New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16

A. Pope the pioneer Of the cycling industry in this
country While 1t has been said, and not denied,
that there is not a manufacturer in the thi'eu
States who makes every part OF his wheel the
Pope Manufacturing Company come as near uo'iS
It any other in the land. Like nearly
everybody else who Is all interested In the d.
cycle Colonel Pope is enthusiast on the SUD-
ject and matter how many business cares are
weighing upon him he is ready always TO TAI"
cycle even with the novice. At the time when the
recent cycle show being held IN this city, lhe
Colonel had many business affairs TO attend 10
that he said that he would be able to remain at the
show only day. Those bicycles. however were
too much for him. and Instead of remaining one
day he there all week. Colonel Pope Is a
member of many social. business and educational
Institutions of the country. and ne Is a veteran OF
tie late war. Elliott Mason. the local head OF the
company. said:
think that the cycling industry In 1895 helped 10
bridge over what might have been rather duli
has hurt many other trades. and 1t has probably.
but It has helped great many as well The gr9wi9
wor1rHen all over the country at good wages many
OF whom would otherwise have been out of employ
ment. The scale of wages paid to the men Is good.
and in our factory we employ only skilled labor
workmen in the factories In the East are paid better
WAGES than in the West.
We employed at our Hartford factory alone last
year 1900 people and think that we will average
1000 this year. Last year we had $500 agents dis
creased materially this year. We make exclusive
contracts with our agents. and we give each agent
handles our wheels only. and he gets a good COM
mission for doing il.
THE CAPITAL INVESTED
This industry has become tremendous that II
almost frightens when ! try to reckon II up II
estimated at the recent cycle show that the
companies which exhibited wheels there repre-
scented a capital of N0.OOOC0O There were. Of
course, great many firms which were repre-
sented Our company has paid In capital of 5000
CO. and this does not include buildings. Nobody
tell what the output will be this year for the
1895. ! think that the summer Will be well advanced
before any accurate estimate can be given There
the old manufacturers have adopted different meth
DDS this year. Our output Of Columbus to date IS
larger than II for the entire season OF lNo. We
have two forces working at the factory. ana the
work goes on night and day
i spent three months Europe last year. ana
they just much interested in the bicycle over
e. sr,r% edncatonal nnrnoses and II ia beIplng to
open up the outlying districts as It IS here The
wheels in use in most of the interior towns over
there generally cheap cycles made In Germany
France and in some parts of England. They are
heavy and not as graceful looking as our wneels
frequently heHy burdens The wheel has been 81,
soldiers on wheels Naples.
In Paris the cyclists ride neat. light weight
wheels They give particular attention to their cos
tunes, and they nearly always present d nat;y APP
pcarance. While was in Paris saw only one
were in neat-lookine kncherhockers. The men ride
occasionally in a costume which would cause much
comment here. | saw many Frencnmen wearing
handsome suits. but their legs We're bare from the
ankle to the knee. They wore silk socks. which
reached just above their shoc-tOps. and they made
me think OF n lot OF sc0rchers their 10
meet.
In England. where there is much rain. the
number OF cyclists is astonishing. They use big
tires. to prevent slipping on the wet roads ana
streets, mud guards. chain guards and gear cases
In Germany and Italy all bicycles have 10 be
licensed. saw rider arrested In Milan FOR riding
at night without Hight. and II caused the biggest
KIND Of "A row / would Ike say in closing that
think the cycling industry is In It's infancy The
possibilities OF the wheel are enormous.
PRESIDENT COLEMAN. OF THE BOARD OF
TRADE
r. Lindsay Coleman. tho president Of the Board
OF Trade OF cycle Manufacturers. Is also the pres
dent OF the Western Wheel Works. makes Of
Crescent bicycles. Mr.. Coleman IL pioneer In tho
cycling world. He promises to bc worthy sue
cessor the eX-prcslcnis. Colonel Albert \. Pope
ana a. G. Spad!ng. Sterling Elliott. olniiIaic
for the presidency OF the League OF American
Whcelmen. In discussing Mr. Colcman's age with Il