The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-09-12
BICYCLE INDUSTRY.
It's Tremendous Growth in the
United States.
Figures Which Show the Won
derful Progress Of the Wheel

D.ring the last few years the Dicy-
Gle industry in the United States
which formerly represented but a
small outlay of capital. has increased
SO rapidly in the number OF manuiac-
turing plants established as to make
study of its growth extremely inter-
esting.
To satisfy the present demand for
wheels, there are no less than 2oo OF
these plants in the United States 10
say nothing of the vast number OF
wholesale and retail establishments
engaged exclusively in the bicycle
trade.
Exact fipures cannot be obtained,
but according to the best informatioh'
there will be no less than l,OoO' ooo
bicycles manufactured in the United
States this year.
A western firm will turn out be-
tween 10000 and $4,000 machines,
after eighteen different models.
Other large firms expect to produce
from 40, 600 to $4,000.
For several years large number OF
BICYCLES have been purchased in the
foreign market, chiefly from the large
establishments sof Great Britain.
Within the last few months, however,
one of these English firms has decided
70 abandon the American field. ana
others will doubtless follow soon.
This, of course, will stimulate our
own production and result in the es'
Enlistment OF other large plants. 10
show the importance which this IN
dustry has acquired. one of the lead
ino firms of the country employs
2.7O0 men the whole year around.
This firm expects to produce 90, ooo
machines this year. Another hrm'
which expects to turn out 2o'oo'
wheels this year, employs !, 400 men
In order to produce 1000. 900 bicy
cles. the number estimated for tn
present year. no less than go, 600 men
working steadily for twelve months
will be employed by these variou
plants. :,
Some bicycle firms, however, d
> not make their own tires, tubing Q
: Medals. and these supplies are ful
= nished by other firms which exi'
merely for the purpose OF satisiyin
- this demand. Perhaps as many
- 30. 900 men are employed in tn
branch of the industry.
- A slight idea of the number OF .
70 .ycles in active use can be found iro
the number of cyclometcrs sold la
- year by one firm alone. These sai
reached the enormous total OF 2od
y 427, and yet there are thousands
~ riders who do not use these cyclom
q ters In New York city alone the
u are said to be 200, 900 bicycles in q
n. tive use. while the total numb
throughout the country IS put
somewhere in the neighborhood
~ 1000, 600.
Is Only a rough estimate can be ma
20 Of the enormous capital invested
eo the manufacture of bicycles Th'
'er are one or two companies capitail1
'u- at IS. OOO, 900, while the total amor
iiu invested is but little short OF $40. W
".e 600. Ten years ago the industry
'an represented by only small fractio
part of this sum.
Lev Most of these plants are seattle
acc about over the Northern and Mid
10. states. the greater number OF tn
Oh perhaps, located in New Engla
ies' Here is a splendid opening for
."o South. Already there are one or
w. plants in this section, but there
III room for others. The trade OF
> " Southern States is something Ell
u 70 nous and there should be emo
'u'a plants in this part of the country
aims aena
'.'' Verify the progress OF the bic
i's has been wonderful. Atlanta Coz
tuition.