The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-25
WEALTH In WHEELS.
Enormous Capital Invested IL
Bicycles in This Country.
An Industry That Has Grown to Mana
moth Proportions In a Few Years
Tims-Cost TO the Makers
and Users.

3
capital invested ia the manufacture
of bicycles alone aggregating $4,000, 900,
Yet, as has been shown, these firms are
but a 1.-THE of the whole, and the indus
try is growing larger and more wide
spread every day.
Judging from the capital invested
in our own concern" said the manager
of one of these firms 70 me, II Should
say that $50 200, 600 to $40, 100000 would
be conservative computation Of the
amount of capital invested in the BIZ
cycle industry in this country. And this
is for the man ufacture of bicycles alone.
/ do not include those necessary ac-
cessories-saddles, lamps, bells, chains,
tubing and odd parts. The manufac-
ture of these articles has necessitated
the building OF specially constructed
plants attached to existing factories,
and, of course, the employment of many
hundreds of additional hands. In these
achievements l do not think / am
oyerestimating when I say that an
other $1O,0O0,O00 or $4,000, 900 has
been invested in the last three or four
years, and with perfectly satisfactory
results.
There is, however, a peculiar and
altogether unlocked for change in proc
ess. When the industry started upon
Its truly remarkable course bicycle
makers were unprovided with ma
chinery and tools for the manu-
facture of certain parts of the wheel,
such, for instance. as those made with
screw machinery. This was almost
entirely done by one firm. whose bust.
ness in consequence increased enor-
mously. Necessity is the mother OF
invention, you know, and as it soon
became evident that these parts could
be made more cheaply than they could
be bought there very quickly arose
bright engineering geniuses in nearly
every establishment who set them
selves to the invention of new and i'm
proved machinery with which to make
them on the parent premises"
II do not fear contradiction" said
the manager of one of the largest ath.
letic sundries concerns in the country
to me, when declare my belief that
there is not trade in the United States
hat has not been beneficially affected
by the bicycle industry. Why, even
the butchers are benefited by the i'm.
proved health and healthier appetites
OF the people. Members of every trade
have found it to their advantage tc
invest some money in one of the many
necessary adjuncts to the bicycle pas.
time.
THE leather goods people have found
1t necessary to invest in special class
Of goods favorable to the manufacture
Of saddles, bags. valises and such like
sundries. The shoemalers now make
specially designed shoes. legeings, etc.
The glovemakers are affected. WatcH-
makers manufacture and keep on sale
cyclometers and such like instruments
of precision. Photographic apparatus
makers turn out specially designed
cameras. Woodworllers and cane
workers and cork cutters. engravers,
locksmiths and newspapers all have
found it positively necessary to invest
more or less capital in various branches
of the bicycle industry. The total rap
ital thus invested, entirely outside of
the actual manufacture of bicycles, can.
not be far short of $4,000, 600 or $780,
100000. The investment is spread over
an enormous area"
A little sum in arithmetic is neces-
sary to get at the amount of money
spent by the devotees of the new pas.
time.
Prices of wheels vary from $50 ta
500 and upward; SIS may, therefore,
be pretty safely accepted as an average
first cost to the owner of a bicvele
Put down another SIS for such ad-
Juncts as lamp. bell. cyclometer and a
few useful, handy tools. There is DOS
sibly a suit of bicycling clothes. which
may be estimated at 500. and then for
the simple repairs that may be needed
while on long trip and away from the
regular repair shops of the maker.
These are not likely to exceed So in a
year. The guaranty given with all BIZ
cycles covers all ordinary repairs not
the result of carelessness or accident
caused by the owner. Together these
sums, which include first cost, amount
to sos. Now by the end of the sea-
son a rider may be tired of his ''bike"
or sees one he likes better. and wishes
to make an exchange. His old machine
and $50 to $50 will procure him brand
new one of the latest model. Hence we
may take it that the annual e1pens. OF
keeping bicycle, inclusive of first
cost, Is about $50, or, say, 81 per week.
This. Of course, does not include re-
freshments on Journeys, hotel and
other incidental expenses.-N. Y. Her
aid.