The Russellville Democrat., 1892-02-25
THE SILENT WHEEL.


Even Jerry simpson Rides TO the Capitol
ON Bicycle.
The bicycle has become the popu
lar means Of locomotion in Washing
ton, says The Republic. 1t is to be
seen everywhere that vehicles can
go, and at all hours Of day and
night. There are over 10000 riders
of ssthe silent wheel here. They
include all sorts and conditions of
men and women. A minister Of the
gospel may be seen flying along the
avenue, closely pursued by a mes
senger boy mounted upon a wheel
every bit as good. The Washing
ton messenger who values his
reputation owns or borrows a bicy
Gle. How he manages on his mea-
gre pay to possess himself of the
costly machine he generally bestrides
is a mystery which the writer has
not yet solved AS result of the
use of the bicycle messages
are delivered here with more
celebrity than in any other city in the
country. Sufferers from the slow
going messenger service in st. Louis
and other cities vii appreciate this
innovation. Department clerks pat
ronize the bicycle extensively. Out
side of every department during bus
mess hours may be seen dozens Of
wheels chained so that they may not
be ridden off by the bicycle thieves,
who have heretofore found this an
inviting field. People even go to
church on wheels here.
There are seven regularly organ
lied bicycle clubs in the city, with
large aggregated membership, which
does not, however, include the great
mass Of riders. Business men who
use the wheel do not, as a rule, have
time to belong to clubs. Several
hundred women own machines, and
a great many of them are expert
riders. There are dozens who can
take the Capitol hill--which is
pretty stiff climb even for a hardened
man rider without the slightest diff
fculty. Every day men can be seen
pushing their wheels up this incline.
The fine streets of Washington
have given the impulse to bicycle
riding which has proved such
bonanza to the bicycle manufac-
turefs. There are over sixty miles
of fine asphalt pavement, to say
nothing of miles of excellent macad-
amized roads in the suburbs, which
are available to the wheelman. One
can hardly find street that does not
offer good surface for riding 1t
is but natural that such excellent
facilities for enjoying this popular
sport should be taken advantage Of.
Most Of the prominent makers of
bicycles have their agents here, who
do a rushing business. Bicycles
may be rented by the day or hour,
and many visitors avail themselves
of this privilege. The rate is ex-
ceedingly cheap when the amount of i
pleasure derived is taken into con
sideration.
There is a local law which re-
quires that headlight shall be car
ried on every machine at night. If |
this were not in force there would |
be many accidents with the thous
ands of wheels buzzing through the |
town. In consequence the red and |
white and green lights of the quick |
machines are very con-
spicuous after nightfall.
There are half dozen congress
men who ride to the Capitol daily. |
Even Jerry Simpson has a machine.
How some of his Alliance constitu
ents would stare if they could see
Jerry flying through Pennsylvania
avenue ON his cushion-tired wheel. |
There is not the faintest sug-
gestion of calamity" in his APP
pearance. He sits erect and pedals !
like man who is glad that he is
alive and able to annihilate space in
so comfortable a manner. Senator
PETER has not yet been induced to
embark on a bicycle. But there are
several years of Washington life yet
before him, and nobody can say that
some day his whiskers viii not be
seen floating above one. Repre-
sentative Tom L. johnson, of Ohio,
is one Of the most enthusiastic
wheelmen here. One would not
think that he weighed 200 pounds
and over to see him cover the dis
lance between Wizards and the
Capitol.
he Ifnaatysaah Man