BICYCLING. 



157 



ough test in the presence of a number of 

 spectators. The wheel was ridden over 

 ditches, logs, rocks, glass and in other 

 ways given a complete test, with the result 

 that it proved in every way satisfactory. It 

 is said the idea was presented to Mr. Col- 

 lins as the result of a puncture. He was on 

 a run and a puncture occurred when many 

 miles from home. He was forced to walk, 

 as his puncture kit had been left behind. 

 While trudging along this new idea came 

 to him and he began work on it the next 

 day, with the result above related. 



It is said Gen. Nelson A. Miles, of the 

 United States army, has recommended that 

 10 of the wheels be ordered for the use of 

 the soldiers, as an experiment. 



" I was never in the bicycle business," 

 remarked the sheriff as he fixed the drop 

 for the condemned bomb-thrower; "but I 

 think I make a pretty good crank-hanger." 



IMPROVEMENT OF THE ROADS. 



Road improvement work, of the L. A. 

 W., is being pushed with vigor along sev- 

 eral distinct lines and will have the active 

 attention of the committees having charge 

 of that branch of league work, in the vari- 

 ous state legislatures and in Congress. A 

 new and hopeful impetus has been given 

 the movement by the proposed establish- 

 ment of postal savings banks, by the gen- 

 eral Government. The urgent recom- 

 mendation of Postmaster General Gary, in 

 his official report, that these banks be put 

 in operation in the rural counties, has led 

 to the introduction of no less than 9 Con- 

 gressional bills for that purpose. The 

 main objection thus far urged against the 

 scheme is the lack of opportunity for good 

 investment of surplus deposits; and this dif- 

 ficulty has suggested a provision by which, 

 under proper direction and restrictions im- 

 posed by the Government, the money may 

 be invested in county bonds issued to ad- 

 vance the work of road building, in the 

 several states. 



In this way the investments, while yield- 

 ing a safe and fair income to the depos- 

 itors, will be employed to develop and im- 

 prove the rural neighborhoods, increasing 

 the value of surrounding property, and, of 

 course, adding to the quality of the county 

 bonds, which are at all times secure. Such 

 a proposition will soon be put into one of 

 the pending bills before Congress and the 

 L. A. W. will give it active support. 



Meanwhile the attempt to pass good 

 roads bills will be renewed in several states, 

 and conspicuous among these are New 

 York and Connecticut. The wheelmen will 

 work again for the passage of the Higbie- 

 Armstrong bill, in New York, as well as 

 for other important road measures. , 



The opposition of several members of 



Assembly, to this bill, during the last 

 session, was resented by the wheelmen at 

 the late election, with the result that not a 

 few of the old members were left at home. 

 It is not hard to imagine that a repetition 

 of last year's experience may, at the next 

 election, change the entire political com- 

 plexion of the legislature; but the officers 

 of the L. A. W. appear to be generally 

 confident that this winter will witness the 

 passage of this much desired legislation. 



In Connecticut the chief aim of the 

 sturdy worker, Chief Consul Westlake, 

 seems to be the passage of a law providing 

 for the raising of money for road building 

 purposes by a special issue of state bonds. 

 Mr. Westlake has taken up the subject 

 most earnestly and is promised the active 

 support and co-operation of President 

 Potter, and the machinery of the national 

 body of the L. A. W., in his effort to get 

 the Connecticut farmers out of the mire. — 

 N. Y. " Press." 



" I make my husband sleep with John- 

 ny." 



"What's that for?" 



" Well — he rides his wheel so much he 

 kicks all night in his sleep. Johnny kicks 

 too, and so they get along together beau- 

 tifully." 



The new bicycle ordinances in Washing- 

 ton prescribe a bell " sufficiently distinctive 

 from the bells provided for the fire depart- 

 ment and ambulance service," and require 

 all cycles in motion to display a light from 

 one hour after sunset until one hour before 

 sunrise. A vehicle turning around to the 

 right has the right of way; if turning 

 around to the left, the person in charge 

 must see that the way is clear. A vehicle 

 turning into a street on the left must leave 

 sufficient space between it and the left-hand 

 curb for the passage of another vehicle. 

 In turning into a street on the right, it 

 must keep to the right of the centre of the 

 street. No vehicle shall be so directed as 

 to crowd a wheelman against another 

 vehicle, or against a curb or other ob- 

 struction. 



Motor carriages and other vehicles in 

 motion must carry lights, visible from the 

 front and from both sides, during the same 

 hours as cycles, except that persons bring- 

 ing produce to market are exempted. 

 Cyclists must not cross car tracks at inter- 

 secting streets at over 6 miles an hour; nor 

 cross other intersecting streets nor ride at 

 over 12 miles an hour, nor ride on public 

 highways outside the city at over 15 miles 

 an hour. Handle bars must not have the 

 grips " on a lower plane than 4 inches be- 

 low the top of the saddle at its centre, and 

 the rider shall, at all times, keep his head 

 in such position as to command a view 

 ahead of not less than 200 feet." 



