New-York tribune., 1899-07-07
CYCLING.
EXPELLED FOR ABUSING L. A. w.
CANADIAN PRIVILEGES.

EXPELLED FOR ABUSING L. a. W.
CANADIAN PRIVILEGES.
A BOSTON MAN TOOK HIS WHEEL INTO CANADA
But FAILED TO RECLAIM HIS MEMBERSHIP
CARD-To-DAY IS THE TIME SET FOR
a DECISION IN THE BRIDGE
wHEELwAY CASE.
! Hundreds Of wheemen make use Of the League
! Of American Wheelmen privilege 20 carry their
wheels into Canada without paying the DUTY
There has been little trouble with the riders, as
| they nearly always comply with the conditions OF
| the customs authorities. The League mas never
had to take action a member for violation OF
! this privilege until last week. The National Mem
bership Committee has Just expelled from mem-
bershlp ID. A. Mcdonald. Of Boston. Mcdonald
went cycling tour into Canada In ls9s HAD
he been a League OF American Wheelmen
member he would have had to pay duty on MS
machine, would have been compelled TO deposit
about S25 a guarantee that he would take tho
wheel out OF the country within the specified time
allotted to tourists. But League member all
Mcdonald had to do to present his caro- TO
the Canadian customs officials. sign certificate
and pass without delay, expense or inconven-
fence. All he asked to do for this advantage
was to comply with the promise made when he
signed the certificate that he would take the
wheel out agreed and redeem his card as he
did Evidently Mcdonald had accomplished his
w9sp S he he go into GanSdf h Tn mis-
card and there was no evidence TO snow snow ins' me ne
thortes called on the League of American Wheel
men to pay the duty. according to the agreement
aid but the latter refused to make affidavit that
he had brought the wheel out OF Canada, because
com9ed 0ft 90 w fsn his 5q5 e a m Would
not have cost him cent But he had neglected
he had saved much trouble and expense through
his membership, and then he declined 10 set mat
ters right. In order to avoid complications cations wit66 i6
the Canadian authorities, Secretary Bassett pad
the noay fees and cleared up the caf wn f
the by rSaGgs ior owsn {Ne 4f
the National Membership Committee
G. c. Martin. the chief engineer OF the Brooklyn
Bridge, was as Sphinx-like as ever yesterday re-
garding what the nature OF his report would be
toward the proposed wheelway over that structure
1t was said that the chief engineer had finished
his report yesterday and that it would be sub
mitted to Commissioner Shea this morning The
Commissioner had promised TO make his decision
known as soon as he has had time to peruse the
report carefully. 1t is thought that the plan par
TALLY modified, already printed in these columns
is the one on which Engineer Martin has spent so
much time. 1t is estimated that the maximum
weight OF the path will be about l20 tons The
path begins on the left of the pedestrian entrance
at Sands-st and then continues between the cable
There viii be a gradual rise to the trestle work.
where the path will cut over the Bridge cars ana
trestle work top OF the cable cars on the north
side Of the Bridge. At the Manhattan terminus
the old stairway, seldom used. Organized
wheemen when seen yesterday Satd i mat tnfy s
that they would not give up the hght no matter
that the wheelmen have the same rights for safe
transit the structure as anybody else. SO the |
eyes Of the cycling world Of this district at least
are fastened upon MessTs Shea and Martin to-day.
Wheemen who are close observers Of the con-
clifton Of the roads and beginning 20 dis
cuss some for protecting asphalt at cross
ings where surface tracks exist. At many of |
these crossings uptown the asphalt at the street |
tracks Is getting to be in a dangerous condi- |
tlon and where heavy trucking is done the condl-
ton gets daily. Some OF the prominent local |
wheelmen have given the subject considerable |
thought. and one Of them in discussing the matter |
yesterday said: II not positive TO tho virtue
Of my suggestion but l would like to see it tried.
At present the asphalt IS laid flush with the street
car tracks. Heavy trucks passing the rails
soon wear away the asphalt. and gullies and dan
opinion that the asphalt can be protected at the
rails by having a strip Of Belgian blocks laid on
each side Of the rails This | believe would serve
as a sort Of bumper for the heavy trucks, and II |
would prevent in a measure at least the wearing
noticed This trouble wherever much heavy trucking
is done There are two places ~Hsae Hte
below Eastern Parkway, and another is at the Fiji
tcenth-st entrance of Prospect Park. Holes are
worn near the tracks and while repairs arc made
occasionally the holes and guies reappear III snort
order.
A race meet has been scheduled tor Berkeley oval
tomorrow at which many Of the prominent pro-
fessional and amateur riders will compete. The
meet Is announced as the Opening of the Grand
National Circuit of the National Cycling Associa-
ton" Such high-scunding words should bring
about wondrous results In point OF contests ana az
pressed az TO whether or not the fences will be
torn down by an anxious public wishing to gain ad-
l6at Bald, Iiiser. klmbe, Mcfarland, EuTman
NcwhOuse. Cooper Gardiner, Miller and Babcock |
viii be competitors in the professional contests
The TRANSPORTATION Committee Of the League Of |
American Nhcelmen Is in receipt Of scores of let /
ters from wheclmen contemplating going 10 the Ma
tionnl meet at Boston regarding railroad rates.
They do not realize that there is a fiat
fare rate for the round trip from all parts of the
intel States. and that this is of the strong
u, ucements for wheelmen TO take part in the ar
n al meeting The Entertainment Committee for
the meet Is working assiduously completing the
added water carnival to the programme. This
held on the Charles River. The all-night smoker
viii be held in Mechanics pavilion. one Of the
largest buildings in Boston, and the programme
fOr II Is now complete.
There not a great many tolhouses IN England
now. funny story Is told OF a wheelman who
reached a bridge where tolls levied on all
vehicles and pedestrians. Wishing to evade pay
ment. he dsinounted and carried his bicycle on
his back He claimed to hc a foot passenger and
rendered the halfpenny thus due. The tollkeeper
however, was equal 10 the occasion, and demanded
twopence. What for2" queried the would be art
ful whealman Am not foot passenger No"
came the answer, you're a Cartr'
Many complaints have been made recently bv
wheelmen and drivers OF light vehicles OF tho con-
jiton Of Abany-aye.. between Bergen and Dean
5ts, Brooklyn. Builders have practically taken
possession OF the thoroughfare and little room IS |
eft for wheelmen and drivers. or pedestrians
either for that matter There are plenty OF vacan,
lots in the vicinity where the building material
could be stored Blasts are set of at regular in
ervals, and II IS claimed that no warnings are !
given when these blasts 10 he made There is |
llnl IL .lrl.-ir |