The Wheel Cycling Trade Review, Vol 2, No 20
Articles in this issue
- Editorial saluting the famous round-the-world cyclist Thomas Stevens, who has left the lecture platform to set off on a perilous new journey of exploration under the patronage of the New York World, likening him to Stanley.
- Welcomes New York Mayor Grant's annual-message endorsement of repaving the city's decayed avenues with granite block or asphalt, and urges the State Division to press the Street Commissioners (likely chaired by asphalt advocate Walton Storm) toward smooth pavements.
- Reprinted from the Evening Post, an essay arguing American roads are among the worst in the civilized world, citing Governors Beaver of Pennsylvania and Ames of Massachusetts and Prof. Jenks of Knox College on the need for county management and skilled engineers.
- Special report from Dallas on the Dallas County Road Convention, where seventy-five delegates from fifteen black-soil-belt counties, led by Col. J. B. Simpson, passed resolutions seeking a state law to let counties issue road bonds for macadamized highways.
- Reprints the L.A.W. Executive Committee's official letter (signed T. J. Kirkpatrick, H. W. Hayes, W. S. Bull) clearing Charles H. Luscomb over his circular backing Governor David B. Hill, with The Wheel's editorial dissent that Chief Consul Bidwell, not Luscomb, should have acted.
- Quotes Massachusetts Governor Ames's recommendation to create a Commissioner of Highways to advise cities and towns on road and bridge construction.
- An editorial reply to a correspondent 'B.' who urges the L.A.W. to appoint a live roads-improvement enthusiast in each State, naming candidates such as Isaac B. Potter, Chief Consul Bidwell, Arthur Munson and Dr. W. H. Emery.
- Humorous editorial recounting how an indignant Manhattan Bicycle Club visitor ('a cyclone') stormed the office to deny scribe Fenton's claim of ill-feeling between the Manhattan and New York Bicycle Clubs.
- Patents reported for The Wheel by C. A. Snow & Co. of Washington, including a velocipede by Calvin Jackson of Jacksonwald, Pa. and wrenches by Geo. E. Franklin of Natick and Albion K. Spaulding of North Belgrade, Me.
- Calendar of forthcoming bowling-league matches, club receptions and meets, including the A.A.U. Games at Madison Square Garden and the National Assembly L.A.W. Meet.
- Long correspondent's report on the Bay City Wheelmen's race meet before 5,000 spectators, highlighting F. D. Elwell's defeat of Fred Russ Cook for the Coast championship, Plummer's safety wins and a solar eclipse during the novice race.
- Fenton's satirical column lampooning inhospitable New York clubs, the 'technical writer' of cycling, a rowdy club theatre party, and a visit to Wagner's 'Rheingold' at the Metropolitan.
- Philadelphia correspondent 'Westfield' reports the Pennsylvania Bicycle Club's first ball and stag dances, South End Wheelmen elections, J. R. Lincoln Edwards's 7,418-mile record, and Captain Supplee's club-runs challenge.
- Reading, Pa. correspondent 'Vortex' covers the Penn Wheelmen's officer elections (President W. I. Wilhelm) and humorous local anecdotes about the 'Senator's' Irish setter pup and member Douglas's collision with a six-mule team heading to court.
- Report of the Wheelmen's Bowling League game in which Hudson County beat Kings County on the latter's alleys, with the full score (H.C.W. 1498 to K.C.W. 1488).
- Brooklyn notes on the B.B.C. electing lawyer Jas. Fox president, a planned joint theatre party with the K.C.W. and L.I.W., and the New York Club vs. Harlem Wheelmen bowling result; plus the Brooklyn club's monthly mileage totals led by W. E. Fuller.
- Notes on the Washington Cycle Club's revived social life and a Thursday smoker, and an obituary item for Dr. H. T. Appleby of the Buffalo Bicycle Club, claimed as the first American to ride after seeing English wheels at the Centennial Exhibition.
- Trade write-up of the firm's 1889 line, noting the Champions little changed, the Rambler altered to an open-front machine guaranteed to carry 250 lbs, the all-steel Ideal Rambler safety at about $75, and a new noiseless drop-forged steel chain.
- A correspondent 'Tourist' weighs the safety against the ordinary, conceding the safety suits timid, portly and middle-aged riders but defending the ordinary as the more comfortable, cleaner and faster road wheel, with touring advice.
- Reprinted from The Cyclist, discussing Sydney Lee's and Henry Sturmey's differing theories on why safeties side-slip and a trial of a 22-inch-driver safety, suggesting wire-shod tires after a Stanley Show example.
- Reprinted from The Cyclist, comparing the ladies' safety's eager American uptake against conservative English reception, doubting it will displace the tricycle for women who ride year-round given side-slipping and falls in muddy weather.
- A festive ladies' column by 'Kathleen and Norah' (from Irish Athletic and Cycling News) on Christmas benevolence, the joys of cycling machines as gifts, and lighthearted domestic musings.
- Reprinted from Bicycling News, a tour of Mr. Lovel's vast 'Cycledom' cycle depot on Blackfriars Road, London, holding some 600 machines, with its riding school, forge and own-brand machines bound for the Stanley Show.
- Reprinted from the Spectator, Mr. Page's gently satirical list of cycling habits he would avoid, mocking scorchers, oversized mounts, mileage-medal mania and road-hogging.
- Annual report noting the Buffalo Club added forty-two members for a total of 136, assets exceeding liabilities by $5,000, and top mileage scores led by D. N. Lewis with 4,500 miles; plus the Rutherford Wheelmen's clubrooms destroyed by fire.
- Reprinted from Ironmonger, describing the Patent Silico-Enamel Co.'s transparent silicate-of-soda glaze for protecting cycle and metal surfaces from moisture, and its companion 'Pictorine' for gilt picture frames.
- Personal and trade gossip column noting Herbert W. Hayes and others sailing for the Stanley Show, John A. Wells joining the Strong & Green Cycle Co. and hiring Chris Wheeler at the American Athlete, and the Lynn and Middlesex Cycle Clubs' elections and records.