New-York tribune., 1899-06-21

JOHN l.. SHEA,
Commissioner OF Bridges.
Scores OF prominent people In Washington have
taken to cycling this season. Recent converts in
cude Senator's Wolcott and Chandler. Captain
Assistsnt secretarv Of the Navy Allen. and the
Rev. Drs. Hamlin and Mackaysmith.
At the recent international Touring Congress
held in London the following resolution was passed:
That this congress approve the proposal OF the
Union Veoclpedque de France and that all asso-
Citations belonging to the League I'm countries wheIe
customs difficulties exist make constant enorts 10
obtain from their respective Governments tne i re-
moval OF all obstacles. or at least secure the main
tenance Of the existing regime. and that the e. asso
suit Of their endeavOrs
petition from the Austrian Touring Club
asked the Austrian and italian governments to
adopt the arrangement made by the Belgian Gus
toms, whereby in case of machines re-exported by
rail the cycle permit might be discharged by
foreign customs official at the first station on for
egn territory. This unanimously adopted
There is emphatic tendency among riders 10
decrease the size OF their pneumatic tires A vet
rider and tourist said: THE tendency Of late
years has been 10 decrease the size OF pneumatic
tires, ard am not at all that the saving in
weight and cost has been unmxed blessing
still have lively recollection of the smoothness
of running and the almost total absence of vi
bratory bumps my old wheel OF SO. which
fitted with 3O-inch front wheel 2S-lnch driver and
slngle-tube tires Ia. inches In diameter The ma
fitted with gear case, break, etc, but have never
before or since ridden a more luxurious machine
and on bad bumpy road II really fast
Nowadays the size OF tires has considerably de-
riding Ia Inch tires on fi the road i pumped dead
hard This may be all right for speed, though
one who has any respect for his joints / firmly
believe that from speed point Of view bicycle
with la-inch tires would be faster. because the
largely absorbed
increased size OF the air cushion. For the future
Many riders in this country. as we'll as in the
Old World. are discussing the ong-crank idea with
considerable interest. Some are using seyen-inch
cranks to-day who two years ago expected
to any crank 6t2 Inches in length The
long-crank theory Is to be put to a hi-climbing
test at the hi-climbng competition in England on
July /. This contest has hitherto been confined to
bicycles with a maximum M crank Of 6a. inches and
open to bicycles with any length OF crank so long
as the gear is in IN the ratio OF TO 10. Thus the
ss 7nch crank % gear H snch f'V crank 5faa 3
gear S-inch crank an 50 gear. and on. Now, 1t
also the fastest uphill; therefore, the long-crank
theorists will have an opportunity OF proving their
theories.
Since Fourteenth-st. South Brooklyn. has been
asphalted all the way from Fourth to Ninth ave.
this street has become a popular wheelway by
There several nasty places near the Park which
require the attention OF the repair man. One is at
the sewer at Ninth-ave. and Fourteenth-st and
the tracks. There is big hole the latter
point, where it is dangerous for wheelmen to ride
at night Heavy trucks passing over It make It
worse each day.
S. C. Everett a coored rider who has made some
thing of a record by riding a wheel backward, will
attempt on Saturday to ride bicycle backward
from Coney Island TO this city
AT a meeting of the National Transportation
Committee OF the League of American Wheelmen,
held in Philadelphia Chairman Henry c. Nicker-
son announced that, contrary to all adverse
mors. the 80 League OF American Wheelmen meet
In Boston next August is to be big success This
he gave out the result OF the ,ting Of all the
cycling officials Of Boston at which the affair
was placed in the hands Of the Massachusetts
Division. Sterling Elliott, Abbot Bessett H. c.
mttoe In charge. Before the meeting adjourned
Mr.. Nickerson said that more than 500 had been
the success Of the meet.
The list OF contests and prizes for the League OF
American Wheelmen National Circuit. which will
open at Indianapolis this week. shows the usual
amount OF prizes. both amateur and professional
In each of the cities having sanctions. With sew
eral thousands Of dollars In sight prizes In the
next sixty days the professional riders who have
have regrets. There will be a difference be-
tween these riders and nearly all Of the OUTLAW
professionals who have not seen the first glimpse
of prize since the season opened.
Arrangements have been made to have Charles
Murphy. the veteran professional racing man. make
an attempt this afternoon to ride mile a minute
behind a locomotive. The trial will take place at
haywood Long Island. between Farmingdale and
Babylon about 4:So p. m A special train with the
invited guests on board will leave Long Island
City at p. m. for the scene OF the trial Murphy
fAs been training diligently and he Is convinced
that he will come pretty close 20 the mile In min
ute.
The promise made that the approaches to
the Harway-ave. bridge would be finished by June
l. but the work has not been finished yet by any
means The Coney Island approach Is still in bad
the trip without disnounting several times between
the bridge and Surf-ave.. Coney Island.
Complaints made regarding the condition OF
Slxtieth-st. between Fort Hamton-ave and
Fourth-ave., Brooklyn The macadam IL full of
ruts and holes. and the surface is particularly bad
tion, but II is hard place TO ride when a stiff !
breeze is blowing.
Massachusetts, had tine lead last week with 81
new members Joining the League OF American |!
Wheemen Ohio had 80; Pennsylvania 80: New !
York. 81 Michigan, p and New-Jersey G.
The ferry for wheelmen. which from Fort
Hamilton TO Rosebank. Staten Island, will begin
TO make regular trips next Saturday The boat
VIII start at a. m. and II will make the trip
every forty minutes.
Alderman Oatman at the request OF a committee
OF the League OF American Wheelman, offered a /
resolution at the meeting OF the Board yesterday /
amending the city ordinances 80 as TO prohibit the !
encroachment by carriages. trucks and other
vehicles on the narrow strips OF asphalt In the b
cutters OF streets which are used by blcycllsts as
paths. The proposed amendment would permit
vehicles to stop at curbs to discharge goods or
passengers. but not otherwise Aldermen Waters.
Stewart and Ackerman. OF Brooklyn, spoke against /
the measure. II was referred TO the Committee
Sewers.
CLUBS CERTIFICATE REVOKED