Evening Star Newspaper, March 19, 1898, Page 11

CLUB GOSSIP. If the statement of the weather prophets amount to much the present mild weather has come to stay. “Not only do- the local sages predict it, but in other sections of the country similar predictions are made. Spring begins tomorrow, and this may probably have a good deal of influence in such a decisiwn. At any rate the members, of the cycling fraternity would be heartily glad sf such should be the case. , The mild weather will probably hasten the work on the new board track at the In- ternational Athletic Park. The work is expected to commence about April 1, and be finished inside of four or five weeks. Considerable improvement will be made. ‘The grand stand will remodeled, the central aisle being closed and entrances made at each end. Tne stand will be pro- ject2d over a portion of the track, dnd the private boxes will be raised. The bleachers will be built adjoining the grand stand. ‘The track itself will pe reduced in width, to the size of the celebrated Willow Grove track at Philadelphia. At present the course measures twenty-five on the back stretch, gradually widening at the turns until the home stretch, with forty feet width, is reached. The new track will be twenty feet wide on the back stretch, with a width of thirty feet on the stretch. As arrangements are being made for a meet zround May 7 or 15, the track will have to be completed by that date. Century Cycle Club. The Century Cycle Club, under the com- mand of Capt. Byrnes, took @ run last Sun- day to Ashton, MG. The following cen- turfans were in line: Fister, Gritrith, Reed, Hadger, Tune, the Dimmick brothers, Barn- hartt, Von Boeckman, Willlams, Stevenson, Geieski, Salkeid, Hasler, Copenhaver, Barg- hausen, Kauffman, Boiden, Jones, Hol- onder, Coons and Second Lieut. Votkman. J. J. Cone and J. J. Crandall were invited and joined the party. Capt. Byrnes and Von Boeckman set a “hot” pace going, which was taken up on the return trip by Bolden and Fister. Dinner was served at Abell’s. and, after a good rest, the return trip was made. The roads were in excellent condition and the riding was made very enjoyable. The ciub will make a run tomorrow to Baltimore, going via Ashton and Ellicott y, leaving the club rooms at 6:30 a.m. Friends of the members and uaattached riders are invited to join the centurians in this run. The start will be made at the time stated, and Capt. Byrnes wil! not holt the club back waiting for the “sleepy” con- tingent to arrive. .A stop will be made at the Eutaw House, where dinner will be served, and the return home made about 2 o'clock from the monumental city. The return will be via the Relay and Laurel road. The regular bi-monthly meeting of the club will be held Monday evening ai 5 o'clock. Tenight the basket ball team of the club will line up against the Washington Light Infantry team, the last game to be played this season. The boys are still im fourth plac which position they will now hold to the erd of the basket ball series in the District League. The result of tonight's game will not affect their standing ene way or the other. The team will be well repre- sented tonight by the “rooting” contin- , which will endeavor to keep up the ment throughout the game. A number of the’ boys visited the photo- graphie exhibition in the paflors of the < al Bi. Chub last week and enjoyed it very mue T net anticipate taking a number of this summer over the roads of which ographs were exhibited. Now that the springlike weather is at fund, a number of the boys are getting in their werk on the roads around Washing- ter. Tomorrow the boys will take advantage of the reads, which are now in excellent condition, and some good results may be lecked for during the next few months. Arlington Wheelmen. Under command of Captain Murphy, the Arlington Wheelmen made a cross-country run last Sunday morning, with an unusual- ly large number, thirty-five, in attendance. The route was out Mth street to Bright- wood, across the country, passing through the home to Brookland, in through the city, disbaading at the starting point, 14th street and New York avenue. The run was @ most enjoyable one, alihough ding was a little difficult against the wind ich prevailed Sunday morning. The arr Mt. Pleasant was the signal for the speedy members to make warm,” and immediately a minority of the riders were far in advance of the re- mainder of the members, and were not seen again until the university was reached. Especial mention might be made of th riding of the “old veteran,” E. B. Terry the club's new member, A. Christm: ptain F. C. Potts, they the terminus of the S. H.R. R. minutes before those following «ame in sight the order above named. Secretary-Treasurer J. F. Broadbent and F. C. Potts journeyed over to Baltimore last Friday evening. They attended the opening of a new bicycle house and partici- pated in a sight-seeing expedition with friends in the monumental city A special meeting of the amusement com- mittee was held Tuesday evening Presi- dent.Gettinger’s home. Among other busi- transacted Carroll Institute was s ured as the place to hold the next regular meeting of the club, which will be Wed- nesday, April 13. For obvious reasons, this postponement was made. Immediately fol- lowing the business meeting will be the club smoker, and the committee is leaving nothing undone to make the affair a suc- cess. The recent pleasant weather has miade some of the members who compose the club's crack base ball nine feel like play- ing ball, and, if there be a continuance of the same, Capt. Murphy will attach sev- eral bats to his wheel on each run, and the boys can get plenty of practice. The game was greatly enjoyed on a majority of the runs last year. The Arlington Wheelmen exteni their hearty congratulations and best wishes to Mr. Sewell Warner, one of the club's most popular members and a recent benedict. Sewell is one of the club's good riders, and can always be depended upon in an emer- gency. Before dismissing the crowd iast Sunday Captain Murphy learned from many of the members (4 number sufficient to con- Mtitute an all-day run) their willingness to attend.a run to Brookville, Md., the fol- lowing Sunday, which would be the 20th. The captain has called the run for tomor- row to the above-named place. For the benefit of new members and those who have never accompanied the club on an all-day run, it may be said that the run to Brookville is an easy one, ti.c distance being only 21.50 miles, the country rolling and the road a1 exceilent macadain. Sturt from 14th street and New York avenue at 9 o'clock. . Aeme Cycle ai Social Club. The last meeting of the club instead of being held at the residence of Chas. H. Fletcher, as was stated in The Star, was held over the business piace of Wm. Payne, corner of 32d and M streets. A special meeting was held last Friday to consider the report submitted by the committee appointed to secure quarters for the club. After a THE EVENING STAR SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1898—24 PAGES. Swiney thinks, would do wéll-to ft ma- chines with rims suitable detachable double-tube tires, and to leave roém, when building machines, for a gear case, as the latter is essential to a YoUrMg machine in ireland. Were this done, the sale of our machines would raj e. Even at present, there appears to almost an American monopoly in the<I1 markst, if our manufacturers continue to supply ma- chines of as excellent—workmansnip and high standard as heretofpre,,. Consul General DuBolg, r2ports from St. Gall regarding “Ainerican Wists in Switzer- land that all classes use ghe bicycle in Switzerland, and the use is rapidly in- creasing. The roads are-fine_but tuzre are hills, and always more hills tc cltmb. There are only a few small cycle:manufactorics in Switzerland; they are,located at Arbon, Zerich, Basel, ‘Lausanni Genova. Gei- many furnishes most-of thé Wheels for the Swiss markets, as well 43: the majority of other articles, The duty on all foreign cycles is 70 francs per luy kHograms ($13.51 per 220.46 pounds) gross wight. There are no differential duties. The retail prices are from 250 to 500 francs ($48.25 to $3.50).- The latter are the American and English prices. here is a good demand for a well-built, solid, cheap cycle; but it 1oust be stroag and th2 price low enough to cnable compe- tition with the German prices, which range frcm 400 to 375 franes ($37.9) to $72.37). The American cycie is recognized as the most satisfactory one on the market, but considered tvo expensive for most pur- chasers here. The best’ Swi and German wheels cost. from francs (364.85 to $72.37), while the American Wheel costs 50v francs ($96.50). #. A. Maeder is the largest dealer in St. Gall. “H> sold American wheels for some time, but found, when they needed repair- ing, that there was a lack of proper faciii- ties; and, as this caused dissatisfaction, he discontinued the sale. The only way to Teach th> local trade is through energetic, pable agents. Last year Germany sen S7 commercial agents into this country and the United States sent none. The re- sult was that Germany captured the cycl> business and nearly every other line of trade. Circulars sent to Switzerland should be printed in the French and German lan- suages Th® usual credit is from three to six months. If the American wheels could be sold as cheap as the German makes and could be a3 easily repaired, and if the same effort were mad> to gain the Swiss market that the Germans have put forth, they ought to be widely sold, as they are the best-liked | W: a wheels in Europe. Local competition would not be great, as only 2,4 wheels were manufactured in Switzerland last year. >— NATIONAL C. T. ASSOCIATION The National Cycle Track Association, organized last fall, and which has a repre- sentation in ten or more cities, including this city, has started upon its active work, and in a manner that bids fair to bring it Prominent in the cycle racing world. Ac- cording to the plans of the organization a big racing team will be organized, sufficient to draw spectators from far away places. As things now appear the regularly em- ployed teams of the association will be sufficient to run an interesting race meet, without the asistance of any outside racers. Th2 date of the spring meeting of the as sociation in this city is June 23, while the fall meet will be held Qctober G. To dis- tinguish these from the ‘national circuit dates they are termed s¢he; grand circuit. According to the constitatior of the organ- ization, which is rathefst¥ict, no racing man can enter any one riget’ without enter- | ing every other meet on.tha:grand circuit. This is a practical bar to-pat hunting. A deal is now in process’ whereby the as- sociation secures the setyice3 of thirty-five pacemakers, uncer competent managers and assistants, who wilkride the machines for match events and other Faces requiring pacing. Thirty-two pactig fhachines have been ordered at a cost of $15,000, and enough of the pacing machinesnare expect- ed to be ready for the opening race of the grand clreuit, which will be held April 21, at the Manhattan Beach trick. The riders under contract‘with the asso: ciation will have thé fitancial support of the tracks comprising the askdciation in ali their rates. Phey will bé 'itatched ‘against PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS Willie Windle, whose home is at West Mill- bury, Mass., and who was a crack racer, having retired several years ago, contem- Plates returning to the sport, so it is said. Arthur Gardiner was protested by Atthur Brown in a mile open at St. Augustine, Fla., the fore part of the month, fdr foul riding. The protest was allowed. This is said to have been the first time in Gardi- ner’s racing career that he has been -pro- tested. Pat O'Connor, who is regarded as one of the best steersmen in the country for a quad, quint or sextet pacing machine, is working in a bicycle shop at Louisville, Ky., having left the track for good. Jay Eaton, who is krown as the indoor king, was beaten two straight heats by Charles McCarthy at St. Louis a few Weeks ago. It was a match race, the win- ner taking both in the time of 1:58 and 1:59, respectively. It is expected that Jimmy Michael will train at Hot Springs, Ark., for the coming season, His initiel.2ppearance at St. Louis Lreugsrt.out 2 crowded house. Eddie Bald is behind the scheme to or- ganize a Band of cycling scouts in case this country and Spain go to war. The racizg men in Maly @o net fare so well, as Pontecchi, a crack racer, is kicking because the state wants a sum from him equaling $270, which, according to the rate ef taxation, is due to the coustry from his winnings at race meets last season. ' It is understood that Chairman Mott has placed an order for the printing of 100,000 es of the racing ruics for the current season. William Becker has returned from the Klondike gold field. He saw the vigilants draw a body through the streets of the town with a placard pinned to the clothes less elevation, and when necessary to raise ore end further above the sill than the other. This form of construction makes {t possible to place the sill upon sloping ground, and by properly adjusting the nuts upon the posts making the cross timbers Jevel. Also, in cases where it is necessary, the outer edge, or banking of the tracks, May be elevated on curves. Each post is Griven into the ground, making the track secure, and the plates which form the track ‘have their edge& bent upward and inward, forming a recess upon cach side. The edge of the plate is again bent out- wardly, forming an outer recess, within which is placed the steam pipe. Within the recess which is inside the trough form- ed by the upturned edges of the plates vertical braces are. placed at suitable in- tervals. This serves to stiffen the vertical pertion of the plate and makes the track stronger than it otherwise would be. Pro- visions have been. made for locking the devices at each end of the plates which are fastened to the cross timbers. Upon the side of the cross timbers are fixed two offset plates. The ends of these are slight- ly separated, and behind the offset por- tions form a recess receiving another plate. AMERICAN WHEELS ABROAD In a report to the State Department Con- sul General Mason, at Frankfort, Ger- many, says, regarding American wheels in that country: ‘An interesting side light has been thrown upon the present situa- tion of the American bicycle trade in. this country by a controversy that has recently arisen between the Association of German Bicycle Dealers and one of its members, @ dealer at Winsen, in Hanover. The asso- ciation comprises about 150 of the princi- pal retail bicycle dealers in Germany, who operate independently of manufacturers and buy their stock wherever they can do so to best advantage. “Out of this situation arose the dispute between the bicycle dealers’ association and Mr. Weese, the dealer at Winsen above referred to, who, it appears, had purchased a quantity of American cycles, which he advertised for sale at 150 marks ($85.70) each. Thereupon the association, inspired presumably by the manufacturers’ vnion, attempted to call Mr. Weese to ac- ceunt through an official letter, of which the following is a translation: “We must absolutely protest against yeur offering American machines at 115 and 150 marks ($27.37 and $ ), the trade in German bicycles being severely dam- aged by this action. You do not dare to say that an American wheel sold at such prices can be compared with a reliable German make. Therefore, if you’ do not cease advertising in this way we shali pro- ceed against you in a proper way, first through the trade papers. We leave it to you to consider whether a first-class Amer- ican wheel can be sold for 150 marks, and whether this is not sufficient ground for bringing you before the courts for viola- tion of the unfair competition law.’ town. In the afternoon a run was made to Cycle Cottage, and although the boys were caught a second time in the rain they-en- joyed the runs very much. A run to Ashton has been called for to- morrow by Capt. Watts, the Start to be made from the club's quarters, 3200 M street, at 8 o'clock a.m. ‘The next meeting of the club will be held Tuesday. . Levant Wheelmen. The club run last Sunday was to Alex- andria by the way of. Arlington. Capt. Norris and Lieut. Fryer had out quite a number of men on their initial run. Bui for the rain, which began to fall before they reached Alexandria, the bevs would have spent a pleasant a*ternoon in that ancient city. The crack tandem team, Messrs. Lee Herrell and Marschalk, ac- companied this run in the capacity of pace- makers and did some elegant york. ‘Th cub run tomorrow wi'i be 19 s#h- ton, Md. The start will be made from the club house at 9:30 a.m. Washington Road Club. ‘The Washington Road Club held its first meting in the new club house Wednesday evening. The club will be pleasel to have its friends call at the new home, 2125 Pennsylvania avenue. . Messrs. Wm. Jose, C. I. Ronsaville and W. H. Lehman were elected active members. The clu> will start its regular runs to- morrow. The first run will be a short one and ‘will start from the club Fouse at 3 p.m. under the command of Lieut. Smith. On accounts of a business 2ngagement Capt. Prince will be unable to participate. The club will be well represented on the track this year, as it has among its mem- bers some of the fastest rid2rs in the Dis- trict. Among those who will ride under the club colors are: F. A. L. Schade, A. C. Moran, Geo. E. Smith, Hardy Prichard, C. 1. Re ville, H. W. Hardester. With this list of speedy riders the club may be 2x- pected to make a good showing. The boys are all looking forward to the coming match race between G. E, Smith of the Read Club and Lee Counselman ef th2 Century Cycle Club. SOME CYCLE CHAT The registration of racers has com- menced, and the working of the new scheme will be awaited with interest. At the recent meeting of the national assem- bly an amendment to the constitution was | #0! D : was adopted, or rather to the racing rules, | jgq40 ‘Nis threat Mr. Weese replied as fol providing for the registration of all pro-| “ T am at a loss fo understand your let- Co a ie Oo OC | ee 2 per head. During the week Chairman | dealers wi represent hav E Mott of the racing stodeictanten theater Se ee ow can you, therefore, abuse American lowing notice: Registration cards have bicycles? I am buying my wheels where now hen distributed to the members of the | I can get them best and cheapest. These racing hoard, and they are prepared to are all excellent American makes that register racing men on receipt of applica- his riding 1 makes a better Among the number are m the English champion Italian chany man rider, and P rival of Sig. Baehmann of Austria, who surpass the German-made wheels in every : 2 respect. The prices of these cycles amount | any riders of a similar dlads in the worl tion accompanied by thé fee of $2. Racing | t5"t2y marke ($28.50), free at Hamburg, | and the grand cient oir ne ios World, | “Since tho last woes fares au men residing in New Jersey, Pennsyl- | and why should I not sell them for 190] most brilliant racing Star the following wheels and sundries of the year. Besides these special match ‘faces which ‘will be organized for their riders, the track asso- ciation will each ‘schedule one of the pre- liminary championshfp events as outlined by Chairman Mott. The first prize offered for these events will be $165, which fs $15 above the limit placed by the racing board except by special permit. While the team has not been signed a yet, the contracts have been dra enly await the respective signatures of ti manager and the racing men. Among th latter will be Tom Linton, the famous Welsh rider, who is at the present time training on Charles River track at Boston, and who will meet every prominent middle ¢istance rider in America, including Jimmy Michael, for whom a special series of three races with the largest purse ever offered in a bicycie race will be arranged. Eddie Mc- Duffee will be another mifidie distance rider of the track association team, while Cooper and Tom Butler will be the sprinters. Nat Butler, the “handicap king,” will wear the colors of the National Track Association on the track, and in the long distance races either Tom Barnaby or Harry Elkes will be the chosen representative. These two men will ride a hundred-mile paced race at Bos- ton early in April, and the winner of that race will be selected to uphold the blue of the National Cycle Track Association on the American race track this year. Either RES or Sanger will be the unpaced solo- st. The uniforms of the teams will brought from Paris, and wili be the ator styles. They will be especially made for the association, and will be of dark blue, trimmed with light blue. The sweaters will be of the French style, such as are worn by Eden, Jacquelin, Rivierre, Morin and other famous riders. They open down the left shoulder and after they have been put on. are buttoned closely up, giving them a splendid appearance, and' are far more graceful than the American sweater, so common on the track nowadays. The circuit committee and other members ef the association who are interested in the circuit and team idea met at Springfield a week ago, and it was there that the offi- cers and managers were elected with full power to sign a complete team, not only of star riders for the short, middle and long Gistance games, but for the pacing crew as well. Henry E. Ducker of Boston, who has been acting as temporary manager of the team idea, was elected general manager, with headquarters in Boston, while Dixie Hines was elected business representative presentative, with headquarters Delaware, District of Co- North and South Mott, Balti- ania, Marylani , Virginia and Carolina will register with Albert Park Heights, near Kate avenue, more. None of the unregistered men will be allowed to race. The riders will have to arry cards with them, after the manner of the members of some of the unions of organized labor. If their eligibility to ride is questioned they will have to produce their cards, which will be the open sesame. The riders who go ahead without formality of istered are very apt to find themselves in a muddle. The bans of sus- pension will be placed upon them, and they will be practically barred from ‘racing at any track in the country, or at least the le tracks. In connection with this matter an inter- sting question arises. There are very few iders of any note. In fact, the only one is Major Taylor, the colored sprin- ter of Massachusetts. He will apply for registration, but as the League of Ameri- can Wheelmen draws the color line his ap- plication may be refused. This will tend to bar him permanentiy from the track. On the other hand, to evade the decisién he can apply for admission to the Cana- éian Wheeimen’s Association, which does noc raw the color line. Owing to an agree- ment between the Canadian association and the League of American Wheelmen the colored rider would have to be given the privilege of riding in race meets. The question has not been decided one way or the other. marks ($35.70)? However, in ease you are representing the interests of the German factories, which ¥ must suppose, I beg to inform you that no German factory is up to the mark, and that next year the firm will probably establish a factory in Ger- many, with a yearly output that will kiock down, if they wish, the trade price to 100 marks ($23.80) and the selling price to 130 marks ($30.94). As to the rest, 1 must deny you the right to interfere with my private business, as this undoubtediy falis under the unfair competition act, your statement that “first-class American Machines cannot be had at 150 marks” be- ing an untruth.’ “This correspondence was pubitshed in the Radmarkt, an organ of the German cycle trade, and has caused consternation in the ranks of the manufacturers, who now see that their demand for a prohibitory duty on American wheels, if granted, will only have the effect of transferring to German territory branch factories of the great American manufacturers, who, by import- ing from the United States their parts and materials and putting them together in this country with the cheap labor of Ger- ™man workmen, under superintendence of American expert foremen, will render the competition more fatally’ aggressive than ever before. “Hitherto the German cycle manufactur- ers have urged their government not to assess a higher duty on imported bicycies as such, but to classify them for duty un- der paragraph 470 of the present law as upholstered carriages, dutiable at 150 marks ($35.70) each, which would be, of course, prehibitory. This would require no new legislation, but merely an administrative decision, giving to bicycles, which were not an article of commerce when the law was enacted and are not therefore specifically menticned therein, an arbitrary and unjust classification, under which each cycie weuld pay the same duty as a four-wheeled carriage. As this would apply to all im- ported bicycles—those of English and Bel- gian manufacture, as’ well as American— and thereby militate against certain com- mercial treaties, the decision, notwith- standing the frantic protests of the Ger- man makers, bas rot yet been given, “Meanwhile, the leading American cycle menufacturers—whose German trade form- ed an in portant part of their business in 1897 and whese sagacious enterprise in building up and sustaining this valuable outlet for their surplus product may well serve as an inspiring example to Ameri- cans in many other lines of trade—are stocking their depots in this country with full supplies for the incoming season and are preparing to establish auxiliary fac- tories here whenever the prohibitory edict may fall. Popular opinion, even ip Ger- meny, 1s distinetly on the side of the Amer- ican manufacturers, whose products Mave not only cheapened, but greatly improved, the standard of excellence in bicycle con- struction, whereas all the principal Ger- man makers have earned large incomes from both their home and export trade, and are not therefore considered to be in a strong position to demand new and ex- traordinary ‘protection.’ not wanted. Becker is the racer who as- saulted Maj. Taylor, the colored rider, last year. York, is in Florida, training for coming work. He has arranged fer a tour of Mex- ico this season, racing at difterent places. the former English world’s hour champion, and Maj. Taylor, the coicred rider, is now be- ing arranged. state that Jimmy visit of the midget to the racing stables of Phil Dwyer at Gravesend. Webb, Ceoper, is negotiating for four match races Protein, the French middie-distance racer, started training the 10th instant on the quarter-mile track at Vers neurces that he will take in all of nt international races in Eu- rope this son. years, without any funds and without beg- ew South Wales, the beginning of this year. 1-known trainer, Edouard Taylore, the neh rider, will not train after American ideas. rival of Michael, severely injured himself recently while training on the Seine track. Jean Gouglotz, the Frenchman, who has been riding in this country, has left for his home in France. During his stay country this winter he has been partly suc- remain until the outdoor season had fully started, but this he refused to do. the services of Jimmy Michael's brother, who is looked upon as a coming rider. this season in this country, expects to car- which to get married and settle down. is training faithfully for the 100 miles un- paced record. He is at Bellair, Fla. have been reported as stolen. The number change in the weather kas a tendency to rection of wheeling. The victims are as’ follow: Racycle wheel, No, 10009; stolen from in fiont of the house. s stolen from east front of Capitol. c. American bicycle, No. 11608; stolen from basement of Central High Schooi. ital bicycle, No. 519; stolen from in front of 1304 F street. aluminum finished bicycl bicycle, N stolen from Ith etr anc Pennsy:venia avenue. c. 8. Hunter, Hamilton bicycle; stolen from in front of 332 Massachusetts avenve northeast. stolen from 14th and I streets. Eli Waters, 315 10th street southeast, Credenda bicycie, No. 4255; stolen from 7ih announcing that thieves and evildoers were Arthur Zimmerman, who has left New A match race between Tom Linton, Those who have This deciaration “Mother” the trainer of Tom the French champion for short distances. 1 complete his work ca the road. America can shortly look for the ar- started to ride around the world in two According to Billy Young. the w Champion, who is regarded as the midget in this cessful, and it was hoped that he would Tom Eck was unsuccessful in securing who is only seventeen years of age, but Lesna, the Swiss champion, who wil! race ry back with him sufficient money with From reports received Charles W. Miller ‘ reported is an increase, showing that the turn the minds of many thieves in the di- W. W. Delano,- 1416 New Yorx avenue, s Herrirg, 1808 G street, Syracuse bi- cycle E. Goodrich, 1916 13th street, Wott Albert Sykes, 16 Lafayette square, Cap- William Botsch, i314 224 street, Smalley John Scheffer, 1905 7th street, Fowier et 15 4th street southeast, F. B. Brock, 930 F street, Powier wheel; street and Mas:achusetts avenue northeast. H. I. Wells, 229 F street northwest, Fowl- r bicycle; stolen from in front of 328 7th street. Only two lamps were reported stolen, as fcllow: W. C. Sullivan, 607 7th street, Twilight lamp; stolen from wheel while in Corcoran building. Thomas A. Mullett, 1731 R street, Scaren- light lamp: stolen from wheel while in frent of 1411 F street. Attention may be called to the really surprising condition of some of the Vir- ginia roids surrounding the city. For many years the condition of the roads of Virginia has been almost synonymous with wreichedness, but this is hardly applica- bfe just ac present. Indeed, if anything, the roads of the state in this vicinity are better than the roads within the same sec- tion of Maryland. For this season of the year the highways of the cld dominion staie are fine, and a short ride would prove the statement. Some of the roads which ong might expect to find good may prove f Tittle disappointing, but the back roads are far better than they were some years ago. The improvements that have been rade, while not amounting to anything great for a single year, are beginning to show up. As an illustration of the way things are going the following serves well: The stretch of road between Langley and Lew- insville, which four or five years ago was rrarked vile, is today good. A northern man settled in the vicinity, and he knew a little about road building. He secured consent of the proper authorities to at- tend to the repair of that section of the state's highways, devoting his aitention to that one particular road, which 1s about three miles in length. Under his direction the improvements made are excellent, and far better appreciated by those who re- member {ts condition severai years ago. It is equal to any pike in this section of the country. A resident of Newburg, N. @., has de- vised a scheme to have an adjustable track. Portable would probably be a better word. A patent has been granted to him for his device. Hic track is composed of metal and wood, and has an arrangement for regulating the pitch of the banking to suit the speed requirements of the track. By means of the tigntening of loosening of bolts, the course can be made fiat or almost vertical, as the track manager may desire..In addition to this advantage a number of steam pipes run around the course, so that-if used for outdoor racing in winter time, by a circulation of steam or kot water all of the snow and ice on the track can be melted, and the track kept clear. to apr go the track can be taken down put up whenever desired, Se Ae, SE SR VOC ee other purposes The construction of the track, in the ‘ords of the inventor, is described as fol- During the same period the police suc- ceeded in securing rcven wheels which were reported missing. The list is: Racycle bicycle, returned to owner, W. Delano. Hartford bicycle, returned to owner, C. Burton. > Lady's bicycle, returned to owner, W. P. Hughes. Lady’s bicycle,- make unknown, aweiting identification. Syrecuse bicycle, returned to owner, S. C. Herring. Hawthorn bicycle, held awaiting identiti- cation. Lady’s bicycle, returned to owner, Hagerty. SATA Sa An Ingenious Made Over. From the Boston Herald. Ar ingenicus :woman who had a cloth gown with a close-fitting jacket blessed with huge sleeves has made a blouse front of the tops of the sleeves, using the orig- inal fronts of the jacket, cut somewhat on the bias, to form a narrow skirt to the bodice, first cutting off the jacket at the back to the waist line. The bodice is belted Bee ee eS eee big, flaring turned-back cuff ha’ made from the lower part of the_sleeve. ‘The cloth velvet are of dark green and the braid in trimming the blouse black. No one could guess t frock Was not an entirely new.one, and as it ts quite up to date now does it matter what its previous form was? pitta ette Py atest ey (Copyright, Life Publishing w. held 4 ——- A Cabinet for the Bicycle. From the New York Times. --” It has every mark of/Xangee ingenuity, but there isn’t a bit of it.iniit. It is a bi- eyele cabinet warranted*not'to reveal its it 1s an English invenfion’. The cabinet Part of it is ingenious,:putodhe should-be 5) THE ORIOLES’ STRIKE Carrent Sensation “in Base Ball Circles. . ABEAD FOR BALTIMORE te SNES TROUBLE Local Team Will Frown Upon Rowdyism. GOSSIP. OF THE GAME ‘The sensation of the past week in ba! ball circles has been the strike of the six Baltimore players—Keliey, Jennings, Kee- ler, Clarke, Corbett and Bowerman—for bighér wages cn account of the extra games that will be played this season un- der the new schedule. the Baltimore press hag bee of fun at the Washington m: cause Jack Doyle refused to sign terial ccntract, but the troubles that have Geveloped in their own club have com- pelied the Baltimore reporters to take in sail and lock to their own ship. The Wash- ington club ean get-along without Dolye and stil! be a better club than last year, but the Orioles without the ix siriking players would be so weak that they would be nearer the tail end next season than any time since Manager Hanlon has had them in charge. Leaving out the question as to the, right or wrong of the stand taken by the pl , there is little doubt that they hav. the best of the argument. The Baltimore club has cleared over $200,000 in the last three years, and the strikers have heiped to make this fortune fer Messrs. Von Der Horst and Hanicn. {ast year these 4 ers received the ing 1 games. and the games, too, while this season > asked to par- ticipate in 151 the same money. Take t nd allow the ciub to clear $ ery low estimate, and it be seen that the management will be ahead a clear $8,000. To settle the controversy it will take about $2,000, a nice, tidy sum, which Manager Han‘on does not care parting with. The situation is a complicated one and could only happen in about three or four cf the league clubs. Six of the best pl: ers in the Poston, New York or Cle land clubs might pull off a strike of the poking Jots y games a game, am W. B. Mercer, Pitcher. Same nature successful! eight clubs the hold-outs might have their bluff calied and find themselves out in the cold. The Baltimore club without the six layers would not finish in the first division, and the management, as a consequence, would not clear a dollar. the strik atisfied and in their places the club has more than a possible chance of clearing at least $50,000. View- ing the situation from a business point of view, it would appear as if the best way cut of the difficulty would be for Manager Hanicn to acknowledge having the worst cf the controversy, give the players what they demand, and’then resort to “Buck” Ewing's tactics of trading off objection- able employes. No matter from what direction the situa- ticn is viewed the Baltimore management has the short end of the argument. Out- side of Bowerman all the strikers are more I-to-do, to say nothing of 3, as in the case of ikers are of little against Cincin- Washington: but F ave the keen foresight to band together there can be no question that they have fuliy 7 per cent the better of the argument. ‘The yell of disapproval that has gone up from the different prominent scorers of the country over the zbolition of the earn- ed rth would lead the unsophisticated to believe that the national game was in dan- ger. From an outside point of view it appears that the earned-run rule was adopted for the benelit ef the owners of the clubs, and if they think prope abolish this feature cf scoring the scorers should have a very small kick. The earned ard thing to watch in a game, and the public takes no interest in it what- ever; besides, it ble. Last year's averages placed McJamces ahead of Mer- cer in the matter of effectiveness, white in reality he wen fewer games, and as to ability he is net to be mentioned in the mé breath with the Easi Liverpoo! boy. Of course there is no way to prevent scorers generally counting the earned run if they want to, but the official scorers can be easily handled. They are hired by the league magnates. Under these circum- siances it is a collar to pennies wager that the official scorers will not go out of their way to find extra work. Several of the Erominent writers haye contended that there will be no way of telling how effect- ive a pitcher has been during the season, but here again the scorers have gone out of their way to hunt for trouble. If a Pitcher helps materially to win games, cenducts himself like a gentleman and his health remains good, it will not be neces- sary to spring figures on a manager to tell him that the player is a valuabie one. Dinneen and Willis were acknowledged to be the best pitchers in the Eastern League last year, but when the averages came out they stood about 14 and 15 in the list of twirlers. It didn’t need figures to tell the Boston management that Willis was a food cne and take $2,000, with Gatcher Lake thrown in, to secure him from the Syracuse management. The same case ap- plies to Dinneen. Numerous offers were For the past month / but in the other enough for George Edward. This season he will confine himself to looking afier the pleyers and persuading them to give the club their. best efforts. When one jooks back on the Philadelphia club of three yeats ago and contemplates the havos wrought by Stallings, it is enough to bring tears to the eves of the enthusias- tic base ball fan. At th ime the ers were the stars of the league. noi champions, but when they “lick the boots” off of a " that ever climbed into hase ball uniforms. The old timers never wor & game the score of It was always a score of 7 or 9 they to overcome, and they generally turr the trick when they once got going. Take the Phillies of 1895, with the addition of two good pitchers to help out Jack Taylor and they would come pretty near landing the flag. The club has always been weak in the box. This year the same weakness is in evidence, but the great combination of players in the other positions are miss- ing, and the club will be lucky to get out of the ninth hole, ag gic felt The Washington “fans” have a lot to hold sainst ex-Marager Schmelz, but ihe n® bright particular move that be whiskered manager made that has pleased and will continue to please when he secured Winfield B: Mercer's name to a atorial contract body acknowledges that Jim Mc- is the most popular man on tw but “Wi Mercer so n this res team, him is age. Mer- e first game » club April opening of the season, as he has always Gone in years past, if his health ar p in condition No more will ainst (hat ageregation of eagle his slow ball, but instead that ler will be on tap, and a guess- 9a the part of the Birds will be the re One of the most remarkable n zs about Mercer's ability as a pitcher he is as good in the spring as any p in the year, and the batters that go z t month of the season nost invincible. That slow ball, noted, has been improved with the additional e: » Mercer's winnings should in- pit rst the B ing match upon of last ciease fully son. This will with the Senator fifth season and, as he has contin- ually improved season after season, it will be a hard matter to place a limit to his ability the coming season. His health has been of the best the past winter, and time he is as a fiddle. villing = w Mercer has 1 himseif to Washi Mr. Wagner. The Mercer recently to the “That boy is a credit to the game as well as to himself. I have always paid him the limit and a bonus besides. No matter how many games he has pitched, be it three or four a week, I have yet to ask him to go into the box that he has re- fused, but instead has replied with a cheer- ful smile that he was willing to go in, and would do his best. He has never given me any trouble whatever; ts a thorough gentleman, and_I consider him the star twirler of tne National League. “Big Bil’ Lange hi to in speaking of writer, said: as abdicated in favor of Wi! Dahl the captaincy of the 9 club. L: teps down and out r of Dahlen because the star center ession that President Hart and Man: Burns bs vor the appointment of t €T_ submissively and E < ot notion that, to follow the dical friends, f “knockings” nfines of that nd wer more there would be all manner and bickerings within the ball tossing aggregation before the close of the comi But the manliness of Lange, his gc art and his love f the club stifle his ambition, and Bill Lang captain or plain center fielder, will play all the pi: that there is in his robust frame the coming seakon. One of the first moves that Manager-Cap- tain Brown will make after the local play ers have signed their contracts will be the drilling of the Senators into a strict ob- servance of the new rules against kicking and*rowdyism on the ball field, so that when the regular season opens ‘they will have nothing further to learn or remember about attending to their part ef the game and allowing the umpire to direct his part f it without nee. Captain Brown will tell his play the rules were made to be obeyed, and that he has enough faith in the other club managers to Deliew that the regulations will be observed throughout the season. That may or may not prove to be the case. There are man who dovbt it, but_an observance by men as Captain Brown will put som: the others on record in a pointed they attempt to evade the rule: Brown is the man to keep his own men in line in decency, and just the man who will not permit the captains or players of any other league teams to come to Wash- ington and give offence to the people of this city who support the club at home. Some of them may not know it, but the Will get into trouble if there is any more of the exhibitions at National Park that were seen last season and seasons before that. Brown himself is just the man to obey and see to it that others do the same Goxstp. players will gather in this city tomorrow before setting sail for their southern practice grounds. Everybody is in line, and Captain Duffy says the cham- Pfonship rece is all over but the shouting. The players’ dressing room at National Park. been greatly improved by Phil. Wegner. A double floor has been put in the ceiling and sides lined with heavy pa per and the lockers conveniently decorated with hooks and locks. The Philadelphia club will have trouble with the big Frenchman, Lajoie, before the season opens, He was fined $200 last season for not taking good care of him- self, and he wants this fine returned before ening a contract this year. Bert Myers, Milwaukee's third baseman, is getting himself in fine shape out at Na- 1 Park. Bert, says the reduction in is too much for his understanding. He says he can make a living in Wash- irgion and that will be all he can do if goes to Milwaukee under the new con- tract. © cent of the players in the Western are holding out against the reduction, and it looks as though President Johnson will have to ab- dicate. Manager Barnie is too shrewd a base ball man to be taken in by Manager Hanion's offer to trade Kelley for either Griffin or Jcnes. Kelley may be the better man of the three, but if he should be dissatisfied with Brooklyn, and the chances are that he would, his worth would be nullified. Harry Davis has already fallen into the utility role for the Pittsburg club, and, as usual, can do anything well. Davis is @ natural-born ball player, aggressive, ener- getic und a gentleman, and President Wat- kins will have to search a long while be- fore he can find a better man for that first-base job than genial Harry. The National League magnates should remember that a good thing may be push- e@ too far. They undoubtedly have the best of the players when it comes down to dictatitte terms and the number of games they shall play, but success can come only to those that treat their players right. Thé if ptain ‘The Poston again either by the base ball magnates or. the "patrons of the fame. The National