The San Francisco call., 1896-02-03

nese mechanics who are familiar enough
with the business to make wheels, and
they have absolutely no machinery such
as is used in the large American factories
They never put ball-bearings in a wheel
unless they happen to have a set taken
from some old America wheel. The light
est wheel made over there weighs forty-five
pounds. and they use rag" tires, that IS,
made largely of cotton fabric with thin
outer coating of rubber. After six mouths
use the wheels and tires are completely
worn out and useless.
In the army, police, postal, messenger
and telegraph service of the Government
bicycles are used in great numbers and
have been found exceedingly useful.
Ninety-nine Fer cent of the wheels used
are of American manufacture, however,
and all the popular makes are represented.
The American-made wheels give the best
satisfaction, and their light weight, dura-
bility and handsome lines have made
them the favorites.
In the Japanese factory spoken of the
wages paid average from So to s. a month
per man. The wheels they make sell for
$55 for pneumatic-tired machines, and
about $40 for cushion tires. In the factory
there was not man who understood the
business. All the tubing used and every
part of the wheel is bought abroad and
merely put together there, and that by
hand.
These remarks, from gentleman who
has been on the ground for years and
knows all about the facts of the matter, is
a practical refutation of the reports which
have been so generously circulated that
the japanese would soon invade this mar
ket with bicycle. to be sold at from $i2 to
$40, which would be equal if not superior
to those OF American manufacture. APP
parently the American manufacturers
need have little uneasiness for the present.
With the class A and B racing, and pos
sibly the professionals as well, and the
cycle show on the side, the indoor tourna-
ment next month promises to eclipse any
thing OF the kind ever seen here. The
Stearns and Syracuse teams, now in South
ern California, will give up their record
breaking attempts shortly and come here
to train especially for this meet, and as
there are several last men among them
they should be very successful, but they
will have hard field to beat
1t is not thought among the wheelmen
that the present disruption in the Ameri-
can Athletic Union and its Pacific Coast
branch will have any effect on them.
While the League of American Wheelmen
belongs to the A. A. o., and its members
are therefore governed by its rules, they
are allowed certain laxity because the
sport of cycling has assumed such proper
tions that it EN- braces entirely different
conditions from those of any other athletic
sport.
At first all riders were either amateurs
or professionals. The dividing line was
closely drawn. But it was found neces-
sary to make some provision for the anna
teurs that they might be given more lee
way as to prizes and the acceptance of a
salary for riding a certain wheel so class
B was arranged for them. The National
Assembly this year will probably draw the
or atatrr fiuh n +hof !
men who have been known as class A will
have to be pure amateurs or go into class
3. Their prizes will be lower in value.
they cannot travel away from home, must
own their own wheels, never accept COM
pensation from any one, not even club,
for training, riding or anything-in fact, it
will be so that man in class A will only
remain there long enough to get little
speed, and VIII then find his confines so
close he will be anxious to get into
class 3, where he can ride for more
valuable prizes, receive pay for rid
ing make of wheel, travel when and
where he pleases, exchange his prizes for
cash, and do everything professional can
do except race for cash prize.
Wheelmen amateurs are allowed great
deal more leniency than those in other
sports, but it seems necessary, for there
are so many OF them and the sport has
assumed such shape that it must be ham
died by the league with great liberality of
spirit in regard to the amateur question or
the men might kick over the traces. The
league could never afford to give up its
control of racing, as some have argued, for
it is the very backbone of the organization
and the racing men are SO strong numeri-
cally and otherwise that the league has to
treat them very considerably at times.
though it never loses it's dignity or control
thereby.
As q whole, however, the racing men
and wheelmen in general are thoroughly
satisfied with the way the sport is han
died by the L. A. W., and it is question
If they could be induced to desert it.
as the Pacific Coast branch of the
American Athletic Union proposes to do.
and form State athletic organization of
their own. Wheelmen are prone to travel
from State to State and compete against
riders all over the country. The moment
one left this State he would come into con-
tact with l.. A. w. members, who would
not eide against him if he had Tot con-
formed with its rule. The league exercises
gentle power over all wheelmen, which
they are glad to submit to, and as a whole
are well pleased with their lot.
Fred r. Butz, John +. Cooney and
George w. Conroy are the road officers of
the Olympic cyclers for 1896. Captain Butz
was reelected to the position he held last
year at the annual election in January.