Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-19

than five years ago, at least 800, 900
have been spent in the purchase of BIZ
cycles in the United States alone. The
output for the present year Is computed
at from 100000 to 100000 machines, at
an average retail price of $50 each. OBJ
viously, 100000 people cannot buy BIZ
cycles at the average price named and
continue to supply themselves with as
many other things as they would other
wise have bought What are the other
kinds of business which have been most
seriously affected by the remarkable de-
velopment of the new branch of manu-
featuring?
The makers of watches and jewelry are
said to have been the first to feel the
effects of the diversion of money to BIZ
cycles. 1t seems that formerly on Christ
mas day or birthday the favorte pres
ent to the male members of a family was
a watch; now 1t is a bicycle. The young
girls on their part were accustomed to
save their pin money for the purpose Of
buying ear rings or a breaStpin now
they hoard it for a bicycle. The grown
up daughter, who used to look forward
to the purchase of a plano, now con-
cludes that she will wait no longer and,
gets a bicycle instead. 1t Is reported that
the piano trade for the current year has
fallen off 80 per cent. According to the
furniture dealers, young women, when
allowed by their parents to choose be-
tween new set of parlor furniture and a
bicycle, always chooses the latter I'm
doubtedly, however, the worst sufferers
are the horse and carriage trades and
the ancillary lines of business. Saddle
horses are a drug in the market; the liv-
cry stable business has been cut down
from a half to two-thirds; for new car
riages the demand has been so much re-
duced that several leading manufactur-
ers have gone to the wall. The saddle
and harness makers have been forced to
turn their attention to the making of
bicycle saddles. Riding academies have
been turned into bicycle schools.
So far only the direct economical con-
seqences of the bicycle craze have been
considered. Mr.. Bishop proceeds to dis
cuss some of its indirect effects. The
journals of the tobacco trade assert that
the consumption of cigars has fallen off
during the present year at the rate of
100000 cigars a day; this they ascrlbe to
the fact that, as rule, Wheelmen do not
smoke while riding. Saloonkeepers say
that they also suffer, because their rooms
are deserted on pleasant evenings; even
the wheelmen who visit them avoid
strong drink, because riding requires a
steady head. large restaurant in this
town which makes speciality of table
d'hote dinners has incurred this summer
a loss of half its business through the
desertion of wheelmen. Railway and
steamboat men report that eXcufsionists
prefer to go to the country or the sea-
water. Trolley and other street ear lines
from cities to their suburbs have hid
their receipts sensiby diminished. In
cities the theaterS are said to be injured
by the bicycle even IN winter, and 10 be
ruined in summer. on the other hand. In
country villages. the churches are fast
losing the attendance of young people on
Sunday, and are trying to lure them back
by providing storage room for Their
wheels. Shoemakers complain that they
suffer materially because persons who
formerly got their exercise by walking
have taken to the wheel, upon which they
ride in low priced shoes. which are sub
jected to little wear ana tear.
The hatters say they are injured be-
cause bicyclists wear cheap caps. The
tailors aver that their business has been
damaged at least 20 per cent because
their customers do not wear out clothes
as rapidly as formerly, spending much
of their time in cheap, ready made BIZ
cycle suits Dealers in dry goods say
that the prediction of young women
FOR the wheel has reduced their sales of
dress goods and expensive costumes from
rs to 50 per cent, because so many girls
prefer an evening ride In bicycle Earb to
sitting at home in more elaborate APP
parel. Finally, the book sellers declare
that much riding prevents much read
ing and that their trade suffers. One
great news agency in New York city,
which deals in novels and periodicals,
asserts that it's loss in trade this year
from bicycle competition does not fall
short of $l,000,000.
Some of the economical effects of the
widely extended use Of the bicycle will
no doubt be lasting. but others are GER
tain to be transltory. AS MIR. Bishop re-
marks, people are not going to get on
permanently without pianos or watches
because they ride upon bicycles AS soon
az a given community becomes stocked
with bicycles and the changes and inn
proyements become so unimportant rs
no longer to require the purchase Of new
machines every year, money will begin
to flow back into some of its former