The evening times., 1899-05-05
THE CYCLE Fever
AGAIN EPIDEMIC
Renewed Activity Among the
Capitals Wheelmen.
Project for Cinder Path to the
Great Falls.
Interest Taken i'm the Coming Rae
ing Events-t;cOrEctOwn College
Talent Showing Up Well.

The bicycle fever seems to have taken
a renewed hold in Washington this year.
Although the cycling season is not yet very
advanced the interest in the sport has
taken firmer hold here this year than at
the beginning of any previous season.
The bicycle dealers report a large in
crease in business over previous years. and
many Of them predict that the year 1899
will consummate the largest number Of
sales known in the history Of the trade.
The increased devotion to the. xheel is
manifesting itself in many ways. hdivid-
ual riders are more numerous In the
streets. The various cycling Organizations
Of the District have received many addi-
tions in membership without the usual
number Of designations. The club members
are displaying great activity in ofganiza-
tion affairs, and, as nearly az. can be as
certained from the officials of the several
bicycle associations. no trouble is expert
enced in getting the members out on the
customary runs.
The interest being displayed in the cycle
path projects now in the course of agita-
tion is regarded by all knowing ones in
cycle matters as indicative of a spirit Of
progress, which has heretofore been lack
ing in local bicycle circles. The Washing
ton Baltimore cycle path project, which
was launched more than a month ago and
which is now well on the way toward being
an established thoroughfare, is receiving
the material support OF thousands Of
Washington riders. -...
new bicycle path scheme is about to
be put in motion. 1t is now proposed TO
construct a path from the end Of the
Conduit Road at the Anglers Club house
to Great Falls, a distance Of about three
miles. The local branch of the L. A. W.
is fathering the movement, which, for a
number OF years, has been a plain neces-
slty. The dirt road leading from the club
house to Great Falls is often in such bad
| condition as to make wheeling laborious
| instead Of a pleasure. II is now proposed
| to construct a gravel or cinder path at
the side OF the road between the points
| named
number of the officers of the Wash
ington l.. A. W. have had the matter un-
der consideration for some time past. and
have paid careful attention to the proba-
BILE cost. II is estimated that 5000 or 5000
will cover the expense Of construction.
After the path is finished. the Government
will maintain the thoroughfare, making all
necessary repairs. The movement has been
SO recently started that there has been no
time to make an extensive canvass for sub
scriptions, but 1t is thought that there will
be no trouble in securing the necessary
money.
number OF prominent cyclists, in talk
| ing over the cycle path craze which now
| holds sway in Washington, said this MORN
ing that they would not be surprised to
see within the next few years the city
toric interest in the surrounding country.
Virginia, they thought, would be a good
field in which to work. The roads are,
generally speaking, too poor to make cycle
riding pleasant. The country is. however,
comparatively leveL and there are nu-
| merous points of interest within easy ac-
cess Of the city which could at small cost
be connected with the Capital by cycling
thoroughfares. 1t is extremely probable
that the residents of Virginia would be
perfectly willing to cooperate extensively
with any path project which would imme-
| diately affect them.
Another proof of the general wheeling
| spirit which has been excited OF late is
| the interest being taken in the racing
events to be held here during the latter
part Of the present month. The local anna
| teurs and the Georgetown College racers
have been in training for some weeks past,
| and are reported to be getting in good
| condition. There are number OF the
| Georgetown sprinters who are showing up
| especially well and who are confidently ex-
| pected by classmates to make good show
| ing in the coming spring meet.
Just at present Eddie Bald and Oscar v.
| Babcock, the first arrivals of the bunch"
of professionals who will make Washing
ton their training headquarters for the
| next few weeks, are the recipients of a
large number of callers from their local
admirers. Bald and Babcock are stop
ping at the Hotel Regent. but will go to
Warwick's Hotel, on the Conduit Road, as
soon as it opens. which will be in few
days.
The election of officers Of the --latest
Cycle Club" took place recently. and re-