The evening times., 1900-02-14
HONING PIGEON FANCIERS
Seven Hundred Birds in the Na-
tional Capital Clubs Loft.
Electric BELLS to Announce the Ar
rival of the FIyers-0ther Modern
the District of COIumbia-Eyent
Scheduled for the Coming season.

Homng pigeon farmers IN the District
are manifesting much interest in the work
of the National Capital Flying Club This
club is the most prominent of its kind in
the city, and has attained the place through
the persistent efforts of its members since
its organization in December, 1886
The officers of the club are J. G. Harvey,
president; /. c. Orndorff, vice president;
Elvin s Hubbard. secretary; Samuel Wal
lace treasurer; L. B. Richards. assistant
secretary. and c. L. Wallace assistant
treasurer. The total membership of the
club is twelve All of the officers and
members are old and experienced in the
flying of homing birds. and MIR Wallace,
the treasurer. is one of the originators Of
the sport.
The club has in all 700 homing pigeons. Of
which $50 are ready to fly at any time. The
birds are all known by their owners and
when very young, small aluminium band
is put around one leg. which cannot be
displaced. The National Club has adopted
a novel way of marking the identity of the
bird on this band The old method was
to simply place the number of the bird
on the band but as the birds increase in
number. the size of the number to be
placed on the band becomes larger. occupy
ing more space, and the result is that often
much trouble is experienced in putting the
number on the band.
The plan now followed by the club is
| having the letter A represent the past year
and in regular order the succeeding years
| TO be represented by the succeeding letters
! of the alphabet Then each new year the
| number of the new birds commences at l.;
! thus A 3. would Immediately identify the
! bird as of last years hatch, and number s.:
and g. would be number six of this years
The club did not fly their birds last year
/ but in the spring and fall of 1898, iInpor-
| tant flies were held. One of the best rec
ords made at these events, was a record OF
| 500 miles made by bird owned by Mr..
| Wallace the treasurer of the club. His
bird covered the distance in thirteen hours
and twenty-three minutes. The birds few
between Washington and points in tie
| States of Virginia and North Carolina and
the club won many prizes from old and
able competitors.
The lofts of the National Capital Flying
Club are situated at the different homes
of the members and are alike from a stand
point of completeness. The loft of the
pigeons owned by Mr.. Wallace was visited
by Times reporter, who spent very in
teresting hour watching the birds and eX-
amining number of modern appliances il
the loft.
The loft was divided into three complete
sections which could be opened and closed
at will Into the first compartment two
pigeon doors from the outside open, one oi
which is so arranged that the pigeons Oh
entering will tread upon a spring board
which will bend down connecting two wires
caasing an electric bell TO ring in the
house some distance away. This door is
used only when birds are flying from &
distant poiAt homeward and the owner Of
the loft desires to know when they arrive
The second door is ordinarily used, and Is
simply an opening in the left which car
be closed at will by door.
In the second compartment the birds ar,
fed, and in the third the nests are located
They have the appearance of receivin,
great attention regarding details and III,
nests are well cared for.
In the spring the club intends to hold