New-York tribune., 1899-07-20
CYCLING.
DoRNER ON THE GOOD ROADS SITUATION
TOURING AT THE NATIONAL MEET
-NOTES AND COMMENTS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.
"rha er.o, reason why we have so few good
roads in the United States is that we have LETT II
10 the farmers alone TO build them This is wrong
II is absolutely impossible for the farmers aiohe
to provide system of good roads. The COST Is al
together too great. and unless substantial heip Is
furnished them upon some reasonable aasis prog
ress I'm road building will continue to be slow ana
unsatisfactory" says Otto Dorner. chairman OF the
League of American Wheelmen Highway improve
ment Committee. THE help WHICH the farmers re-
ouire I'm building roads should come from the cies'
The cities are the great centres or wealth. they are
tho great markets in which business is done-the
great distributing points for manufactures ana lot
agricultural products Agricultural America mas
hunt them m and maintains them. The union be-
tween the cities and farming districts Is close upon
a hundred different channels OF trade hach uc-
pends upon the other. What is more proper 'here
fore than that the city should unite win 'he cou"
try in constructing and maintaining suitaoie anu
efficient means of communication and transpor'a-
tlon
There need be no doubt that the taxpayers OF
most American cities willing and ready 10 con-
tribute to the cost of building country roads lher
necessity Is as thoroughly realized In the cueS a'
It is by the farmers who become stalled on d nuu''
road with load OF grain hauled half way to mar
ket CITY people know the country better than
they have ever known It before. and their business
relations with country people are growing more
and more intimate They arc quick 10 see tne con-
venience and saving which wouiu le Iee that thew
themselves would be, In large measure the sane''
In pursuance of It's policy OF making the touring
department one of the most prominent ana oene-
fetal features OF League work. the Natlona! Iour-
ing Committee of the League OF American Wheel-
men has arranged a series OF personally cohuucteu
tours 10 take place the week following the Ne-
tional meet at Boston, which VIII take pace hH-
gust 1919. These tours will INCLUDE the WINE
Mountains of New-Hampshire the Berkshire HIS
Of Massachusetts, and the North Shore" the lat
ter n stretch of .acoast between Boston and
Portsmouth, " H., along which are some OF the
most noted beach resorts and historic spots or East
ern America. The regions they will traverse are so
we'll known that mere mention OF 'he points u oe
visited should be sufficient.
under the direction OF A. D. Peck the veteran tour
ist will enable the meet visitor TO see all the MS
toric and natural attractions about bos,pn ,ro IN ro
special tours OF the following week when, no one
Will be hurried: time will be given TO see al that Is
TO be seen and ease and enjoyment" will be the
watchword. Each tour will be under the direction
oughly and can get for the party he leads the most
satisfaction for the least exertion.
An English critic has this to say regarding the
racing situation the other side of the Atlantic
public interest in cycle racing is to-day almost
dead This is not because people don't like a good
cycle race but because the tactics pursued on the
track are not always above suspicion and also be-
cause pacemaking is killing honest sport The true
test of mans capabilities rider Is wnen ne is
unpaced and not dragged at the tan OF tripets or
abominabe motors or express trans rams M Ihg N
The National Cyclists Union has, OF course consid-
cradle Influence but II IS enlrGg OF Tbi % e roSS
destroying honest sport instead or fostering II.
The public will only renew its enjoyment IN rae
ing when all artificial aids to speed are abolished
Connecticut is working a plan which provides
for a magnificent highway which will run the en-
tire length OF the State from east to west The cost
will be several millions but the farmers and wheel
men of the State feel certain that they can con-
vince the coming Legislature that this will be an
economical expenditure. The principle that good
nd bay the property values in their Vicinity
being strongly urged and while the % underiakng lax
will be almost entirely successful II the wheelmen
of Connecticut rally to the support OF the scheme.
As the sldepath bicycle tags required by the Els
worth Sidepath law are an almost indispensable
adjunct of the wheeman who goes out OF town In
New-York State, the tags for SUFFOLK county
which, by the way. are good In every county IN inc
State have bee. placed for sale at No Il warren,
American Wheelmen. at the vanderbilt Buiidng.
The tags cost 80 cents and an inc revenue I iso @
their sale IS required by law to be USED IN con-
structing and maintaining cycle pains
Owing to the strike the bicycle policemen who
usualIv patrol Riverside Drive, the Boulevard and
Flfth-ave In this borough. and the cycle path, In
Brooklyn have been called off for special duty, and
the scorchers had everything their own way yes
terday and last night.
The strike OF the trolley mon in Brooklyn has
had n marked effect upon cycling across the river
No difference in road riding can be seen In this
borough but on Long Island It is different vet
eran wheeman who makes the trip over the Coney
Island cycle path nearly every day was seen on
the shore at the island yesterday. rs II not SIN
eular that so few people are down mere on thelr
wheels today" he said Here the weather is per-
this point at this time OF the day. IL was the
same Yesterday. | can explain II in only one way
the strike Possibly t.mid women and children
are afraid TO go out on their wheels
The New-York Firemen's Cycle Club is about TO
run another century. and hopes to eclipse It's run
in October 1897 when It handled successfully the
largest century ever held By any club the
route will be the finest roads, and with rev
turns.
On Sunday the Vigilant Cycle Club will hold
rim to Long Branch leaving West Thirteenth-st
at $40 n m II Is expected that this will be one
of the largest runs the club has had this year
TENNIS.
YOUNG WYLIE GRANT sUCCUMBs TO LIT
TIES STEADY PLAYING.
Syracuse July 10 (SpeciaD.-Another bright day
favored the lawn tennis players but a bothersome
wind blew down the courts OF the Sedgwck Farm
Tennis Club. and made It difficult to lob or smash
occura,elv The NeW-York State championship SIN