The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-11-08
ARMY BICYCLISTS.
The Wheel Has Not Come Up to
 the Hopes of the Military.
THOROUGH TEST MADE IN EUROPE.
An Embargo Likely to Be Put on the Im- portation of German Horses-Enect of the Eastern War on the
 Straw Plating Industry.

Straw Plating Industry.
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-The bright hopes that have been entertained by the military men that the bicycle might be an effective adjunct in war times have been dashed by the ex- haustive trials made in Germany, France and Austria of bicycle corps. United States Consul Stephens at Annaberg has transmitted to the state department an article from the military correspondent upon the result of trials made in Ger many which he says correspond to those obtained in France and Austria. He says: "We have on trustworthy authority that the results of the trials which the various army corps have made with the cyclists by no means comes up to the expectations which were formed. The cyclists have been tested in every possible. way and all though it is not forgotten that the cycle is capable of further developments and the cyclist of still better training, still this will have little influence on the general result. For military purposes, too, a distinction must always be made between the achievements of pro- fessional and amateur cracks and the work that can be done by the average soldier"
 The correspondent details one or two cases wherein the cyclists were of service as mounted postmen, but says that where the roads were bad they were of no use at all and certainly can never replace the mounted orderly. Says he: "An arm which can only be effectively employed under special con- ditions can never rise to be of general importance.
 AN EMBARGO ON HORSES.
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-The embargo which Germany has just placed against American cattle may have a sequel which the German authorities have not anticipated, viz: an investigation as to glanders and kindred diseases with which German horses brought to this country are affected. Secretary Nor ton called attention in his last report to the lack of inspection of horses com ing from abroad, and suggested it would be well to provide for quaran- timing horses. At that time there was such comity between this country and those of Europe in the shipment of live stock that the horse inspection was not urged. Now, however, with Germany closing her ports against A tha atar gestion of protection against diseased horses becomes pertinent.
 '"There is much more reason" said Dr. Salmon, of the bureau of animal industry, ''why this country should exclude diseased horses than that Ger many should exclude American cattle. The action of Germany is ostensibly on the ground of diseased Texas cattle, but these are only an insignificant per centage of the cattle sent to Germany, and there is no reason for excluding all because small class are alleged to be affected. We recently received ship ment of sheep from England affected with hoof rot, which is much worse than Texas fever. We sent them back but it did not suggest that we should exclude all sheep because these were affected. It is the same with horses affected with glanders. There ought to be protection against such diseases, and the secretary has urged it. This country takes great many horses from Germany, mainly of the heavy country coaching variety. They are sound as rule, yet the glandered horses get in occasionally. If, there fore, an entire stock is to be judged by a few diseased ones it would seem to be time to establish horse quaran- tine."
 THE STRAW PLATING INDUSTRY.
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-One unexpect- ed result of the war in the east, which will bring it home perhaps to our own people, is described in report to the state department from United States Consul Stephen at Annaberg, Ger many. He says: "The straw plait- ing industry, with it's seat in Dres- den, Saxony, is beginning to feel the eff fleets of the war in eastern Asia. The straw hat manufacturers usually draw their material, put up into straw braids, from China and Japan. The blockading of the ports from which these braids were exported has caused a scarcity and higher prices of the raw material. Manufacturers are begin ming to look for other sources from which to supply their demands, and expect to be on the spring market having nothing better-with home