The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-29
The Results of Yesterdays
Heavy D0WnpOur.
Very Unlucky Spot for Wheel
men on Dyer Street.
Stonington Company to Add Splen-
did New Steamer to Its Fleet.

The last Sunday in june, like the first
and second, brought with it drenching
downpour which must have proven de-
cidedly scomforting to the thousands
of,persons who, despite the threatening
aspect of the skies during the morning
vsntured to the bayside resorts to regale
themselves on CLANS and drink in the
inyigvrating breezes from the bosom OF
the Narragansett. Once the rain
began 10 fall in the early afternoon
there wns n check TO the downward
traffic and speedy rush citywnrd on the
returning boats. And what soaking
some summer hats and costumes got. Tho
weather clerk seemed to have special
spite against them and opened the
flood gates wide whenever boat reached
the wharf and discharged Its human
freight 1t is fact noted by the Gossiper
that three OF the heaviest downpours
yesterday afternoon set in just as Dyer
street was crowded with returning ex-
cursionists and the bedraggling of dress
es and hats which followed was really
dishesrtening. Some fair ones sought
shelter under awnings or in the protect
ing doscways and waited for hours,
while others plodded grimly on as IL
they felt they were as wet as they could
be and no additional amount OF moisture
could do them further harm. Not Que
in every three who tradged through tho
down POUR along Dyer street had the
small protection of an nm brella, while
not a single water proof was noticed
among the passing Thousands. BY the
way, that useful article for protection
against summer showers, the gossomer
waterproof, which could be carried in
the pocket without Inconvenience seems
20 have been driven out entiiely by tho
macintosh, hut IL is safe TO say that
many women yesterday wished for that
discarded, IL nos discrediIed covering.
A friend OF the Gossiper who In inter-
csted in such matters has been making up
some interesting figures about patents.
He says that on such very simple thing
as wooden screw no less than 100 patents
have been granted, while on that prosaic
article OF household use, was boiler, some
600 have been issued. Lanterns are higher
up ON the scale, having over 1000 separate
letters patent TO their credit. For tobacco
pipes and mouth pieces there are a75. and
bottle shoppers, 600. All those are simple
devices, put, taking up more important
ones, 1t Is found that for sewing ma
chimes and machine attachments 60iS
patents have been granted; for tire arms,
not including heavy ordinance, torpedos
or machine guns, 1856; for car couplings,
67S0; and for knitting and weaving ma
chimes, 6312. For agricultural imple-.
ments, including planters, harvesters,
thrasbers and the whole range of sucn
tools and machines, 3f,575 patents have
been issued, of which 10, l22 are for plows
alone. Electric lighting is credited with
S346 patents, while for carriages, wagons,
etc, the aggregate Is more than 20. 900.
Patents granted for toys are almost i'm
Vulnerable, some 200 of them being for
savings banks alone At is stated further
that some of the most profitable patents
issued have been those for mechanical
toys
A slippery pavement is constant men,
ace to the nnwary bicyclist. This was
illustrated yesterday afternoon just aftsr
the rain began to fall. Three or four
bicyclists were riding north 'on Over
efreot, and when near the railroad bridge
over the river one of them went over
with his wheel on top Of him, and those
behind narrowly avoided running into
their fallen companion. he wasn't hurt,
nor did his machine appear to be dam
aged, for he remountsd and rode OF.
Less tnan five minutes afterward, and
almost in the same spot, q second wheel
man met with similar mishap, and he,
too, escaped without injury.
Speaking of bicycle mishaps recalls
Son.e very interesting facts about the
wheel and its use III France contained
in a recent report made by United States
Commercial Agent Griffin. He says there
are In use in France at the present time
more than $50, 900 bicycles. which Is about
one to every 90 persons able to ride.
In France, however, the wheelman has
10 pay AN animal tax of S1.y3 on bis ma
chine, but this import does not in any
way interfere with the growth OF the
cycling craze for ii is nothing else in the
land of the Gaul. Ono reason for the
great popularity of the wheel in that
country Is the splendid roads which
make wheeling both pleasurable and
safe. Moreover, the bicyclist societies
have carefully examined every route and
In addition TO other information have
noted on their charts oil dangerous de-
accents, sharp curves. steep incIines, etc.
Sign boards have also been erected at all
necessary points for tho guidance of per-
sons travelling awheel. Equipped with
these charts and with the sign posts TO
assist them the French wheelmen can
travel over any part OF their country
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