This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our maps and tours contain much valuable data kindly supplied from the official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen. Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L. A. W., the Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership blanks and information so far as possible.
Copyright, 1895, by Harper & Brothers.
Having now given the better part of a dozen of the finest bicycle trips in the vicinity of Boston, Massachusetts, we must turn our attention to the completion of the trip from New York to Washington. The reader, by referring to the note at the foot of this column, will there be able to find in what numbers of Harper's Round Table the stages from New York to Philadelphia were printed. We therefore take up the route from Philadelphia, the first stage being from Market and Broad streets, Philadelphia, to Compassville, a distance of forty-five miles. Leaving City Hall by Broad and Twenty-second streets, proceed to Hamilton, thence by Twenty-fifth Street to T. A. B. Fountain, thence to Fifty-second Street, and there run into the Lancaster Pike, which is a fine road for many miles from Philadelphia. Nine miles out you pass through Ardmore. Then continuing on the Lancaster Pike a short two miles, you run through Bryn-Mawr, and four miles further on pass through Wayne. You should keep to the Lancaster Pike, crossing the railroad at Eagle. After passing through Devon there is some hilly work until Paoli is reached. All this time the rider has kept to the Lancaster Pike, but it would be wiser for him to leave the Pike and bear to the left at a fork less than a mile out of Paoli and just before reaching the West Chester Intersection. The route then runs by a straight and fine road out to Downington, where by a sharp turn to the right you cross the tracks and again join the Lancaster Pike. The run from Downington to Coatesville is direct and unmistakable. If the rider desires, he can put up here for the night. If he is doing 60 to 100 miles in a day, he can stop here for the noon meal. But it is wiser for both to go on to Compassville. On leaving the hotel you should run along by the railroad track almost due north, having crossed the main line at right angles. The road winds about somewhat, and there are one or two hills out to Wagontown, but with care and some inquiry there is no difficulty in getting started on the road which runs quite direct to Compassville, making a distance of forty-five miles from Philadelphia. Compassville is a reasonably good place to spend the night, the hotel being clean and the food good.
The direct route from Philadelphia to Washington leaves the Lancaster Pike at Paoli, and taking the left fork just beyond that town, runs out to West Chester, and thence through Sager's Mills, Chad's Ford, Double Bridge, to Wilmington. This route to Washington is shorter, but for several reasons the longer route, of which we have above given the first stage, is far more interesting to the bicycle tourist. In the first place, the road is better. Then the hills are much less frequent. Furthermore, the rider passes through much historic territory connected with the Rebellion, and the field of Gettysburg is easily included; and, finally, the scenery and the towns through which you pass are far more interesting.
Note.—Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford, Connecticut, in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814. Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816. Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie in No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No. 818. Hudson to Albany in No. 819. Tottenville to Trenton in No. 920. Trenton to Philadelphia in No. 821. Philadelphia in No. 822. Philadelphia—Wissahickon Route in No. 823. Philadelphia to West Chester in No. 824. Philadelphia to Atlantic City—First Stage in No. 825; Second Stage in No. 826. Philadelphia to Vineland—First Stage in No. 827; Second Stage in No. 828. New York to Boston—Second Stage in No. 829; Third Stage in No. 830; Fourth Stage in No. 831; Fifth Stage in No. 832; Sixth Stage in No. 833. Boston to Concord in No. 834. Boston in No. 835. Boston to Gloucester in No. 836. Boston to Newburyport in No. 837. Boston to New Bedford in No. 838. Boston to South Framingham in No. 839. Boston to Nahant in No. 840. Boston to Lowell in No. 841. Boston to Nantasket Beach in No. 842. Boston Circuit Ride in No. 843.