New-York tribune., 1899-06-08
CYCLING.
PROSPECTS BRIGHTER FOR A WHEEL
WAY ON TIE BRIDGE.
coMu,ssroNER SHEA INVITES wHEELMEN TO
SEND COMMITTEE TO CONFER WITH
THE CHIEF ENGINEER-NoTEs
AND COMMENTS

THE CHIEF ENGINEER-NoTEs
AND COMMENTS.
Will. reither Bridge Commissioner Shea nor c.
C. Martin chief engineer Of the Brooklyn Bridge
attended the meeting Of the organized ~heeimen
yesterday the Commissioner wrote letter winch
those present seemed to consider favorapie sign
The meeting held at the office OF the New
York Division Of the League OF American Wneel-
men. in the Vanderbilt Building. Representatives
were present from the Associated Cycling CLUBS OF
! Long Island the Good Roads Association. the New
York Consulate and the League Of American
Wheelmen VI NJ. Beldng. jr, the chief consul
OF the State was in the chair II was the OPINION
OF the delegates that II was the duty OF the Bridse
officials to suggest plans for the proposed wheei-
way and that the wheelmen themselves had notn-
ing to do with this part of the programme The
want Of some means by which wheelmen could ride
over the structure In safety was gone over In de-
tail but the delegates admitted that they were
helpless unless the Bridge officials TOOK hVeler
interest and came to their RELIEF with pahs an"
specifications. The delegates agreed that any sort
of a path that was safe would be acceptable 10
them. 1t reported after the meeting that
Assistant Engineer Mclean had drawn plan
which had been submitted to Engineer Martin ana
which had received his practical Endorsement 1T
is said that Mr. McLeans plan provides for a
wheelway on the trestle work over the cable road
on the north side OF the Bridge. Nothing, how
ever has been dvulged regarding the approaches
Chairman Bedding yesterday appointed the follow
ing committee to consult Engineer Martin: Thomas
Kindl Associated Cycling Clubs of Long Island;
F. B. House. Associated Cycling Clubs OF New
York: H. NJ Valentine. Good Roads Association.
and J. C. Howard. of the New-York Consulate.
Commissioner Shea's letter to Mr.. Beding was as
follows
beg to acknowledge receipt OF your communica-
meeting Of the New-York state Division. League
of American Wheelmen. at their headquarters NO.
1872 Nassau-st, Wednesday June I, at oclock,
at which full consideration Of the question Of
cycle path across the New-York 1 and Brooklyn
since the reception Of your letter ,b,.t have dis
and superintendent of the New-York and Brooklyn
BGss dha hat on Committee be appointed at Your
meeting confer with him. with view TO reach
ing a solution Of the problem that Is giving us so
/ have already said to your association in pre-
With With the proposition you make but as to how it
can be done is something that requires greater
trust that conference between your representa-
tives and Mr. Martin may result in securing what
you ask.
Chairman Otto Dorner Of the Highway I'm
provement Committee OF the League of American
Wheelmen makes the Following remarks on the
good roads movement
.'The country road Is the neglected stepchild OF
the Legislatures. Railroads. canals rivers and
ha rbors and steamship lines have been encouraged
and lavishly subsidized with bonuses. but prac-
tically nothing is done to help the farmer in build
ing his country roads Yet. these equally i'm
portant with railroads.
I'VE are prominently an exporting agricultural
Nation and whatever benefits the farmer benefits
the whole country. Our grain products must
pete in European markets with the crops OF Russia.
South America and India. raised on cheap lands
with cheap labor We meet this competition
only with invention and enterprise, the liberal use
of machinery and the reduction OF the Of
transportation to a minimum.
THE cost OF shipping grain from Chicago TO
New-York has dropped to one-ffth OF what it was
from here to Liverpool for 4 cents where we
formerly paid 1917 cents. But the cost in time and
effort OF man and beast In hauling wheat from
the farm the railroad still be reduced by
be done is as essential to the continued success
Of American agriculture as the reduction in rail-
road rates
Some of the older Eastern States. recognizing
the logic Of the situat tion. are encouraging country
Ioad-buildng by paying part Of the cost out OF the
State Treasury. provided the improvements are
substantial New-Jersey. Massachusetts and New
York are the leaders in this policy of State aid.
which is being actively promoted by the League
have resulted in the adoption OF constitutional
amendment in Minnesota. by vote of almost two
TO one. authorizing the Introduction Of State aid.
Wisconsin Legislature; but these are isolated In
"The great graln-growing States Of the West
pioneer stage should adopt the State-air system
az the solution OF their good roads problem 1t is
the only plan by which the great cities be
made share in the cost Of road building
According 10 the statement OF we-posted wheel
men who were seen yesterday the enactment Of
the uniform ordinance law. recently signed by
Governor Roosevelt will not cause any difference