The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-29

A VETERANS TALK ON BELLS.
Some one In Washington advocated con-
stantly ringing bells on Bicycles as
warning for pedestrians. veteran
wheelman replied in the Washington o'a''
and many other veterans VIII recognize
the truth OF what he says:
"A wheclman can almost always aNo'u
running down a pedestrian ii ne uses Or
binary care nd Judgment ana In tne
event Of an accident no injury neeu re-
suit TO the pedestrian. though his clothes
may be soiled. The wheelman gets the
hard knocks and all the blame.
Accidents happen, under the existing
state of affairs, but II the police VIII ar
rest all riders who are guilty OF reck-
less or careless riding within the city
limits. and also all who are guilty OF fast
riding in busy thoroughfares. and Judge
Miller will fine them heavily. just as they
(shOuld but dOn'D arrest and fnc drivers
guilty Of infraction Of the same police
regulations, there would be no necessity
for bells.
IF there Is any danger OF running down
a pedestrian, "A word from the rider an
swers the purpose much better. in my
opinion, than az bell, chiefly for the rea-
son that the voice can be located Instant
~ and there is no knowing where the
sound Of a bell comes from.
Il wish sometimes, and always feel like
numbering a rider who rings a bell on
me. | can never accurately locate us
sound IL he will speak. there is hu-
man sympathy that impels me TO avoid
moving object, the location of which 1
know. The voice can be accurately To-
Gated at once, and does not startle one.
There is only one condition that war
rants the sounding of a bell, and that Is
when a rider is approaching a crowded
crossing. Under such circumstances the
rider should be prepared TO dismount any
way.
AN ESTABLISHED LAW.
at is well established In law that road
ways belong to vehicles and equestrians,
and the sidewalks and crossings lat street
Intersections. TO pedestrians, and the po-
lice should be instructed TO guard these
rights. When a wheelman or driver
passes a street intersection IT is at his
risk, and when a pedestrian elects 10 use
the roadway between crossings he, or she,
does It at his own risk. This law is well
established.
Now for a few "don'ts" for pedestrians.
Don't stop in the middle of the street
and turn back TO the sidewalk you have
Just left A careful rider or driver call
culates his own speed with that of
pedestrian crossing a roadway and If you
turn back an accident is liable 10 hap
pen, and it is not the fault Of the rider or
driver.
please don't stop to hold conversation
with a friend in a roadway. You inter-
rupt legitimate street traffic and are
answerable for "cuss words" from driv-
ers and riders, aside from the danger
Of being knocked down.
please do not use the roadway except
as a crossing. You, assuredly, would OBJ
ject were wheelmen or drivers 10 use the
sidewalk.
please, please don't crowd the roadway
from curb TO car track while waiting for
cars If you are too impatient to wait
on the sidewalk, then please stand ad-
Jacent TO the track, and not midway be-
tween curb and tracks.
Personally l have no objection TO car
rying a bell on my wheel, but there are
enough nerve-jangling sounds in the city
street traffic to forbid the employment of
constant ringing bells on bicycles. bell
like a brake. should be always carried.
but rarely used"
OTHER PATHS.
Cycle paths are now being built all
over the country. The Asbury Park
Wheelmen have prepared a bill to be
passed at the present session of the New
Jersey Legislature providing for the build
ing Of cycle paths adjacent TO the high
ways The paths are not 10 be less than
three feet in width, nor more than six
feet They are to be built by the order of
the Township Committee, and are TO be
paid for out OF the money raised annually
for road purposes. One-iifth Of the mon
ey raised for the roads may be expend-
ed on the bicycle paths.
JAPANESE WHEELS.
i. 10. l.4 1rc
and sell them in this country Tor SO
amece?" asks the Washington Star.
This Is the question which is exciting
considerable comment among people in
torested in bicycles 1t is answered mega
lively and with most pronounced empha-
sis by the bicycle manufactures in Amer
lea, who claim it TO be impossible for even
the cheap Japanese labor to turn out high
grade wheels for anything like this price
On the other hand, the question has eN-
cited a reasonable doubt in the minds OF
many people who are familiar with the
condition of affairs brought about by the
inroads Japanese manufacturers are max
ing into American markets.
IN the House a few days ago Mr.. New
lands. of Nevada, presented resolution OF
the chamber Of commerce OF san Fran
cisco, calling the attention of the country
and of Congress to the invasion or man
ufactured products from oriental coun-
tries. particularly Japan.
I'm reference TO the bicycle" said Mr..
Newlands, 1T is stated by the newspa-
pers to be one OF the products OF tnat
country which is now being sold in San
Francisco: and II the newspapers are 10
be credited the bicycle Is manufactured in
Japan for sl2 in silver. II is sold in san
Francisco for Sl2 in gold. The seller takes
that Si2 in gold. turns IL into s2i in silver.
paws the cost of production. Sl2 in silver,
pays the freight and duty and has pro
fit Of 81 or upon each bicycle. There
is the same competition with reference
TO matches. lamps, hats, brushes, rugs,
and other products.
A THREATENED INVASION.
A japanese manufacturer who IA now
in this country selecting models 10 take
back to Japan for his men to work upon,
and who visited the bicycle show in New
York. was interviewed upon this subject.
as follows:
Il have only TO send the best bicycle I
find in this show to Japan in order TO be
sure that ] shall get something equally
good turned out there within six months.
II will take our workmen longer TO make
a bicycle than IL does yours, but as we
pay skilled metal workers an average OF
thirty cents day we can afford TO be a
little slower. Some OF your Inanufactur-
ors have told me that they had sold goods
ard machines TO Japan, but that after one
or two orders had been filled no more
came. The reason is that the japanese
are making these things themselves. As
yet there is no treaty between the United
States and Japan under which your pat
ents are protected, so that we nave no
royalties TO pay inventors At every one
of your industrial exhibitions you will
md Japanese visitors. who, IKE myself,
are on the lookout for the newest and