The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-25

written opinion was delivered by City At
torney Healy, Of Minneapolis and pub
lished at the time, to the effect that the
construction Of such a. path. was a VIOLA
ton; of the property rights of abutting
property owners basing his opinion upon
the idea that such cycle paths were not
contemplated when the streets and road
ways were first laid out.
The only authority the county commits
sioners, had for the construction of. the
Minnetonka path, which is raised eight
to fourteen inches above the driveway.
Is the general state law which provides
that "the commissioners have general STU
pervfsfon of county roads. and may ap-
propriates such money from the county
treasury as they think advisable for OPEN
ing, vacating, reSurveying Or otherwise
improving such roads.
Upon. the publication of Mr. Healy's
opinion threats to enjoin the building of
this path were made, but the League Of
American Wheelmen Immediately took
up the matter and appropriated $3.50 to
defend the right to build such paths; and
the result: was that no. injunction was
asked for and the path was built.
While there was a doubt as to- the right
of the county commissioners to build
the path, all appeared to agree that they
had no right to protect it from being de-
stroyed by malicious drivers, consequent
ly the last legislature was asked to and
did pass a law for the protection of paths
constructed especially for the. use4 of
bicycles.
When in the spring the driveway along
the Minnetonka boulevard became almost
impossible the drivers made practice
of using the cycle path, resulting In
greatly damaging it, and finally an arrest
was made and a report was circulated
that the farmers were combined to test
the law.
Right here the L. A W.. again showed
it's hand. Always alert when wheel
mems interests are in peril, the board
Of the Minnesota division appropriated
money and directed it's attorney, A B.
Choate; of Minneapolis, to offer his serv-
ices to assist the county attorney in
prosecuting the case, and the offer was
accepted.
The result was that the authority Of
the county. commissioners to build side
paths. was sustained by the court, and,
the case being tried on general principles.
it will probobly be considered a prece-
dent throughout the United States
ST Paul is to have a national circuit
cycle meet July %.
The executive committee includes w. H.
s. Wright, E. B. Smith, J. E. Meyers, DR..
j. G. Nelson and A. D. Smith
A checking station has been established;
at the corner of st. Peter and Seventh,
streets with George Mitseh. Century
Road club members may record their
time at his store on starting and finishing
centuries.
The, state division of the L. A. w. and
q number of local enthusiasts are plan
best amateurs to Boston to compete in
the championship races at the national
meet in that city during August The
local committee also hopes to secure. some
assistance in this from the national
meet club of Boston and from the rail-
roads. Three open amateur events would
be run, and the riders scoring the high
est number of points have their expenses
paid to Boston.
About $500 is to be hung up for the pro-
fessionals. Both pro and pure" have
started to train for the meet.
A cycle meet is to be held at Madelia
under L. A. w. sanction July 4. Six
events are on the programme, open only
to amateurs, who must come within
the L. A. w. and A A. U. definition.
A new half-mile track has Just been
completed at the state fair grounds
which promises to be even faster than
Lexington for cycle races, on account
of being two laps to mile instead of three.
The track is all perfectly banked and
lies inside the mile track, with the finish
in front of the grand stand A number Of
.wheelmen who have tried the new course
pronounce it superb. The track will
be used next fall for the cycle races at
the state fair.