The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-21
THE PRICE OF A BICYCLE.
WILL WHEELS BE CHEAPER NExT
YEAR OR NOT.


observation-disclosures OF Reductions
Which Will Come Sooner or Later
and Riders Are Hoping IL VIII he
sOOn-The Profits in bikes Large.
But Not So Large As Many People
SuppOse-What IL Costs to Put BIZ
cycles on the Market.
What viii be the price of h.gh-grade BIZ
cycles next season-S75. $50, so or 500?
This is question which is agitating not
only the public, but, TO some extent. the
manufacturers as well. With those makers
who have marketed, or nearly marketed.
their product for this year, the question
of price is just now vital. An eastern firm
that claims to have more TO do with fix
ing the price than any other has just is
sued statement, which is as follows:
The question which is agitating manu-
facturers Of bicycles this year is whether
or not the standard Of prices will be main
tained in 1897. This is a hard matter TO
gauge. Many well-known critics predict a
slump in the market, argue that price-cut-
ting will prevail, and insinuate that many
manufacturers will go to the wall. The
last assertion Is doubtless true, but the
leading makers of high-grade wheels are
not apprehensive of the result. 1t is main
tained by many that the high-grade wheel
will be sought for with the eagerness that
met the outputs Of a dozen big concerns in
this country this season. Representative
establishments, which make representa-
tive wheels, will not feel the crash. They
have been advertising their products and
are known for their position in the trade,
and will be able to hold their popularity,
no matter what comes. Take any industry
in the country-for instance, any industry
that has particular "cinch" on some ar
hcle-they have their agents in every city.
and those agents are selling none but the
goods of the companies interested. There
are no consignments of wheels to agents
by flrst-class manufacturers. and these
people are in a position to maintain the
prices on their wheels and 500 will be re-
CURED for a wheel Of good manufacture,
as they commanded this price at the begin
ming of the present season" Ii seems to
be the purpose of the above to give the
impression that the really high grade BIZ
cycles Will be sold next season for 500, the
same as during this season, though the
meaning is somewhat obscured.
There is no manufactures who would
not give the price of several wheels 10
have the question settled definitely to
know whether he will get 500 each Tor
his machines or will have to cut to
lower figure. The public rather expects
a material reduction. That is partly
because of the few failures that have
been recorded and the many that have
been predicted, and partly because some
newspapaS writers who know next to
nothing about the subject have written
repeatedly that the actual cost Of a 800
other $40 is profit
Such estimates are really ridiculous.
They take no account of interest on CAPT
tai invested, rent of factory and offices,
clerk hire and other office expenses, trav-
cling and selling expenses, advertising,
freights, agents rents and profits and
lot of other things that count up to a
very considerable amount.
They take no account either of the
risks the manufacturers have to take
in making great number of wheels Ma
chimes that are not sold during the year
in which they are made have to be sold
the next season at a reduction of from
one-quarter to one-third and sometimes
even more. There is profit in high grade
wheels at 500, but the profit isn't $40
or anything like it. The statements to
the effect that bicycles of standard make
will go for $50 or so next season, there
fore, are very far from the truth.
One high grade wheel has already taken
a slight drop. Now the question arises
will the others follow?
The League Of American Wheemen is
an organization to promote the general
interests of cycling; to ascertain, defend
and protect the rights of wheelmen; TO
encourage and facilitate touring; to pro-
mote the Improvement of the public
highways and an intelligent care and re-
pair of the same; to promote and regulate
'cycle racing by amateur contestants on
the track, and to regulate the govern
ment of all other amateur sports connect
ed with the use of the wheel
The league has an Arrangement with
very many hotels in all parts of the United
States, and members can procure discounts
or special favors by showing a ticket of
membership.
Genial companionship, easy intercom-
munication, mutual protection and Ge-
Tense, sensible laws and reasonable adj
ministration of them, good roads, con
structed and kept in repair with intelli-
gcnce after the most approved methods,
and some degree of freedom in the use
of them, comfortable hotels and moder-
ate charges; these are indispensable aux
ilaries to the progress and safety of 'cy-
cling In such matters the individual
wheelman is powerless and the ordinary
club ineffective; but league of many
thousand cyclists can exercise a great
influence in obtaining public recognition
of what wheelmen want and in promot-
ing the success and increasing the popular
ity of cycling.
In Spain there is no distinction between
amateurs and professionals, all riders COM
peting for money prizes.
A coasting contest may be one of the
features of the national meet at Louis
vile.
Upon the bench he sat and sat,
While others came and went,
His face, half hidden meath his hat,
Showed doubt and terror blent;
His sweetheart passed; he didn't rise;
She knew not what he meant.
She little guessed the dreadful ties
That held him while she went,
For though with love his heart was filled
He moved to no extent
Because he sat where some one spilled
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Bicycle accidents in the crowded streets
of London for the first three months of
this year amounted to 184 all together.
none fatal and ten serious. This is a
smaller ratio than the number of carriage
accidents.
He starts,
He moves,
He seems to feel
He's perched upon
A Wriggling eel.
Bike Ballads.
One of the best new bicycle boots for
women is fashioned ike a mans dress
boot The sole is made of rubber with
roll in the rear of the ball to keep the foot
from slipping on the pedal. The vamp is
OF glove kid or soft leather, with the por-