The evening times., 1900-02-14

Homing pigeon farmers IN the District
are manifesting much interest in the worJ,
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; l. c. OrndorT. 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. au Of the officers and
members are old ana experienced i'm the
flying OF homine birds. aud Nj. Wallace
the treasurer. is one Of the originators Of
the sport.
The club has in all 200 homiug pigeons. OF
which $50 are ready 10 ay at any time. The
birds are all known by their owners anl
when very young. a small aluminium hand
is put around one leg. which. cannot he
displaced. The National Club has adopteI
a novel way Of marking the identity OF the
bird on this band. The old method was
to simply place the number of tne bird
on the band. but as the birds increase in
number. the size OF the number TO be
placed on TIE band becomes larger occupv-
ing more space. and the result is that often
much trouble Is experienced in putting the
number on the band
The I.an now followed by the club is
having ,he letter A represent the past year
a n sNsrs- H. -.
TO be represented by the succeeding letters
Of the alphabet. Then each new wear tho
number of the new birds commences at I:
thus \ :, would Immediately identity the
bird as OF last years hatch, and number ..
and b .. would be number six Of this years
The club did not fly their birds last year
but in the spring and fall of 1895 frnpor-
tant flies were held. One OF the best rec
ords made at these events. was a record OF
900 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 I'm tie
states Of Virginia and North Carolina and
the club won many prizes from old and
able competitors.
The lofts Of the National Capital Flving
Club are situated at the different homes
Oh the members and are alike from q stand
punt VI toupleleueSS. lQe loft of the
pigeons owned by Mr.. Wallace was visited
by a Times reporter, who spent a very in
teresting hour watching the birds and ex-
amining number Of moderc appliances in
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 of
which is so arranged that the pigeons on
entering Will tread upon a spring board
which will bend down connecting two wires
caasing an electric bell to ring in the
mouse some distance away This door is
used only when birds are flying from a
distant poiAt homeward and the owner of
the loft desires to know when they arrive
Ine second door is ordinarily used. aud is
simply an opening in the left which can
be closed at Will by door.
In the second compartment the birds are
fed. and in me third the nests are located
They have the appearance of receiving
great attention regarding details and the
nests are well cared for.
In the spring the club intends to hold a