New-York tribune., 1900-05-23
CYCLING.
WHEELMEN FLEEING BEFORE FOREST
FIRES ON LONG ISLAND-GEORGE
j. COOKE ELECTED PRESI-
DENT OF THE n. c. A.

A party of local wheelmen returning by train
| from a trip to Orient Point and Amagansett yes
| terday afternoon witnessed spectacle not often
seen In this part of the country. There have been
| forest fires Long Island, but there were two
yesterday, and while the scene was a spectacular
ore from distance it did not appear so to three
| wheelmen who riding the cycle path
| which extends from Guogue to Riverhead. There
was little blaze to be seen from the train as the
| great volume of smoke swept toward the south
! east The three wheelmen at first enveloped
] in the smoke, and when they emerged they were
/ going at speed which quickly carried them out
| sight well forth Witnessing. Between Yap-
hank and Bro9khayen stu terceT fire was was p rag
| had not seen such blaze in many day. AS
the air. and and the Smoke and fire Seemed to extend
over area of nearly two miles. Many marvelied
| the flames at his time of the year and after so
much rain in The flame and smoke s ADDED added ago s9laen
| Several deer were seen to bound out Of The
sned ab6 would 9 de dart past s9 The
ter fire must have proved destructive to much prop
| will have to be swept of the debris left by the
| fires
! Owing to the fact that the Harlem wheelmen was
the first club in the country to identify itself with
the National Cycling Association, the presidency
! of that organization considered as be-
| longing to that club. Mr. House. who served
the presiding officer during its initial year, came
from the Harlem body, and his successor, Mr.
Blaurock had similar affiliations. The retirement
of the latter has resulted in the selection of George
J. Cooke, president of the Harlem Wheelmen, who
yesterday accepted the position and agreed to serve
during the unexpired portion of Mr. Blanrock' $
term M NJ Cooke is well known nov ~ ID 'ne ne 6ea ey6nns
is held by George A. Needham, of the Kings County
many Of the Cycling clubs in the country, in the
t the aae% 6 Rng
v G2 ys hae b xfe cenGr @ sPGgee Gee
Club Assocated cyee Clubs IBIS of worcester Water
6rry Wheel Club Nashua Cycle CLUB rIS Red vans Bank
men. Mahanoy city Athletie Association RamIhlers
Wabash Cycling Club.
The Michigan Division of the League of American
Wheelmen is preparing bill for introduction in the
Legislature providing for road poll tax. 1t Will
provide that every able bodied man in the state
between and inclusive of the ages of twenty-one
and sixty shall pay this tax, and the receipts will
be used to build and repair roads in the county in
which it is collected. and where the petitioners Tor
such roads will agree 20 pay their whole road taxes
in cash instead of in work. The plan has received
satisfactory approval.
Several of the railroads have introduced bicycle
cars, which have taken the place of the cumber-
some and heavy old fashioned handears. and ac-
cording to the railroad men the bicycle ears are
giving excellent satisfaction These cars are gen
orally used for road inspection, yet heavy loads can
be carried them when necessary The bicycle
is made of the regulation tubing and contains
and having four wheels: The wheels are mage S on
sheet steel with regulation bicycle spokes and the
rims covered with solid rubber tires. The
machines complete weigh between seventy ana ana
eighty pounds, and can be easily Ifted from i rhe
track 70 make way for an approaching tram. Inc
machines are all ball bearing, and are generally
geared from so to 96 There is no steering, OF
course, and this will confuse the average wheel
man when he mounts the machine for the hrst
time.
The Automobile Club of America will try new
route when it makes its run to Philadelphia from
this city on June 2 The members of the club have
been in consultation with the League of American
Wheelmen officials of late regarding the best roads
The will be made from the staten lslano
Ferry. The party will then travel to Tottenvie
and the ferry to Perth Amboy, passing
through Metuchen. New-Brunswick, Princeton and
Camden ~ .tISc
Cycling Clubs of Long Island and the Good Roads
Association did not occur at the meeting of the
former organization Monday night. Some of the
members of the Good Roads Associate at their
meeting thought that road racing on the
boulevard and cycle paths should be prevented;
Cycling Clubs which propose to hold such race
on Labor Day. When the subject was referred 10
Monday night the delegates decided 10 lei IL
pass without discussion
The two mile bicycle race which will be given
in conjunction with the Memorial Day Carnival of
Sports of the Knckerbocker Athletic Club is at
tracing number Of entries from the amateur
riders in and about New-York The bicycle men,
who have been neglected OF late in the athletic
meetings. seem take unusual interest in this
contest. no doubt in the hope that it will be an
inducement for other clubs 10 put on more races
well the athletic and swimming contests on the
card, will close with j. f, Sullivan, Nos 16 and is
Park Place, on May %