The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-11
new LAWS NEEDED
CYCLISTS WILL ASK THE LEGIsLA-
TURE TO PASS SEVERAL
MEASURES
PROTECTION OF SIDE PATHS
This Offers n Field for Legislation,
as Does Also the Imposition OF
Special Rates for Bicycles by
Railroads and Other Burdens I'm
der Which the Riders of wheels
Are Now Suffering.

Subjects of legislative interest are being
discussed by the Minnesota officers of the
L. A. w. The next Legislature will be
asked to pass a number Of laws of inter-
est and Importance to wheelmen, calcu-
lated to benefit bicyclists
A law taxing the bicycles in every
county will be presented. the proceeds to
be devoted to the construction of side
paths under the direction of side path
commission similar to the New York
commission that has been in existence
several years and constructed several
miles of side paths.
Under the present arrangement in this
state the cost of side paths Is not equally
shared by the wheelmen. A small num-
Der do all the work. Last year 1900 st.
Paul wheelmen contributed towards the
construction Of local cycle paths, while
1000 received the same benefits without
lending any assistance whatever
The commission will fix the tax to be
paid by the wheelmen in each county.
An ordinance now pending in the council
is framed with view to an equitable dis
tributton of the cost of the cycle paths,
but the proposed state law will be more
far-reaching and take in the whole state.
Wheelmen find it necessary when car
rying their wheels on a journey to pay
special baggage rates. Another bill will
be presented to the legislature asking
that bicycles be recognized as free bag
gage, and that the railroads be COMPEL
ed to carry wheels without cost additional
to that of the ticket. AT present a dis
elimination is made in Minnesota, as well
as many other states where the law is
not compulsory, against bicycles, result
ing In no end Of inconvenience to wheel
men, tourists especially
Charles--W. Purple, secretary and treas
urer OF the Minnesota division of the L.
A. W., leaves tomorrow for Faribault,
where he will meet the leading cyclists
OF the place and confer regarding the
proposed trunk line cycle path between
the Twin Cities and Chicago. The Roch-
ester people are coming right to the front
and have already taken the matter up
The other towns along the route in Min
nesota, including Rosemont, Pennington,
Mortified, OWatonna, Austin and LIE
Roy, nave been communicated with and
plans are being made by each town to
build share of the path. The league ex-
poets to have the side path machines and
rollers within short time and they will
be loaned as called for by the towns
contributing a share of the path The
Wisconsin and Iowa league officials have
taken the matter up, and preparations
are being made to take up the path where
1t is left off at the state line by Mime
sofa.
During the week F. L. Hoxsie chief
consul Of the Minnesota division re-
ceived several letters from league officials
In the East Stating that the plan to con-
tlnue the path on from Chicago to New
YORK is regarded with favor in the East.
The last national assembly considered
the matter and substantial support is
assured the movement 1t would not be
at all surprising to see the interstate
path to Chicago completed within the
current year.
Dr. j. G. Nelson president of the St
Paul Cycle Path association has called a
meeting of the wheelmen for Monday
night, to be held at the Commercial club
Plans will then be made for the year, and
oI1cers selected to make an active can
Vass for dollars. The first number of
tags will be auctioned off at the meet
ing.
The Century Road club is arranging a
century run over the Mortified course
TO take place some time during the ap-
preaching season. The race will doubt
less attract great deal Of attention,
and the entry list promises to be large.
The Twin Cities can furnish no end of
material for such an event as the run
Will not be exclusively confined to racing
men, but open to all club members who
are anxious to try their prowess in a
long distance race. A committee will be
appointed at the next meeting of the
club to handicap the riders Among the
st. Paul riders who will participate are
Tom and B. B. Bird, Dan Carmichael,
James McIlrath, James Korlath. AL Cal
lander, A. A. Hanson, Fred Corrie and
others will represent Minneapolis
SPRING STAKES.