Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-05-05

than Tor several years pa 4. Every
hlght there is small army of cy-
clists scooting around town.
Bike Men Gather II Toronto.
Toronto, Ontario, has just played
most to the Canadian retail bicycle
dealer. whose cony ntion this year
was marked by !arger. numbers and
more enthusiasm than has been wiz
messed In s.mi ar gatherings for
long time. The Toronto World. in
commenting on the convention saidA
increased sales put the bike man
IN happy frame of mind. and make
MS conversation gain the air of the
silyer-tongued orator. Canadian
sales so far this year are away ahead
OF the same period last year, and
the season promises TO be a banner
one
lawson to Ride at vaiisburg.
lver Lawson. the famous Salt
Lake City crack, has signed new
contract with the vailsburg IN. J.)
board trceS management. and he
will ride at the meets TO be
he'd on the six-lap oval this season.
Th1 new contract supersedes form
or one that was not entirely satis-
factory TO the rider. Frank Kram-
er has already signed, and the two
noted rivals Will appear at the open
ing meet. An elaborte program Is
being prepared for this occasion, at
which, besides the usual number of
professional and amateur sprint
races, a motorcycle race for anna
tenrs has been scheduled. This last
event will prove much more interest
ing and exciting than was the rule
on the old four-lap track. II is also
expected that Major Taylor will be
secured for the midweek events.
\ Gas Company Motor Corps.
An extremely interesting use for
motorcycles has been figured out by
the Milwaukee Gas Light company
which adds greatly 10 the service It
renders. With the monthly bills the
company sends out a post card show
ing the free service the company un-
dertakeS for its patrons. This SER
vice has to do with adjustments OF
range burners, gas light nantes,
and the many other gas problems
which the woman OF the house IL
often called upon TO solve When
the help OF the company's experts
is needed. the patron drops the card
into the nearest letter box. From
ten to thirty cards are in the com
pany's mail every morning. and 4
force OF six motorcycle-mounted
burner men starts out to visit the
tronble centers. In addition 20 this
sort OF service. the machines are
utilized in many other ways that
save time and money for the com.
pany.
Kansas City Likes the Motorcycle.
Kansas City is rather hilly for bi-
cycle riders, though the present year
has shown notable increase in the
number OF wheels used there. But
hills do not bother the motorcycle
TO any great extent. and that type OF
machine has leaped into great pop
ularity in the city OF bluns.
motorcycle pleasure club OF
one hundred members has already
been formed. ana II Is claimed that
there are not less than one hundred
and twenty-five other motor cycles in
daily use.
Chief Ahern. OF Kansas City has
been advocating the formation OF a
police motorcycle squad for a long
time, but he was thwarted last sea-
son by opposition in the ranks of
the councilmen. This year the chief
will probably win out.
Qualifications for the Motorcycle
SQUAD.
Last seasons use OF the motorcy-
Gle in police work. was studied with
interest by the chiefs all over the
II has got so in farming that II is
is that the members of motorcycle
squad must be of small and wiry
build. of an age ranging from 20
20 35. The police heads have de-
cidod that there men need not be
extra strong rs to muscle. but Il is
imperative that they be very active
and full of nerve. So IL happens
that the big or elderly policeman
finds himself out OF IL. when IL
comes to picking men for the motor
cycle force.