The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-26
NEWS OF THE WHEELMEN.
Ex-PhESIDENT POTTER TALKS ABOUT
THE LEAGUE AND ITS BENEFITS

EX-PhESIDENT POTTER TALKS ABOUT
THE LEAGUE AND ITS BENEFITS.
To Build Up the Organization There Should
he Consulates in Every Township
pecinl Railroad Arrangements for the
Big Meets at Boston and Montreal.
lsnac b. Potter. ex-Presdent OF tho L. A. W.
In a chat yesterday touched upon vital spot
while discussing tho local organization idea.
The league has been ut work for many years
fighting for the rights OF wheelmen. and 1t has
obtained many concessions from which all
cyclists receive benefit. First ON the list is the
right to use common roads and to have the
bicycle recognized as vehicle. Since the law
covering that point was enacted'ther have
been passed many others tending to gain
the distinct recognition for the bicycle
that the character OF the vehicle demands.
Bicycles are now carried as baggage without
extra charge by tho railroads. Special side
paths are being built throughout the State.
Cyclists are not Disseminated against 10y
special tax These results and score OF
minor ones have been worked out by the L.
a. w. Yet tho organization is losing member
ship Wheemen take such things as right
and seem to think that it is not worth while
joining and paying 81 n year toward the sup
port OF the organization that has brought about
these things. although there is scarcely u rider
that does not reap more than So worth of BEN
eft in the course OF year. Ex-Presidcnt Pot
tor explains that it Is because the work OF the
l.. A. W. is too general
A rider in one OF the State counties" he
saws. docs not know through what power it
is that all the privileges he has were obtained
He wants to know what is being done on the
roads in his county. To him the j. A. W. Is
only myth. or at best something he reads
and II he is to be reached at all II must be
through town or county organization OF the
other things desired right at home The
growth Of cycling has been So rapid and it
has fir spyrcad so broadly that the, new
privileges they. have were fought for. They
do not care, What has been dong was before
it Is local The national organization could
oca .consulates ' in every S; township. and it
would; i this was done be not only, more in
to be- out as M Ss ths
There must be local organizations everywhere:
That Is the great need of the League to-day"
~ Arrangements have been made with the
to '9S ,H% and Ff tho
h SeT OF Avg IN when the Paton@ meet b0 of
turn may be purchased for )? and excursion
tickets by the Sound steamer lines torS+ The
lNhtls luuSt ut IuTcIlHStu Hbl ldNtE IMAM n uS'
-, They will be good going, Aug. - and II,
and will be good for the return trip until Aug.
he le "s en n Sy y ey
prepared for the League. The natural ad-
vantages Of Bostons environs have been fully
utilized in making up the schedule of runs and
other entertainments The Canadian commit
toe in charge Of the, worlds Championship
made arrangements for a single fare rate from
the United States. and have negotiated n time
extension. so that those who want to go first to
Montreal and then BOSTON do
nomically.
makers pays a handsome tribute TO the scorch-
Ing element but follows it with the statement
is an undoubted fact. says the maker. that the
scorcher by putting the bicycle to very prac-
vice. The road fend is the first tn determine
what there is in new idea. new model or
anything in the Line OF % 6tn and he gets
coveries has contributed mm"nsely toward
the mp,roywemC9t c of wheels Thr9TshbHnt
been recognized that it was tn" riders who
were rssponsjble for its progress; but
serve the most credit because they were al
ways the first to pronounce in what respects u
believed by the manufacturer, that many per
sons refrain from buying wheels and following
tn" Snort through fear Of the scorchng fra
suburban districts t ban in large cities. because
in the towns speed regulations are enforced
such places Their" are believed I" be many who
do not loin the cycling ranks because OF the
real or fancicl risks to be- taken on The road.
chief among which is that Of being run down
by bowed-back scorcher
Devices designed to reduce the vibration felt
by wheel riders have been brought out Ivy
scores, in the past few, years. 4 demand for
number Of middie-nged riders who object to
the lar Of the ordinary rigid frame cyc'"s The
ri has bpan that thpy th,.lu tnr
lirmness Of the machine. The newest Inven-
ton of this kind is one essentially different
from any previously seen and one that seems
toned; whatever hers may he found against
two hubs in f the front whSei one within " the
other. The wheel r"Nuiv.s about the larger
nHh while TIE smaller hGG rev3y YES mslM" the
hoitts both in n certain position. When an OBJ
stacle is struck the spring yields SO that the
ard the jar lie taken w at the hub and not i'm
parted 70 the frame The outer hub is scarcely
moving over smooth surface the inner hub
does not revolve. Tho idea Is that OF an Eng
lishman and as yet has not been introduced
here.
The Chief of Police Of Lock Haven. Pa. has
hit upon means for determining when II is
time to light bicycle lamps that is well worthy
Of emulation in other towns and cities. lie
the electric lamps are turned on. This is cal
cnoted to put an END to the DISPUTES between
riders ana the mlnlOnS. or inc law. tTohtcr
New York Is at present in peculiarly mixed
up state regarding lights. The old ordinance
Of the city, OF New York says that lamps must
ono hour before sunrise In brooklyn the
old ordinances OF tho city call for lights
at shutdown and. according to the charter. they
hold good until revised ordinances for the con-
soidated city ar" passed, In Prospect Park
and on the parkwnys. which include the
Coney Island paths. the rule is the same as in
New York. ALLOWING to riders one hour II grPce
after sunset, If the electric lights OF the city
v.,, n nnH a - m II
with all the ordinances. say at sunset il would
spare riders the necessity Of carrying an
almanac There would be more general oh
scryntion OF the letter Of the law il there was
some such guide for action and it would he as
useful sign to the police as to the riders.
NOTE.
The loO-mile race scheduled for Manhattan Reach
on next Saturday will b. tho FIRST outdoor competi
ton at the distance that has been run i'll this locality
On Wal