New-York tribune., 1899-03-26

ra,b ~ .ho recently abandoned Delaware and Hud-
son Canal will no longer be prohibited The WORD
o. invitation 10 the wheeling public has not yet been
officially spoken bat Il l. understood that the local
o,erseers and canal watchuen have been indefinite
ly relieved OF the duty OF wayaying lone wheelmen
and turning them back There are the customary
rurnors of a railroad TO take the place OF the canal
and Just how long the privilege VIII hold good IL
NOT known. During the coming summer az any
rate the canal company VIII probably maintain the
present highway. and II It does wheelmen In the
ueiehborhood OF New-York will be afforded one of
the best cycle paths through some OF the most
picturesque scenery OF Eastern America. The idea
is no new one The towpath was discovered 10y
wheemen long ago and few years ago they
avaied themselves OF g. in great numbers The
whcclmen and the native motive power never got
along well together. however and the company was
finally forced 10 "a choice between mules and b.
cycles
Starring from Rondout the eastern terminal. the
canal pursues course approximately southwest
as far az Pot Jervis. Il cats Ulster County into
TWO equal parts and crosses corner each OF Suli-
van and Orange counties. From Port Jervis It
strikes of In norjhwesterly direction, almost al
right angles 10 its previous course following the
Delaware and the LackawaXen rivers until 1t
reaches Honesdale Penn. The tOwpath traveller
from Rondout passes within few miles OF Lakes
M.nnewaska and Mohonk The same broken coun-
try that makes these places possible extends the
whoe length o. the canal. ard, though less famed
there are many other spots az beautiful Al sum
mitvllc the highest point o. the canal Is rsacheu
This marks the top OF the Shawangunk divide be
tWeen the Hudson and the Delaware. and soon ater
'eari,p St,rr1i,vilc the wheelmau finds himself
spinning down the narrow valley OF the Neversink
The anal il built into the side of the winding
mountain d hundred feet or so above is Dase ana
the valley lie the fertile. well Sroomed farms OF me
1ich river bottom Al the close OF day IN sum sum
lner with the nils alight with the sunset ana me
Intervening valley in shadow the ride from "urts-
AT Por, jeryis one has the choice OF continuing
along the canal or OF substituting Trip down INC
Delaware TO the Water Gap, run taken eaGh year
lion is unnecessary The only drawback TO The
canal route is the fact that there Is no eoou &
it's own sake the trip Is well worth making twice.
However II is as part OF the celebrated Water Gap
| ciated bv whecmen Heretofore they have had "a
patroniz- railroads in order 10 Ieach for5 JrrNiS
| with the alternative OF encOunierlng pad Ioad4
| ihusiastr whecmen Ike TO avoid. The towPath
! New York 10 the Gap The home mp can 30 De &C.
| cOmplishei by short cut through Nt"-'eITsr}}
Tn. distance j. great TO be- covered In single
day. but either end can De- cut snort b> ieSor'hs
| 10 the railroads ..,.
The igWpd'n os mas c hath IN he country
| agd II would be- no better for wheeling purposes
wheelrnan who ~ constutionally opposed 10 grades
ana this particular class numbers more than me
! tOVpath ride cannot De oNSitstIlhate % 'o''
! ROndCut 10 Ionesdaie il nearly one huhdrrd az
tca.ly grades. in other words one H.sy my, jI
! the changing views OF a hill country "lthou, ui'
| The level Of the water u maintained IN The cana
| bv "A series % locks. the approaches 10 whch raI
| r.sembl. so many Steps. each one at the end or 1
long level The canal itsef has been there lonl
enough 10 take on much OF the - arm :" o 80 bo~
! ,nonv Win lts sir,oupdings. Il Is well shnded th'
water supplied from the ny Ihe o. surronndn.
| country affords "a pleasing change OF ve"