Evening star., 1897-03-20


duras NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1908
CUBA Observation-Disclosures. 4,S33
Forto R1co. ......................... S,110
Santo Domingo. Observation-Disclosures. 1,S73
Otner west Indies and Bermuda. 6i, 016
argentina ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 22.1aj
Brazil Observation-Disclosures. 22,334
Colombia 9OCa
Otner South American countries. 42,915
emma Observation-Disclosures. 1l,21S
australia $40, ,:asss9
bIitlsh East indies. es................... 10, 1856
other countries in Asia and Oce-
anica ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1910
africa .......................... H255
Grand total. 274Dg9o
This table affords an interesting study.
Ihe English-Speakfng world and the En-
giish possessions are the best customers of
the American-made bicycle. and Great
Britain. while far in the lead, is closely fol-
lowed by Australia, in both of which coun-
tries the American wheel Is entered free of
duty In Germany the American product
Is securing better foothold than the home
product on account of the combination of
hghtness. strength and beauty. The trade
Wit France really began last year, and is
expected to be more than doubled this
year. The showing for Africa exceeds that
OF any other country. yet the export trade
with the dark continent is really in it's in
fancy.
There Is surprising amount Of ignorance
among the general public. as we'll as among
riders. e.
specting the character of tubing that Is
used In the construct ton of bicycles. Many
among the latter, probably the majority,
imagine that all makers use practically the
same material. varying only in size while
there are those among the former who are
quite willing to think gas pipe, or some
thing akin to 1t, Is the material out of
which is fashioned the beautiful little bit of
mechanism that has revolutionized indi-
yfdual method of locomotion at the end Of
this century of miracles.
apparently no thought is given to the
prime necessity OF great strength IN every
rart OF the bicycle. Only the finished ar
ticie Is seen. and in many cases purchased
because of some fancied-that Is, appealing
10 ones taste or imagined to exist-detaii
In finish or construction. But how 1nany
among the thousands who purchase bicycles
ever seriously stop to think and inquire In
TO every minute detail Of the cycles con-
structfon! Elegance Of finish or appoint
ments are not Notwithstanding qualities
by themselves-they are simply superficial
embellishments and may possibly cover
structural weaknesses Neither does the
Oft reiterated statement that some one or
a multitude of titled personages rides this
or that make of bicycle add one iota to its
value as an honest piece of merchandise
Ihe frame of a bicycle Is its bone and
sineW, so to speak. and 1t follows as a nat
Cral consequence that into its construction
must necessarily enter material possessing
no uncertain elements of strength The
general public understands nothing Of met
allurgy., but there is one thing everybody
can understandable is. common honesty.
w hen bicycle rider Is confronted with
broken tubing or parts in his bicycle, he
readily understands that he has secured an
article made Of faulty material. He NAV
or may not have paid high price for 1t.
but In either case he was entitled to rea-
sonable immunity from breakage. The fac
tor OF safety is so exceedingly low In BIZ
cycle that no rider having regard for life
or limb can afford to gamble with chance.
Does the use Of nickel in the composition
or steel have tendency to strengthen it?
Ih1s ls question that has been studied by
experts, and 1t would seem as though they
nave reached some conclusion in the mat
Ter. In our navy most of the armor used
for the protection Of ships has a part of
the reorganization of the military was ef-
fected the gun metal was changed, and q
portion OF nickel added to the steel to re-
duce the liability of bursting when In ac-
ton. While the use of nickel may add 10
safety In implements of war the question
is now agitated Is whether the use of nickel
steel tubing strengthens the frame of the
wheel to any considerable extent. Ey
many 1t is claimed that the quality Of tuh-
ing now used by most OF the manufacturers
OF high-grade wheels is plenty strong
enough to Withstand the weight and strain
that 1t Is known to be subjected to, and
that the Strengthening of the frame is not
necessary. especially where the weight
cannot be reduced. This Is one side of the
question. The other side takes an entirely
different view.
There are some riders who cannot tell
when their frame Is out of true, unless the
case be an exceptionally severe one Many
collisions occur II which everything Is
thought to come out all right, so long as
the wheels continue to revolve. Very often
the front forks and the whole head of the
wheel is pushed back an inch or a fraction
Of an inch. bu: this is never noticed. An
easy way to determine this Is as follows:
Fasten string to the rear part Of the
diamond. Qf the back stay rod. about six
or eight Abhes above the hub of the rear
wheel. then carry the string around the
steering head to the other side of the
wheel. and fasten the other end on the
back stay rod. at exactly the same distance
above the hub as on the other side. If the
frame Is true the strings on both sides
OF the saddle post tube should be equally
distant from 1t. If the frame is twisted,
this will not be the case.
The full value of the tangent spoke ia
obtaired only when the spokes are bound
with small wire at the point of crossing
and oftentimes soldered: This is some
rider. When the wire which holds the
81 ckes together is broken, the value of the
tangent spoke Is lost. There are not many
wheels placed on the market this season
cause Is the wh1m of the riding public and
the repair man. When the spokes are tied
the strain is removed from the weakest
point Of the spokes-that is. the ends where
they enter the rim and the hub-and trans
ferred to the point Of crossing In truing
such wheels the task is harder than truing
a wheel In which the spokes are not tied.
and then again 1t is too difficult q matter
to retie the spokes. when one happens to
break and q new one Is substituted. It is
on this account that most manufacturers
have ceased to place the tied spokes on
the market.
Many tires show the loss of air. and give
the rider the impression that there is a
pcncture somewhere. when in reality such
Is not the case The whole trouble Is at
the valve. After pumping up a tire be
cure to return the valve cap. which should
be put In place with gentle pressure not
turned too hard. While 1t does sometimes
prevent leakage Of air, Its main func-
tion is to keep dust from the valve itself
and when screwed down tight. spreads the
plcrger washer, which becomes affected
ard refuses to properly work. This is evil
denced sometimes when it is found to be
extremely difficult to get air in the tire
the plunger having spread and not work
Ing. A new washer will remedy the mat
ter.
Another failure of the tire to hold air can