The record-union., 1896-05-24
r1ONEY SPENT FOR WHEELS.
Two Hundred r1illion Year Ex-
pended by Riders.

Only the very roughest estimate can
be formed of the enormous amount Of
capital invested in the bicycle industry.
1t is far easier to compute the amount
spent by the people in buying and main
tanning them.
AS a guide TO the former estimate it
is best to take a few examples of the
capital invested in some large concerns,
and by making a comparative ate-
ment arrive at something like approx
innate figures. Some Of the larger COM
panies have capital invested in the man
ufacture of bicycles alone aggregating
S6,00O,0O0. Yet, as has been shown.
these firms are but tithe of the whole,
and the industry is growing larger and
more widespread every day.
Judging from the capital invested in
our own concern" said the manager of
one of these firms to me, 'I should saw
that $4,000, 900 to $40, 900, 900 would be
conservative computation of the
amount Of capital invested in the BIZ
cycle industry in this country And this
is for the manufacture of bicycles alone.
l do not include those necessary acces-
sories-saddles, lamps, bells, chains.
tubing and odd parts. The manufacture
of these articles has necessitated the
building of specially constructed plants
attached to existing factories. and. of
course, the employment Of many hun
dreds Of additional hands. In these re-
Inducements / do not think I am over
estimating when T say that another
SlO,000000 or $4,000 600 has been in
vested in the last three or four years.
and with perfectly satisfactory results.
NEW PLANTS CREATED.
There is, however, a peculiar and al
together unlocked for change in process.
When the industry started upon its
truly remarkable course bicycle makers
We're unprovided with machinery and
tools for the manufacture of certain
parts of the wheel, such, for instance.
a. those made with screw machinery
This was almost entirely done by one
firm, whose business in consequence in
creased enormously. Necessity is the
mother of invention, you know, and as it
soon became evident that these parts
could be made more cheaply than they
could be bought, there very quickly
arose bright engineering geniuses in
nearly every establishment who set
themselves to the invention of new and
improved machinery with which TO
make them on the parent premises.
Il do not fear contradiction. said the
| manager of one of the largest athletic
sundries in the country to me. when
l declare my belief that there is not a
trade in the United States that has not
been beneficially affected by the bicycle
| industry. Why, even the butchers are
| benefited by the improved health and
healthier appetites of the people. But
| that is entirely by the way Members
| OF every trade have found it to their a6-
vantage to invest some money in one
OF the many necessary adjuncts to the
| bicycle pastime.
ALL HAVE THEIR HANDS IN.
| "The leather goods people have found
1t necessary to invest in a special class
of goods favorable to the manufacture
o: saddles, bags. yalises and such like
sundries. The shoemakers now make
specially designed shoes, leggings. etc.
The glove makers are affected Watch
makers manufacture and keep on sale
cyclometers and such like Instruments
OF precision. Photographic apparatus
| makers turn out specially designed cam
eras. Wood workers and cane workers
and cork cutters, engravers locksmiths
and newspapers all have found it posi-
| lively necessary to invest more or less
capital in various branches of the BIZ
cycle industry. The total capital thus
invested. entirely outside of actual man.
ufacture of bicycles, cannot be far short
of $40. .0O0. 900 or S30.000.000 The in
vestment is spread over an enormous
area"
A little sum in arithmetic is necessary