The Springfield Wheelmen's Gazette, Vol 2, No 1
Articles in this issue
- Opening editorial for Vol. II, crediting the first volume's success and wide pickup by American and English cycling papers, and promising improved typography, broader national coverage, and a subscription price of 50 cents a year.
- Sharp editorial condemning the editor of The Wheel (the L.A.W. official organ) for partisan attacks on League officers including President Dr. N. M. Beckwith and Treasurer W. V. Gilman, and calling for reform at the forthcoming Washington meet.
- Humorous and approving note on the National Board of Health's purchase of a $140 bicycle, arguing the Board is rightly up with the times and should recommend the wheel for promoting public health.
- Response to The Bicycling World's criticism of entry fees at amateur race meetings, defending the Springfield Bicycle Club's practice of charging fees as a means of limiting fields to committed racers rather than encouraging professionalism.
- Optimistic editorial arguing that 30,000 American bicyclists represent the start of a permanent shift in locomotion, not a passing craze, and that the self-contained independence of the skilled wheelman makes cycling a genuine public benefit.
- Summary of Dr. B. W. Richardson's magazine speculation that the bicycle's achievement of 20 mph at 26 lbs in human power puts aerial locomotion within reach, envisioning a flying canoe that skims water surfaces like a sea-bird.
- Karl Kron's first-person narrative of his final season with bicycle No. 234—a Pope Columbia with a 10,082-mile record across 23 states and provinces—including a dramatic runaway caused by canal mules near Honesdale, Pennsylvania, rawhide bearing repairs in Cazenovia, and the machine's retirement to a Hartford showroom pedestal.
- W. V. Gilman, at editor Ducker's invitation, outlines the League's objects (promoting cycling, defending wheelmen's rights, facilitating touring) and urges every wheelman to join for one dollar; appended are his annual reports as Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, including a full balance sheet showing $1,025.38 on deposit and a $100 donation from the New York State Division.
- Wide-ranging column of cycling briefs covering the Springfield tournament dates (September 2–5), English championship schedule at Lillie Bridge, Cardiff, Crystal Palace and Newcastle, Dan Canary's proposed trip to England, the L.A.W. Washington meet, W. W. Woodside and W. J. Morgan's planned New York–San Francisco cross-country tour, and a horse-vs.-bicycle race in San Francisco won by John D. Prince and Louise Armaindo.
- Detailed career profile of Springfield's George M. Hendee—physical measurements, race history from his 1882 debut to his 1883 ten-mile Springfield championship in 33:43 over 'Doodle' Robinson—crediting him with 28 first prizes worth $2,600 and noting his 1884 mount will be the Sanspareil racer.
- Second round-up of short items covering New England club news, the League's Essex County meet at Salem, the Detroit Club's Canadian tour, racing results from Leicester and Australia, the Cleveland Athletic Park Company's new cinder track, and Woodside and Morgan's 4,800-mile cross-country bicycle tour.
- Report on the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, district court case of Harry West, charged with riding on the sidewalk, in which Lawyer Wood argued for two and a half hours that the town by-law was unlawful; the case was continued by Judge Tucker pending a new, more precisely worded complaint from Chief of Police McKenna.
- Extensive club-news column covering the Quaker City Bicycle Club's three-day Philadelphia tournament (June 17–19, $5,000 in prizes), the Capital Club of Washington's move to a new four-storey clubhouse at 919 G Street with 115 members, and officer elections for the Springfield Bicycle Club, Scranton, Brockton, Trojan Wheelmen, Waltham, Newton, Montreal, Troy, Fitchburg, Harrisburg, and several other clubs.
- Karl Kron announces the results of his preliminary subscription canvass for his projected road-book: 1,065 pledges from 309 cities across 34 states and eight foreign countries, with Springfield leading all cities at 56 subscribers and the Springfield Bicycle Club leading all clubs.
- Notice that the second annual meeting of the American Division of the Cyclists' Touring Club will be held at Poughkeepsie, New York, on May 21–22, with a business meeting, banquet at the Morgan House, and a parade run arranged by the Ariel Wheel Club.
- Profile of M. D. Gillett's bicycle dealership, which grew from zero sales in 1880 to 360 machines in 1883 and a new showroom at Harrison Avenue and Main Street where he sold 103 machines in April 1884 alone and expects 500 for the season.
- Report on W. W. Woodside (Irish champion) and W. J. Morgan (Canadian champion) performing at the Boston Institute Skating Rink on April 26—Woodside winning a two-mile race in 6m. 36s.—ahead of their planned 4,800-mile cross-country tour from New York to San Francisco on a British Challenge and a Rudge respectively.