The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-09-09

In the current number OF the Forum
some interesting data have been col
lected by J. r. Bishop to show the
economic and social influence of the
bicycle He estimates that since the
passion for wheeling got under full
Roadway, less than five years ago, at
least 800, OOO, 900 have been spent in the
purchase of bicycles in the United
States alone.
The output for the present year isl
computed at from $50, 600 to 100000
machines, at an average retail price Of
$50 each. Obviously, a million people
cannot buy bicycles at the average
price named and continue TO supply
themselves with as many other things
as they would otherwise have bought.
What are the other kinds OF business
which have been most seriously affect
ed by the remarkable development of
the new branch of manufacturing
The makers of watches and jewelry
are said to have been the first to feel
the effects of the diversion of money to
bicycles 1t seems that formerly on
Christmas day or birthday the favor
tie present to the male members of the
family was a watch; now it is bicycle.
The young girls on their part were
accustomed to save their pin money for
the purpose of buying earrings or a
breastpin; now they hoard it for a hi
cycle. The. grown-up daughter, who
piano, now concludes that she will
wait no longer and gets a bicycle in
stead.
1t is reported that the piano trade
for the current year has fallen off 80
per cent. According to the furniture
dealers, young women, when allowed
by their parents to choose between a
new set of parlor furniture and a BIZ
cycle, always choosing the latter.
Undoubtedly, however, the worse
sufferers are the horse and carriage
trades and the auxiliary lines of bust
ness. Saddle horses are drug in the
market; the livery stable business has
been cut down from a half to two
thirds; for new carriages the demand
has been SO much reduced that several
| leading manufacturers have gone to
the wall. The saddle and harness ma
kers have been forced to turn their at
tention to the making of bicycle sad
| dies. Riding academies have been turn
ed into bicycle schools
| So far only the direct economical
consequences of the bicycle craze have
been considered. Mr.. Bishop proceeds
to discuss some of the indirect effects.
| The journals of the tobacco trade as
sert that the consumption of cigars has
fallen off during the present year at
the rate of 100000 cigars day. This
| they ascribe to the fact that, as a rule,
| wheelmen do not smoke while riding.
Saloon-keepers say that they also
| suffer, because their rooms are desert
| ed on pleasant evenings. Even the
wheelmen who visit them avoid strong
drink, because riding requires a steady
head. A large restaurant in this town
which makes a speciality of table dhote
dinner has incurred this summer a loss
of half its business through the deser~
| ton of wheelmen. Railway and steam
! boat men report that eXcursionists pre-
/ fer TO go to the country Or the sea-
shore on the bicycle rather than by
rail or water. Trolley and other street
car lines from cities to their suburbs
| have had their receipts senSibly dim
| inished. In cities the theaters are saiG
TO be injured by the bicycle even in
winter, and to be ruined in summer
! On the other hand, in country villages
the churches are fast losing the attend
ance of young people on Sunday, and
are trying to lure them back by pro-
viding rage-room for their wheels.
! Shoemakers complain that they suf-
fer materially because persons who
| formerly got their exercise by walking
have taken to the wheel, upon which
they ride in Iow-priced shoes, which
are subject to little wear and tear The
/ hatters say they are injured because
bicyclists wear cheap caps. The tailors
aver that their business has been dam
/ aged at least 25 per cent, because their
customers do not wear out clothes as
rapidly as formerly, spending much OF
| their time in cheap ready-made bicycle
suits. Dealers in dry goods say that
I the prediction of young women for
the wheel has reduced their sales of
dress goods and expensive costumes
/ from 25 to 80 per cent, because so many
girls prefer an evening ride in bicycle
garb 10 sitting at home in more eIabor-
ate apparel. Finally. the booksellers
declare that much riding prevent much
/ declare that much riding prevents
much reading, and that their trade
| suffers. One great news agency in
/ New York city. which deals in novels
and periodicals, asserts that its loss
/ in trade this year from bicycle COM
petition does not fall short of 81 600, 600.
! Some of the economical effects of the
widely extended use of the bicycle will
no doubt, be lasting. but others are
/ certain to be transitory. AS Mr. Bishop
/ raTOarLxC neODJa arc NOT oOiDo 70 oar