The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-11-14
MILLIONS In BICYCLES.
GREAT SUMS SPENT EVERY YEAR
FOR WHEELS.

8tuFetN1 - t0p NNN-N1LAeW ANIA
cny Aion. IA. 4o,ooo-Ths whssis
snd PIsnss Have csss ess. ooo, 200.
The men who make bicycles sss ths
force OF the Apostle Pnui,s request that
riches. They have no use for poverty or
very rich nor the very poor, ~ Q rule, buy
bicycles; the very rich because too much
lnbor Is involved, and the very poor be-
cause they have not the money. Occa-
slonally millionaire may be seen strad-
ding wheel, but mot often; IL il the
people OF moderate means who princi-
Eally buy bicycles, and who, therefore,
are Of most Importance to the bicycle
makers The largest numbers OF bicycles
in proportion to population are found In
suburban towns, where there is not
enough wealth for nearly every family to
keep horses, but where every body Is COM
fortably situated.
Since the bicycle craze began, the poo
pie Of this country have invested more
than $4,000, 900 IN wheels. Unfortunately
exact figures are not to be had, for the
census does not enumerate bicycles A. 1t
does horses and sheep, and Indians not
taxed. But the leading makers can form
very close estimates, and It ID from their
estimates that the figures in this article
are taken. Comparing their estimates
with statistics gathered In small districts
whore the number Of bicycles In use 10
known to certainty, 1t II found that the
estimates OF the makers are very con.
sentative, and are below rather than
above the mark. N
In the judgment Of the leading bicycle
makers and sellers, officers OF bicycle
clubs and editors Of periodicals devoted
to bicycling tho number OF wheels at
present In nse In this country IL about
800 900. The League Of American Wheel
men has $1,000 members, and experience
shows that only one-t tenth Of the wheel
men belong to the League. This IL al
most the total number Of wheels that
have been made or sold In the country
In the last ten years; for bicycle II
not, on an average, actually retired from
service In less than ten years.
But 1t 10 not to be supposed that the
same rider uses the Same wheel for any
thing like ten years. The bicycle like the
horse has various conditions that It must
pass through. II Ii In its best estate In
the first year, and after that II u likely to
be Esold or exchanged Tor one Of newer
style. after another year Of use, during
which 1t isa second-rate, II changes hands
again, and continues to change almost
yearly until even the renters OF machines
discard 1t and II falls into the hands of
some poor boy who takes It only because
he cannot afford better.
All the makers agree in fixing the aver
age price Of bicycle at $125, and at this
rate the SOC, 600 in use in the country have
cost s26, 500, 900, and with q population OF
q, 622, 900 the average 10 one bicycle to
every 200 persons throughout the United
States.
The figures for New York city bring
the matter nearer home and show more
intelligibly what an enormous amount OF
money Ii invested in bicycles. The maxi 4
ers and sellers and others who have the
best facilities for knowing say that 40, 900
wheels are in use in this city. There ID
every Indication that this Is largely under
the actual number. These 10000 wheels
cost originally 50, 600, 900, and the stocks
on hand and investments in manufacture
Ing and repair ing machinery In the city
are given at 81 ,000, 900 more, making the
total Investments in this city alone So
O0O, 600. With a population OF 10000
and 10000 wheels In use the average In
New York city Is one bicycle to every
A2H persons. But it ID not in the metro
politan city that the bicycle IL most used.
"If the streets of New York were bet
ter more bicycles would be used here.n
This is one Of the first things that all the
bicycle sellers in this city say to an In.
quirer ON the subject. But In London,
with her much larger population, only
80 900 bicycles are In use. The bicycle
clubs In this city are numbered by hum
dredy, but Of tho larger clubs there are
about thirty, OF which one has more than
f1O0, 900 invested in its clubhouse.
How many machines are sold in this
city every year the figures of one of the
largest makers, viii give an idea. This
maker says that he sold 1900 wheels ut
the New York ONCE last year, and that
the number will reach Is, 900 this year.
This ID an average of more than eighty
machines for every working day for one
maker alone. These machines do not, of
course, all stay in the city. Even of
those that are not shipped but are taken
by the purchasers, large proportion go
to the suburban towns.
OF the capital invested in bicycle
making machinery it Is easier to give
absolutely definite figures than OF the
number Of wheels in use. All the Ameri-
can manufacturers combined have S12,-
0eo, 900 invested in plants and stock, and
this amount increases at the rate OF about
$780, COCA year by the improvement OF
old factories and erection OF new ones.
Three million dollars more Is to be added
to this for investments in bicycle club
houses and race tracks, making, with the
S37, SOC, 900 invested in wneels,sa total of
s52 SOC, 900 invested in this country in BIZ
cycles and the bicycle interest. And this
is q low estimate.-N. Y. World.
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