Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-11

days OF motor cycling. when the engines
were imperfect and the drivers control
over them limited, these features were
unavoidable.
At the present time however. since the
engines have increased In power and the
mufflers in efficiency, the noise Is worse
than useless. An agitation among mo-
tor cyclists TO discourage the use OF the
open muller is making considerable
Roadway. The lovers of the sport realize
that they must propitiate public senti-
ment. run the risk of feeling the
heavy hand of restrictive legislation. One
motor cycle journal advocates move
ment among manufacturers to omit from
the construction of every motor cycle the
'muffier cut out, a contrivance ny
which the motorcyclist opens or closes
his muller
It is argued that there is no real rea-
son why a motor cyclist should offend the
ears Of residents OF
Omen Muff1er cities and towns by
n, rushing through the
NOT Required. streets with an open
muller, making hideous noises. 1t is
further declared that the closed muller
in modern machines detracts little If any
from the speed of the road machine.
Some motor cyclists prefer to leave the
muffler open and let the noise Of the en-
CINE serve as a warning signal instead of
a horn. Others appear to like the noise
simply for the sake of the noise. IL
motor cyclists generally can be induced
by one means or another to operate their
machines with closed muffiers. and will
use the new types of motor cycles which
are practically noiseless. 1t is certain that
a great part of the public prejudice
against the sport will disappear.
Motor cyclists recently succeeded in de-
feating legislation in New York designed
to include motor cycles under the auto
mobile regulations, which would have
compelled motor cyclists to pay a license
fee and to carry a registry number. In
some states motor cycles are already In
Guided In the automobile regulations. The
Federation of American Motor Cyclists
and its constituent clubs are endeavoring
to persuade motor cyclists generally to be
more careful to observe speed regulations
and to avoid unnecessary noise in order
to escape the imposition Of these onerous
legal burdens.
Motor cycling has gained great headway
in the United States, but the sport is not
yet as popular here as it is in England.
Perhaps the good roads and the shorter
distance across country are responsible
for the greater vogue the motor cycle en-
joys in the old country. Two years ago
there were 5000 motor cycles in use in
the United Kingdom Of Great Britain and
Ireland: toda. there are nearly 100000.
1t is interesting in this connection to note
that American-made motor cycles are
more popular in England than those con-
|structed at home, and also that an Ameri-
can professional motor cyclist is the win
|ner of two important British trophies.
Jacob de Roster won the tourist trophy
for negotiating the course around the
Isle of Man. thirtyseven and one-half
miles, in forty-three minutes He also
won a gold medal for a perfect score
four hn
London to Edinburgh.
One Of the most remarkable tours in
this country was made by Nelson j.
Hodgin Of indianapolis
Long Ride, few weeks ago. He
-, M. rode from Indianapolis
Quick Time. to Chicago and return,
a distance Of AIS miles. in fourteen hours
and forty minutes. He rested in Chicago
only ten minutes before beginning the
return journey. This record, while au-
thenticated, is not official. 1t is said that
Hodgin broke every speed law Of Indiana
and Illinois in making the trip, and had
several narrow escapes from injury or
death on account Of the terrific speed he
made on stretches OF good road.
The use Of the motor cycle for practical
purposes is growing rapidly. 1t is used
in cities and towns for rapid messenger
service, for parcel delivery and the like.
The Library of Congress at Washington
keeps a motor cycle solely for the purpose
Of making rapid deliveries of books call
ed for by President Taft and members
Of his cabinet
Many rural letter carriers use motor
cycles on their routes, and wherever the
roads are good their employment has
been successful. Representative Henry
Of Pennsylvania has introduced a bill
in Congress which provides for the equip
ment of a motor cycle field force for the
Department of Agriculture. II proposes
to mount agricultural instructors on mo-
tor cycles and have them go over the
country instructing the farmers in the
principles of scientific and intensive ayr
culture.
The use of motor cycles by policemen.
especially those stationed in parks, was
made necessary by the automobile. Only
a motor cycle is able to catch up with a
speeding automobile, and it was found
that policemen must be mounted on mo-
tor cycles IL they were to succeed in cap
turing reckless automobile drivers.
The motor cycle has been introduced
into the army in Germany and England.
special squads of mo-
Used by Armies tor cycle scouts being
attached to various
III LuIope. commands. The same
idea is gaining ground in this country
The United States Army is experimenting
with motor cycles and the Illinois Ma
tional Guard already has established sew
eral squads of motor cycle scouts.
The motor cycle In its present form is
about fifteen years old. The first sue
cessful machine was made in France,
and it's development followed closely that
of the automobile. However. the appi-
cation of power for the propulsion of
BICYCLES was not new idea. AS long
ago as 1889 a motor cycle driven by cleo
tricity was in use in Boston. But the
engine was so heavy and so unreliable
that its career extended only over a few
weeks. The first motor cycle OF the mod
ern type-that Is, propelled by gasoline
engine-was simply a bicycle with a mo-
tor attached. 1t was not until SIX or
seven years ago that the manufacturers
managed to get away from this idea. and
began to build motorcycles as Individual
machines. ignoring unnecessary rules or
bicycle construction.
To any one but an enthusiast the mo-
tor cycle is, and must remain, an unioVely
thing. But it is the cheapest and most
efficient means of affording healthful out
door sport of the cross-country variety.
and with the improvements constantly
being made 1t will rise inevitably in the
public estimation despite its awkward
appearance.
RE AWAKENED RY MUSIC