New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16
WORK FOR THOUSANDS.
TREMENDOUS GROWTH OF THE CYCLING
INDUSTRY.
SKILLED ARTISANS PAID HANDSOME WAGES
ENORMOUS OUTPUT OF LEADING FAC
ToRIEs-TAIKs WITH PROMINENT


DEALERS AND OTHERS.
THE statement was made some time ago. said
one Of the largest bicycle dealers in the city ycser
day, that the bicycle industry was playing havoc
with many other business enterprises. or course
a certain class Of people in this country have only
a stipulated amount of cash 10 spend upon amusc-
mcnts and recreation, and great many OF them
aye buying bicycles, 1t IS true. / have not heard
1t said. however. that this same bicycle indus try
has given remuneratve employment TO thousands
Of skilled workmen throughout the land who might
otherwise have been out OF work. 1t has not been
said either that thousands of storekeepers have
taken the agency for some bicycle and that their
incomes have been increased materially from that
source In many the storekeepers took up
the wheel side issue to their regular business.
and yet 1t is now their chief business"
Many well-posted business men admit that the
cycling industry assisted materially in bridging
in 1895 what promised to be rather dull busi-
ness year BY giving employment TO so many
people 1t has helped to keep money In circulation.
Then wheeling, game. pastime. recreation, or
whatever one wants to call It, has had many benc-
fetal effects the people at large. As sport 1t
Is something that the enthusiasts can take part
in themselves and reap benefits which those who
patronize other sports simply as spectators. cam
not get. The wheel has done much to open up the
outlying districts and given the people geograph-
ical education of their immediate districts which
they never before dreamed of.
The statement has been made that a sensible
Indulgence in wheeling Will make the thin stout,
and the fat lose flesh. and there are thousands Of
people willing to accept this statement though it
may seem paradoXical. AS tonic for overtaxed
nerves tour through the country a-wheel has
been known to accomplish wonders for the patient.
and while many physicians gave such prescriptions
last year great many moro will do 50 hereafter.
l. b. POTTER's ENTHUSIASM.
Isaac b. Potter. the chief consul Of the New
York State Division OF the League Of American
Whcelmen. is such enthusiast on the bicycle
and the needs and wants of cyclists in general that
some OF his friends losing patience with him.
They say that he has neglected his own business
interests in the work that he has done for the ad-
vancemcnt of the interests Of the L. a. w. He Is
indefatlgable worker and few cycling problems
have ever nonplussed him. This Is what he has to
say about the wheel and wheeling
II the recent growth Of cycling can in any respect
be called fad. 1t seems to have been most timely
and benehceat one The great demand for Wheel
for activity in many great cycling manufacturing
and supplied field Of labor for thousands
OF men and boys who would otherwise have no means
Of earning a livelihood. In some OF these towns
the sole dependence of entire families to meet their
her OF the family who fortunate enough to be
skilled In bicycle mechanism and therefore engaged
in lucrative employment, while other members OF
the family under the pressure OF the hard times
were idle. This has notably beer the case In sew
eral Ncw-England towns and In not q few places
| in the West of which have knowledge | believe
that 1896 will be the greatest cycling year that we
| have thus far seen. The times are likely to be
better and poor men will be able TO ride the
| simnlest of all ''horseless carriages. that eats
| morning. SHES not, balks. is always saddled
and never gets tired. 1t Is essentially poor man
Vehicle, and this fact Is becoming better known
| from day to day
| A Chicago cycle paper invites all bicycle manu-
| facturers to register the names for their wheels
Hundreds OF manufacturers have already sent In the
names of the whee.s which they make, and the list
,ow contains over 1000 entries. II should not be
| mrd for q prospective purchaser OF a bicycle TO
| c,ose one from a selection of over 1000 different
mixes and kinds. Thousands of skilled mechanics
are employed making these wheels In every part
OF he country They making bicycles In the
baclwoods OF Maine and the cotton fields or the
Soutl The boundless West has gone Into the pusi-
ness With Jump. and II 1t keeps on there VIII
be no reaper and mower factories left-they VIII
have a, gone into the business OF making bicycles
The Eat is not a. all backward. and has strong
hold on the trade in hrst-cass wheels. due TO
being theearllest in the field
CG.ONEL POPE THE PIONEER.
WheneveAthe subject Of the evolution OF the BIZ
cycle is taAd about 1t will be difficult matter TO
keep from Antioning the name OF Colonel Albert