Evening star., 1896-12-26
S o ME CYCLE CHAT

The early sprinkling of the streets at
this time of the year Is regarded as a
great nuisance and bother by the wheel
men of the city, as 1t makes riding equally
as dangerous as on wet pavement during the
warm weather. If anything, 1t Is claimed,
the danger is greater, as the water sprin
killed. over the asphalt surface is very apt
to freeze. This is an annual plague that
the wheelmen of the city have to put up
with. During cold weather the fair days
upon which one can ride wheel are limit
ed, and 1t is considered hardship by
riders when through with the days work
to fin1 the streets are practically rendered
impossible by the employees of the street
sweeping contractor. While the days are
pleasant 1T seems to wheelmen that there
is no earthly reason why the street sweep
ing contractor should be in such an i'm
mense hurry to get through his allotment
of work, which he is expected to do dur
ing the hours of night. 1t seems as though
the work of sprinkling the streets COM
mences as early as or o'clock, the
sweeping machines following close behind
the sprinking cart.
The contractor. it is stated, has all along
made the plea that if the work of sweep
ing is postponed at this season of the year
until night there is a grea ter chance of the
water freezing on the street surface. rem
dering 1t impossible to take the dirt up as
IL SnOulu IL was only a year OF SO
ago that the fire department made big
kick against the sprinkling of the streets
at toe early an hour, a freeze would
follow and render it dangerous for the
horses hitched to the engines. Too early
sprinkling. it is asserted, not only makes it
dangerous for the fire engine horses, but
also for the large number of horses owned
by business firms and private individuals.
The contractor claims that Ii Is an ad-
vantage for him to sweep the streets early.
1t is admitted that this may be so, and
that the advantage may extend all the
line down from the head men to the labor
ers under his pay roll. But the too early
sprinkling. it is argued, is a disadvantage
to the pubic, the pedestrian, business man
and cyclist. The question then comes up.
it Is said, as to whether the convenience
of the public in general or the contractor
should be looked after. 1t is claimed that
| there is no way of stopping the nuisance
outside of an order from the Commission
ers. The contract. 1t is claimed, stipulates
! that the sweeping of the streets shall not
commence until certain hour after night
| fall, and the contractor, wheelmen say,
should be held to the terms of his agree
ment.
The increase of the popularity of the
bicycle Is responsible for the appearance
of a number of novelties on the market,
| from dainty little things to please feminine
| fancies to more heavy things designed to
| attract the attention of male riders. Many
| of these novelties have made their appear
| apce in the city. From jeweled bicycles, the
prices of which are away beyond the purse
! of the general rider. the tendency has come
| down to trifling things that attract the
| eye and make a more or less conspicuous
| appearance. Cycling mugs for men are
| the latest things out, and these are quite
pretty. Then there are numberless styles
| of small folding cups, which are calculated
| to be useful on long trips Some are made
| in the shape Of watches, with a regular
watch case, and chain modelled after the
style of chain used on the bicycle. Then
| hc tad he
| style, with miniature handle bars at the
| end. In the line of scarf pins the cycle
attractions are nearly equaling the variety
| of styles to which the horseshoe has been
| adopted From N entire miniature BIZ
| cycle the style has changed so as to In
clude only one wheel, and now 1t is branch
| ing off to other subjects. the latest Of
! which is tiny lamp. The variety In the
| style Of buttons Is greater than In anything
| else.
| Fer the ladies' the attractions are just
| coming out. There Is a small jeweled band,
| which Is caluculated to fit around any
portion of the frame of the machine, upon
| which is engraved the name and some
| times the address Of the rider. Another
| attraction just out is small whistle.
/ which comes in both gold and silver, con-
| sisting of a narrow band, to which a fine
| link and three rings are attached. The
| whistle is fastened to the chain and when
not in use is thrust through one of the
| rings The whole is attached to a bangle.
| A novelty in the line of hat pins Is also
| out, the end Of the pin being ornamented
| with various designs, somewhat after the
| style of the gentlemens scarf pins. These
are orly a few of the feminine novelties.
| and If the girl riders purses can keep up
/ with the rate the cycle 'fxfns" are COM
| ing cut, they must always be filled with
| cash.
Speaking of novelties for the riders of
| bicycles. they are about on a par with the
| novelties In the construction Of the wheels
themselves. Indeed, it seems though
I machines re heinR S0d n
| pie simply on account of some of the nov
! elites which are conspicuous They strike
| the eye, and anything that is pleasing to
| lock at is regarded as good. The expe-
rier ced rider knows that the incest looking
| wheel may perhaps be the worst for riding
| purposes, and that oftentimes the plainest
| wheel gives the best satisfaction. The
| construction Of the wheel Is everything;
| coating of gag enamel will cover o null
| titude Of defects
| Last year the barrel hub and the large
| tubing made their appearance. The ad-
| vent of both of these was for the sake of
| having something new. There Is no diff
| ference between the small hub and the
| barrel hub. If anything. the former is bet
| ter though the latter can be made much
| cheaper by the manufacturer The use of
/ large tubing increased the weight of the
| wheel. Then. again, the fancy of the gen
eral riding public seemed to turn toward
| the use of single tube tires, and hose
pipes were all the rage, so to speak. The
| &C ming season is apt to witness another
| change The barrel hubs will be reduced
| in size, and the tubing will also be smaller,
| bringing the wheel to resemble the make
| of 1885. While this may not apply to all
| makes II answers for the majority of
| wi cells for next season. The greatest nov
city next year will be the wooden handle
! bars. and these promise to eclipse the pop
| ularity OF the upward pitched handle bars
of last season. The wooden handle bars
| are colored the same as the wooden rims,
giyirg q uniform appearance.
| There Is probably no other single thing
! to which IL attributed 30 much loss of busi-
ness than the bicycle. Its general use has
caused merchants In various Hines Of buBi-
ness to complain. The FIRST business to
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