Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-08-06
nroYobrs sr ran.
Efforts That Are Being Made to Insure
Their Safe transportation.
iJhilnfalt,bfn pr,aa

Efforts That Are Being Made to Insure
Their Safe Transportation.
Philadelphia rross.
The railroad companies OF the United
States have begun TO realize that the
bicycle craze" as they term II, has
come to stay and that the means for
carrying these bicycles are inadequate.
1t is realized that, considerable care has
to be exercised In tho movement of the
bicycle and that whom an ordinary
baggage car is used, without having
any appliances for holding the wheels
there is liable to be more or less
damage done, and when the company
makes charge for tho transportation
it is and can be held liable for any
damage that may occur while the
wheel is in its possession.
Tho officials OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad Go. some time ago began to
look around for some device by which
tho bicycles could be carried without
the risks which attond their trans
portation. At the presnt time the
wheels are placed in the baggage car
with other miscellaneous baggage and
when there arc a number OF wheels
they are more or less mixed up. While
there is not often any great damage
done TO tho wheels. it has been known
to cause considerable trouble. To
obviate all this, some time ago. Chief
OF Motive Power Ely sent drawing OF
II device for holding the wheels in
place, but as yet nothing definite has
been done.
While Mr.. Ely's plans are not original
they are an improvement over Others
suggested, and il the company adopts
them they will be of considerable
advantage in the transportation OF
bicycles. The plans call for the placing
Of number of goose neck hooks in
the top of freight car, and they are
to be 80 placed that there will be two
for each wheel The wheels are to be
caught by the handle bars and the rear
frame, which will not necessitate the
removal Of anything that is fastened
to tho wheel.
Tho Pennsylvania Railroad Co. 10 moi
the only railroad that has this matter
| up before it, as it ia understood that
nearly all roads that do any bicycle
| business have tho matter of safe trans.
| portation under ad,isement.
The Pennsylvania company's line,
which operates all the lines of the
| system west Of Pittsburg, has had con.
siderable experience in this matter
and recently L. u. Taylor, superin.
tendent of the transportation of these
lines, prepared plans for an arrange.
ment whereby bicycles can be easily
carried in cars without inconyeniencinp
the baggageman or in any way exposing
the whenls to injury from other bug
gage falling upon them. His plans
call for number of clamps to be
arranged at the top Of the cars so thai
the wheels can bB hung UP.
These clamps are made specially fol
this purpose and will prove a great ait
to tho already much worked agent
Three cars will be fitted up ut once by
the Fort Wayne Co. and will be triet
on some of their popular trains. l.
the trial proves success all the bag
gage cars on tho line will be provided
In the same manner. Mr.. Taylor ha
spent much timo in trying to solve th,
problem of bicycle transportation, ant
now thinks that he has found the righ
method. At the rate the shipment o
wheels as baggage is increasing, tn
railroads will soon be compelled to pu
on extra baggage cars. 1t is though
by some that return to charging TO
transportation will soon be made oil
this account. .a. ...