The Wheel Cycling Trade Review, Vol 3, No 12
Articles in this issue
- The editor reproduces and rebuts portions of a letter by "Uncle Sam" of New York published in the British Cyclist, defending the Bown ball-bearing patents, the independence of the American cycling press, and disputing the claim that the manufacturers' combination is losing its grip on the trade.
- An editorial urging New York wheelmen to press the Department of Public Works under Commissioner Gilroy to try improved paving materials—asphalt, fire-brick, or smooth stone blocks laid in cement—when the city spends its expected pavement-renewal funds.
- Commentary on the New York Legislature's mangling of the Yates Prison bill, which stripped out the provision to employ convicts on public highways in favour of a compromise the editors argue will cost the state more while doing no good.
- Reports the Eastern Trunk Line Association's May 7 resolution to charge 25 cents per 100 miles for carrying bicycles, replacing free carriage, with the League's transportation committee under Wm. Brewster and Geo. R. Bidwell meeting to contest it.
- Reproduces the five rules adopted by Brooklyn's Department of Parks Executive Committee regulating bicycle and tricycle riding in Prospect Park, including an 8-mph speed limit, a night-lamp requirement and keep-right rules, agreed after consultation with leading Brooklyn clubs.
- A letter from the Vermont Division of the L.A.W. endorsing The Wheel's advocacy of convict labour on the highways, noting the Division was first to pass such a resolution at its 1888 Montpelier annual meet.
- Notice of a published report containing Wm. H. Rhawn's paper "A Plea for Better Roads," arising from a March 1889 Philadelphia property-owners' meeting over the Kensington and Oxford Turnpike, recommended to authorities contemplating macadamising streets.
- A wide-ranging personal column by "Jack" mixing a Cape Town doctor's advice on alcohol and temperance with social musings on marriage, youth, class and the pace of American urban life.
- News from the Troy Bicycle Club covering its second run to Newtonville under Captain Hanley, the run schedule through Decoration Day, member elections and resignations at the monthly meeting, and ex-L.A.W. representative George Albert Spicer's departure for Chicago.
- Hagerstown Meet preview noting over 1,000 expected Pennsylvania wheelmen on July 2–4 and the July 4 race programme, plus Baltimore club news including the Chesapeake Club's new clubhouse, Centaur Club building plans, and an Eagle bicycle hill-climb exhibition at Windigate Hill.
- Preview of the Chicago-to-Pullman road race, entries closed May 10 with over 100 expected starters competing for $1,000-plus in prizes including safeties from Pope Mfg. Co. and Western Toy Co., starting from the Leland Hotel on Michigan and Grand Boulevards.
- Brooklyn club notes covering the Brooklyn Bicycle Club's meeting interrupted by the 23rd Regiment cadets, its June 21 house-warming plans, and the Kings County Wheelmen preparing for the May 30 23-mile Decoration Day road race, with L.H. Wise leading club mileage at 1,723 miles.
- Short Kings County Wheelmen notes including J. Schoefer's Eagle bicycle won at the Harvard meet, three members arrested for fast riding in Prospect Park (charge disproved), and a humorous "What We All Would Like to See" list.
- "Ithuriel" reports the Missouri Bicycle Club's contentious meeting voting by a majority of two to restore house rule 3 banning Sunday card and billiard games, after President Andrews admitted withholding notice to keep the rule's supporters from attending.
- "Argus" reports a 12-mile road race between McDaniels of the Pennsylvania Bicycle Club and L.I. Kolb of the South-end Wheelmen, won by Kolb in 43 minutes, plus inter-club team race plans and the coming Schaeffer-Bailey match.
- Chas. Alex. Persons reports Alcazar Bicycle Club officer elections, a three-mile Pablo Beach race won by Howatt and Davis, a planned Florida State Division of the L.A.W., and the great southeastern tour through Alabama and Tennessee led by Thos. L. Ingram.
- Quoting the Minneapolis Tribune, reports the local wheelmen's bid to host the September L.A.W. Division Meet during the Exposition, with a planned 3,000-rider lantern parade, a new six-lap cinder track, and lake runs and banquets.
- Calendar of cycling fixtures from mid-May to late July 1889, spanning American meets from Chicago and Providence to Ottawa, Kansas and Hagerstown, plus European championship dates at Paddington.
- Full results of the Harvard meet, with R.H. Davis winning the one-mile safety scratch in 2m. 53 3-5s., J.W. Schaefer the two-mile ordinary handicap, and the Bailey brothers taking the two-mile tandem safety over Davis and Geo. Hendee.
- Preview of the Rochester West End club's Memorial Day programme of nine events including a Monroe County championship and five-mile open handicap, noting Windle's absence after a recent header.
- Preview of the Rhode Island Wheelmen's Memorial Day tournament at Narragansett Park, listing all cycle events and their varied prizes including the 2-mile L.A.W. National Championship and several state championships.
- Results of two bicycle races at the National Guard Athletics: J.W. Judge of the Riverside Wheelmen won the one-mile novice in 3m. 24 2-5s. and J.F. Borland of the Brooklyn Bicycle Club the two-mile in 6m. 39 3-5s., L.A. Schoefer second in both.
- Official notice of the July 4 race programme at the Tenth Annual L.A.W. Meet in Hagerstown, Md., listing nine events including three national championships, with gold medals for all first prizes and a silk banner for the team race.
- Preview of the sixth annual Woodstock A.A.A. meet on Queen's Birthday (May 24), detailing seven bicycle events and prizes including a solid gold "split second" stop watch worth $165 if 2:40 is beaten in the open mile.
- Technical description and factory-visit account (by "Jack") of Frank White's White Flier rear-driving safety from the White Cycle Co. of Westboro, Mass., emphasising its adjustable swinging lever-pedal drive and roller bearings.
- A Washington correspondent describes a man in M Street who built a four-wheeled pedal-powered passenger vehicle seating six, running a regular route from Albaugh's Theatre at 10 cents a passenger.
- Three cycle-related patents dated May 14, reported by patent attorneys C.A. Snow & Co.: W.E. Smith of Washington (bicycle), S. Clark of Childs Hill, England (lamp holder), and M.F. Abbott of Jeffersonville, Ind. (velocipede).
- The Division's official department under Chief Consul W.S. Bull, covering the annual Division meet announcement, the touring hotel agreement, and the full New York State League hotels and consuls list from Albany to Yonkers.
- Consul R. Frank Bowne announces the Allen House at Glen Cove as a first-class League hotel and reports the road from Minneola or Roslyn rideable in one hour.
- Correspondent "L.A.W. 2449" updates his itinerary to Orange via Bergen Hill and Carlstadt, noting road improvements and proposing a wheelmen's ferry from foot of 72nd Street funded by a $2 levy on the New York clubs' members.
- "Marguerite" recounts learning to ride her new Swift ladies' safety over three days up to a 41-mile Sunday with the Middlesex Cycle Club, and reports that club's first run of the season to Chestnut Hill Reservoir with 23 members.
- A female correspondent argues from comparative experience that the safety bicycle beats the tricycle for ladies' ease and control, and recommends a plain corduroy skirt for riding dress.
- Complete 46-entry list for the May 30 25-mile Decoration Day road race on the Irvington-Milburn course, with riders from Kings County Wheelmen, Wilmington, Philadelphia and other clubs.
- The Long Island Wheelmen's ten highest April mileage records, led by L.H. Wise with 770 miles, and cumulative season records to May 1 where Wise tops the list at 1,723 miles.
- Results from the Surrey Spring Meet at Kennington Oval on April 27, where F.P. Wood won both the mile scratch for the Sydney Challenge Cup (3m. 14 2-5s.) and the 10-mile challenge cup, with T.J. Osmond second in both.
- Thomas Lloyd of Queens offers a prize for the fastest half-mile by boys under 15, with R.W. Kellogg currently leading at 57s. and a gold medal offered to any amateur breaking the 2m. 59 4-5s. track record.
- "Snohomish" describes the Tacoma Bicycle Club's April 30 Centennial run to American Lake with a three-mile scorch won by Halsted on his Star and a comic plank-bridge brook crossing; a later telegram reports Halsted winning the 20-mile road race in 1h. 26m.
- Detailed circular for the R.I.W. annual run on May 20, leaving Providence for Sharon and running via Blue Hill, Dorchester and Chestnut Hill Reservoir to a supper at J.M. Hill's restaurant, at about $4 a person.
- Miscellaneous trade and club news including the Universals' disbandment, R.P. Gormully reporting 13-hour factory days and 70/30 ordinary-to-safety sales, Karl Kron's letters on the Washington Square arch, and the trick rider A.H. Minting's 50-foot spiral feat at Aston.
- "Pitts," reprinted from Spirit of the South, gives a comic diary of the Louisiana Cycling Club's May 5 excursion to Bay St. Louis, including a four-mile handicap race won by Sprigg in 16:23 and the trip home in the baggage car.
- Conclusion of Ashton Nichols's tour account through the Wallkill Valley and Pike County, Pa., describing a collision with an uncooperative stage driver near Milford and a table of League hotels and rates for the route.
- The editor refutes "Uncle Sam's" surmise in the Cyclist that Colonel Pope is secretly backing the Eagle bicycle, explaining the Eagle is built by an organised stock company under contract with the Ames Mfg. Co. of Chicopee, Mass.