The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-15
RICHMOND INVENTIONS.
SLyERfL USEFUL ACCESsORIES
THiT WERE ORfGINfTED HERE.
The Proposed Bicycle Ordinance and What
the Provisions are Likely 10 Be-1he
1896 Model
Bicycle ordnance.


Equal rights 10 an, special privileges to
none.
me Leaeuc IS trying TO get an ordi-
nance passed thai viii protect wneolmen
and pedestrians alike.
At an informal discussion before ncn-
bcTs OF the ordinance committee the mem
peIs were considciate ana patient
Tie League now has bb2 members. COM
posed OF AL classes OF citizens, including
some Of the most prominent and con-
trrNatlNC ia the city. ana m, CoHnch
viii not give tnch slap i'm toe lace Dy
passing an ordinance mat VIII cripple a
N.4uanic means OF rapid lOcOmOtIOn ~
80 large number OF citizens.
An ORDINANCE has been proposed 10y The
League which provides against cOastins
IN the city streets, ANA against reckless
riding, limits the speed 70 ten miles an
hour and eight miles turning corners.
ana provides for Though the League does
not rccommcndj bells 20 provision j.
made FOR lamps.
Join the League and help push through
ms useful measure, Don't forget 10
report TO Thomas Christian, chairman
OF the committee, all bad holes in streets
and the throwing Of glass into the road
way.
NEW MODELS.
90 into any Of the leading bicycle ageu-
cies OF Richmond and YOU are likely 10
see u group OI Interested wheelmen gath
cred around an 1896 model wheel eagerly
scanning its points ana discussing us
improvements. As predicted. larger tub
does not reach the extreme that nigh,
have been expected
The next most important feature is the
narrower treads. and il has been secured
more by ingenious COntriVances-disnin
the sprOckct wheel. shortening the outer
ends of the crank Shaft, and the Ike,
than by any sacrifice Of the Rightly or
The ifamt by too narrow lines. For IN
stance, one well known make of bicycle
that In 1875 has u cup bearing outside
the rear hub, has In the 1896 model com
bined the two, and gained three-quarters
of an inch Ina narrowing the tread.
The wheels OF 90 have gotten rid OF
an superfluties in weight. but they have
retrenched on extremes I'm this direction,
and the average road machine VIII be
stronger than last year. with perhaps
pound or two more of metal in them,
distributed as dictated by the experience
OF accidents the past season.
Higher gears are also "A marked feature
of the season 1896. and there IS also much
talk of a changeable gear for Instant
use I'm meeting the requirements OF hill
climbing or speeding.
Neither this or the much-discussed mo
torcycle has reached Richmond yet, but
they are coming.
RICHMOND INVENTIONS.
Richmond is not behind in bicycle in
NentiOns. Some OF the most popular and
useful accessories of the wheel originated
in this city. notably, the pants guard
with the curved ends by Alex X. Schaap.
Another popular and much used Invention
by the same gentleman is the carbolte
bicycle handle. Two of the more recent
inventions which apply TO the handle
were made here. one is pith handle,
made from the pth of the aelanthus
tree. so plentiful IN this State. and com
monty called the paradise tree. For 1t,
- claimed ncatneSs. beauty, ieNtreme
lightness. fine absorbent qualities, ana
great strength and Durability.
Tho handles will b. manufactured here
by the American Pith Handle Co.. of this
city, for the trade.
The other invention is particularly fine
aad was the work OF Mr.. J. w. Starritts
ingenious brain.
1t Is a bicycle bell having its lever and
mechanism inside the hollow hande-bar
of the machine. and the gong. which IS
very little larger than the handle on the
bar, makes "a continuation of the handle
and without scrutiny might be taken for
the metal cup ordinarily used on the
handle.
The bell is loud and clear. and being at
the end OF the haudle makes it free from
accident on account of falls. while the
lever IS convenient 20 the thumb or fin
ger, and, like the gong, is scarcely no
ticeable on the handle-bar. The two
chief objections to bells their ugliness
and liability TO accident, are removed by
ny Is chief clerk OF the Chesapeake ana
Ohio railway in this city. and his inVen-
ton Is very valuable one.
MRS. FRANCIS L. WILLARD
Mrs. Frances i. Willard, President OF
the Worlds Christian Temperance Union.
perhaps the most noted and influential
woman Of the day. in summing up the
things 10 be mentioned in THANKSGIVING
prayer as important facts in moral in
ruenee. gives prominent importance TO
the bicycle, and says. II thank God that
the sacredness OF the human body and
the happiness that results from its we'll
being are the worldwide motives that
now lead men and women 10 seek phys
zeal exercise TO a degree never before
known The knoeling circle OF women in
The Crusade little conceived that in the
swift revolving years the swift revolving
wheel was TO furnish no inadequate an
swer TO their prayer They grieved over
the waywaIdness OF their boys, who were
rot really vicious. but whose restless en-
orgies sought the congenial companion
ship OF others like themselves, and found
no rendezvous 80 convenient as the sa-
loon. hut those boys are as happy as
their mothers would be TO find release in
TO the great pleasure garden OF nature.
and, what ia the last analysis is best OF
all, their mothers are beginning TO 20
along with them, and Will do so more and
mere"
A TEMPERANCE REFORMER.
1t Is too early for us TO forecast the
incompatible degree and variety of I
changes that the use OF the bicycle rem
ners probable Among its triumphs as a
temperance teformer--for there ~ noth-
ing In the field that compares with it |
may be mentioned the fact that in near !
~ all civilized countries one now finds the 4
notice posted upon the wayside inn. "Mils |
Tor Bicyclists." When the practice OF /
fohriety reaches this stage. II has passed I
the Quagmire Of uncertainty emerged !
from the bramble-bushes OF unpopularity. 1
and intrcnched Itself In the honorable /
precincts OF commercialism
Tho bicycle leads our young men di- |
rcctly from The fumes OF the saloon 10 !
where they "babblo OF green helds"; from |
the garish lights OF the Sunday theatre /
10 the panorama OF the river-bank and /
the forest This fact is ruofully admitted I
by tho aioon-keepers themselves, some /
OF whom have been SO crippled IN their |
Sunday Gales that they have cursed the /
bicycle and closed their doors.
THE NEW MODEL.
Many Of the 's6 model wheels /,
are already on exhibition In the agcncies, |
now, 30 that there Is little use I'm d.
scribing them. As was predicted. large |
tubing prevails.
far from the truth 10 assert that had /
style and spasmodic effort at change |
been less prominent In the question Of |
cycle building. the evolution OF the wheel |
would have been even more rapid than II |
kas been: aud, mechanically speaking. ]