Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-15
CYCLING NOTES.

The first important action of the new executive committee of the League of American Wheelmen shows the progressive policy adopted. special meeting of the national as- sembly has been called to convene at Detroit March %. for the purpose Of providing for q life membership. The first object of this is to provide funds which will wipe out the debts of all the state divisions and the national or ganiZatiOn and bring in a sufficient amount in addition to provide for the active policy of the present adminis- tration. It is proposed that the life members shall recieve q membership card bound in leather, together with an emblematic pin containing the let ters, "L. M." and five wings within the wheel. instead of three as now. They will be entitled to all rights and privileges without further payment of dues. The cost of this membership will be S1O, which will be divided be- tween the state divisions and the na- tional organization. There is no doubt that the assembly will adopt the prop osition.
 The Higbie-Armstrong good roads law in New York, passed through the efforts of the League of. American Wheelmen, has proved how acceptable is the "state aid'' plan. Under this law the state of New York pays one half the cost of building road, the total amount of such work in a year being restricted to the amount appro- priated by the legislature for the states share. Applications for the fstate aid" are made by the counties. If New York would meet the requests now on file from the counties and prop erty owners willing and anxious to pay their half, the legislature would have to appropriate over four million dollars
 The dominion minister of public works announces that Canada will ap- propriate $1OOO,OOO to aid the good | roads movement.
 The League of American Wheelmen had to pay the duty on thirty wheels taken into Canada last year and which were not returned, under the agree ment between the l.. A. w. and the 1 Canadian customs.
 The annual renewal season of the League of American Whee1men is close at hand. On April 1. 10000 member ships expire. These represent the "O1d Guard" all of whom have been in the organization at least six years, some of them for terms up to twenty years. This section of the league mem- ! berShip is the one most honored among wheelmen. To it is given credit for nearly all of the hard work which has resulted in wheelmen's rights and priv ileges throughout the country, and in ! it are the men who have led the good roads movement. As they have regu- lariy renewed their memberships each year, it is probable that the percentage wno drop out this year will be very small.
 Tho appropriation for the office of road inquiry, department of agricul- ture, for this year is S27 OOO. It will be used in building sample roads and
 otherwise assisting the good roads 1 movement.
 There are prospects that the League
 of American Wheelmen will have tc
 invoke the "liberty law'' against the
 park department of New York. The
 park authorities object to the use o1
 motorcycles on the driveways, claim
 ing they should be classed as automo
 piles. The 'iberty law'' is one of the
 famous accomplishments of the league
 It was secured by the organization a
 the time there was so much antipathy
 to wheelmen and when bicycles wer,
 not allowed in the parks. Officials O
 the league believe that under it's pro
 visions motorcycles have q right t
 enter the park.
 The League of American Wheelmel has been trying to secure good road
 appropriation from congress for sever
 al years. A factor which will now as
 sist them is the demand for rural mai delivery. The carriers want bette roads and the farmers want the mai
 delivered promptly and the two ar causing good roads movements where ever there is a request for the rura
 delivery. There are from 800 to 35
 routes now established or recommend
 ed in Iowa, and 8 applications pend , ing at the headquarters of the west ern division at Denver. There are 17 applications pending from Nebraska 33S from Kansas and IS from Sout Dakota. The nine special agents i the western division would be ken . busy for q year and half investiga1 ing new routes if no others were aske for. Routes are being established i
 Iowa at, the rate of twelve to sixtee
 per day.
 . It was unanimously decided at tn !, annual meeting of the League c , American Wheelmen. held recently i 5 Philadelphia, to accept the invitatio : of-Mnyor Diehl to hold It's annual sun lmer meet of the league in Bufralt