through
the city to Broad Ripple. The path proper
begins at Hammond's Park. beautiful nat
ural park situated just outside the city
limits on the banks of, Fall creek. The path
runs along the north bank of Fall creek,
here beginning at the west entrance to the
park and continuing the full length of tnc
park--a distance Of about mile. This part
Of the path affords delightful ride. The
park Is one of the most beautiful pieces of
natural scenery to be found in the vicinity
of Indianapolis Immense native forest
trees, chiefly sycamores and elms, abound
in thick profusion, but there is no under
brush and the ground is covered with a
hon fhrsep 1xryfh L. NIL
this point is wider and deeper than where
1t passes through the city. This is brought
about by the dam built a. half mile below
the park for the use of the old Schofield
mill. The creek at the park broadens out
and deepens until it becomes an ideal boat
iLg and fishing place.
Between the creek and the park proper
runs the new Millersville cycle path 1t is
shaded by the heavy forest trees during the
greater part of the day. After the park is
passed the path enters upon short unpro-
tected district, just enough to make the
shade the more welcome when Lovers
Lane" is reached, a half mile above the
pieces. of road that could be pictured
stretching along on either side Of the mar
row. path are rows of small trees placed
so closely together that they form a natural
arch.
Then comes the suspension bridge, the
history OF which is noted above. Placed
high above the water are two heavy cables
and suspended from these are numerous
smaller ones which support the horizontal
is laid. The bridge is eight feet wide 1t is
built strongly enough to withstand the
vibration of the wheels and of the wind
but yet light enough that these vibrations
may be distinctly felt by the wheelman
giving a sensation that is novel. The bridge
is about two hundred feet long. A short
distance above the bridge the path makes
a short turn, running along the while
through heavily timbered and We'll shaded
bottom" Here the path crosses a small
stream which flows into Fall creek, from
which a good view of the creek may be OBJ
tanned: Two other small streams are crossed
on On, bridges and then the path joins the
M1llersville pike, crossing the pike bridge
over ran creek into the village Along the
road the path is built as side path, but
1T is protected from the tresnGssing Of stock
and vehicles by a large ditch which lies be-
tween it and the roadway
The new path is great improvement over
Ehe Broad Ripple path, regardless of the
fact that the latter path is celebrated the
world over for it's beauty and for its perfec-
ton in construction. The new path is also
wider and there is less danger of accident
II is fenced its entire distance on both sides
The County Commissioners promise that
they VIII build side path along the road
connecting the path with the city streets
and when that is dons there will be no
more delightful ride in the world than that
over the Millersyille cycle path.