New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-08
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
MHEELMEN AND FARMERS ARE GOOD
FRIENDS.

GETTING READY FOR THE CYCLE sHow-THE
LOGAN w'iEELMEN INTRODUCE NEW GAME
WALLACE SHERWOOD ON THE CONTROL
OF RACING-NoTEs AND COMMENTS
THE official Endorsement Of the Farmers
National Congress at Fort Worth, Tex. of the
good roads work done by the League Of Amer-
Wheelmen." said George L. Mccarthy OF
the L. A. w. yesterday. lis evidence of one Of
the greatest reconciliatons between two classes
of the age Any old time wheelman will
member that in the early days of cycling it
had no bitterer foe than the farmer. Farmers
in every section OF the country seemed to unite
in doing everything to make the way Of the
whecman as hard as possible. and often
ceeded In the beginning Of the agitation for
good roads by the wheelmen the farmers were
the first to offer opposition. and they did so with
the cry that the wheemen wanted them taxed
FOR personal ends-better bicycle riding. 1t was
difficult matter for the League officials to
make the farmers understand that good high
ways are matter of economy to the farmer
as well convenience to both classes. III
required the building Of stone roads IN severai
States before this could be thoroughly demon
strated 10 the farmers. but IL seems that they
have learned the lesson well. for in nearly
every that wheelmen are agitating FOR
highway Improvement before the Legislatures
their strongest ally now is the farmer ana ms
various organizations. In addition to the work
farmers have reaped benefit, they have spent
several hundreds Of thousands of dollars In the
cause and have just now got the movement on
a systematic basis. But the interesting part or
the question is that in the short space OF not
more than five years the two great classes
which were at war with each other are now the
strongest of allies
Justice Wright. of Oswego. n. Y. in his charge
10 the Grand Jury at the opening Of the Janu-
AIRY trial term. remarked upon the important
x,,rA ho INN a n
section of the charge followed IT was the duty
of the Grand Jury to see that all public officers
performed their duties faithfully. he said. Re-
ferring particularly to Highway Commissioners
and pathmasters. he stated the requirements
of their duties. and told that the penalty for
noncompliance with any one of the same was
$40. The Grand Jury should see that these off,
GERS doing their whole duty. Continuing. he
said that the people of Oswego County are help-
ing to pay for the building of good roads in
other counties of the State which have taken ad-
vantage OF the Higbie- Armstrong law. Fifty
per cent of the of the construction of
road is paid by State taxation. 35 per cent by
the county in which the road is located. and 10
per cent by the petitioners for the improve
ment. He then explained the Fuller law, which
provides that certain percentage Of the cost
Of highway Improvements in towns adopting the
money system is paid by the State. In that
county the residents Of the several road districts
work out their tax. Oswego County was paying
its share for the Improvements to roads in other
counties of the State that have adopted the
system named. and a careful inquiry should be
made to ascertain If the Highway Commission
and pathmasters of OswegO County were
honestly discharging their duties there.
From now on the intending exhibitors at the
National Cycle Show in Madison Square Gar
den will be busy arranging displays. Most of
the spaces Sold and the intending exhibitors
have without exception, decided TO make their
booths as elaborate and attractive at any
4 iS
give in detail the prospective lines Of exhibits,
but from the reports sent in by the different
firms to the manager, Mr.. Sanger, 1t is CLEANED
that each will present something novel and
interesting to cyclists. Many of the dealers in
New England and the Middle States have in
formed the jobbers and makers they deal with
that they will visit New York at the time of the
show. ViceConsul Fullerton, Of the New-York
Division. is enthusiastic over the idea of the
League Of American Wheelmen convention He
says the opportunity for League work is
golden one, and will, without doubt, attract the
attention of all wheelmen interested in the work
of good roads. The two days session of the
League of American Wheelmen members will
be held here January % and %. in the concert
hall annex to the Madison Square Garden Be
sides important papers on the League and the
good roads movement. which will be read by
prominent men in the fraternity. series OF
stereopticon views will be displayed
The Logan Wheelmen. OF Brooklyn. have in
PRODUCED sort Of game which promises
TO have more or less popularity in the winter.
The idea combines roller polo and basket ball
in that basketball is played roller skates.
The first game played at Schwalbachs Rink
on Thursday night. and both the players and
the onookers took the lveliest interest in the
contest. The game was between the Logan
Wheslmen team and the Bedford Heights bas
ket-ball team. The wheemen turned out to be
the better skaters. but their knowledge of bas-
ket- ball limited. and they were beaten by
the score Of II to q. The Logans had no less
than twenty-five tries for the basket. but man.
aged to land the ball therein only half a dozen
times. They expect to do better with more
practice. The next game will be played be-
tween the Logan Wheelmen and the Erasmus
Hall teams on January IL This Is the first
time. it is said. that the game was ever played
in this country.
Wallace Sherwood Chief Consul of Indiana,
is the author Of a scheme for the control Of
racing. In circular letter addressed to the
delegates of the coming assembly. he says:
THE League of American Wheelmen assumed
control Of racing OF its own volition and the
responsibility for its character has rested upon
the organization since the time such action was
taken. 1t cannot relinquish this responsibility
with honor 10 itself by simply dumping the
whole matter but must TO IT that its sue
cessor is capable of continuing the control Of the
sport along lines high in tone as at present
maintained l believe that the League Of Amer
lean Wheelmen will drop this control eventu-
ay-not this coming February, but sooner or
later. and meanwhile the question VIII be a
disturbing factor Why not take this matter
up and If cannot do something
with il? Can not secure from the member
ship Of the different divisions twenty-five hun
dred or three thousand good men in whom the
League OF American Wheelmen will have con-
fdence. who will form themselves into an inde-
pendent racing organization for the sole pur-
pose of conducting the sport in proper man.
ner?" Coming from such an authority on
League matters in general, 1t would appear that