The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-08-26
Continued from LIST Page)

y
other sufferer mention it Much OF
the damage in certain lines of bust
ness is only temporary. As soon as
the people get stocked with bicycles,
and changes and improvements are
not so important as to lead to the
purchase of new ones year by year,
money will begin to flow back again
into some of its former channels.
People are not going to get on per
manently without watches or pianos
simply because they ride upon bicy.
Giles. At present they are willing to
put the possession of bicycle above
everything else. A few months ago,
there was an advertisement in the
elevated trains OF New York city
which attracted attention by the de-
lightful unexpectedness of its propo-
sition. 1t read: "You do not use
your piano often. Why not ex-
change it for folding bed2" This
advertisement was recalled to my
mind recently by the sight of the
following in Buffalo newspaper:
"Will exchange folding bed, child's
white crib, or writing desk for lady's
bicycle" An enemy of the wheel
has cited this as certain proof of the
existence of a bicycle "craze" since
it discloses smother who appears
willing to sleep on the floor or hang
her baby on hook in order to be in
the charmed circle of cyclers" This
is forced Interpretation. The
mother might have had other sleep
ing accommodations both for her
self and baby. What strikes me as
more convincing proof Of "craze"
was the action of Plumbers Union
in Indianapolis, in adopting strong
resolutions condemning the use of
bicycles by plumbers on the ground
that by so doing they were able to
get through their "jobs" more
quickly. Nothing but craze"
would induce plumber to ride to
and fro between the shop and his
"jobs" on wheel. AS everybody
knows, the chief part Of plumber
business is sitting idle on the site of
sob" while his helper goes back to
the shop for something. If there is
to be bicycle for the helper to ride
on, then staggering blow has been
struck at the plumbing business,
and the plumber who is so blind as
not to see this must be the victim of
a ''craze." The union is quite justi-
fed in raising a cry of alarm.
But there are gains as we'll as
losses. Capital has merely shifted
it's field of operation. If many lines
of established business and industry
have been injured, now lines have
been opened which have given en-
| ployment to an increased number of
persons. Within five years the num-
Der of bicycle manufactures in this
country has risen from one or two
to several hundred. These give
steady and well-paid employment to
thousands of persons. Scattered
over the country from New England
to California are manufacturing
towns which have sprung into new
life and prosperity, after years of
slow decay, through the advent of
this young industry. Then, too, an
enormous business in the making of
bicycle sundries has grown up
which does not require special
talent or training and in which
plants" for other kinds OF business
and manufacturing can be used. 1t
is fact also that suburban real es-
tate has advanced perceptibly under
the influence OF the bicycle passion
There is larger demand for coun-
try homes from families who wish
to live where the children, as we'll as
the parents, can ride with greater
pleasure and freedom and with less
risk of accident than in the cities.
This is one of the most beneficial
effects Of the bicycle. 1t is develop
inn n lnva for country life and ;s