Evening star., 1898-04-16

classes The lower and poorer class could
hardly hope to accumulate enough money
to buy them. although the remarkable re-
dCction in the prices Of American wheels
may place them within reach The streets
OF Dresden are paved with asphalt and
stone blocks. or macadamized and are
Kept hard and smooth by constant rolling
They are clean, and furnish delightful ave-
nues for wheeling. In the Grosser Garten
are many miles of dirt roads, level and
smooth, and. besides these roads are be-
ing made in the park exclusively for
cycling Throughout Saxony the roads
are hard smooth. and kept in good repair
Americans supply the largest number Of
wheels sold in this market but there is
considerable traffic in English bicycles
Large Plumbers are made in this city and in
ChemnHZ
The demand fer the better class of
American whee's is increasing The veal
tnler classes appreciate their excellence
and are willing to pay the difference in
price. If German wants a cheap wheel
ne prefers home manufacture. The best
way to bring the American cycle to the
hcticc OF the people is TO send a representa-
tive who can speak the language and has
time and patience. The valuable and ex-
teDsfve trade of Saxony in bicycles is worth
ehort and attention. The only oti1or plan
is 10 select trustworthy local agent, ard
make 1t an object for him to work Send
ing circulars particularly those printed in
EnSilsh. is waste of time and money for
they ar" usually consigned to the waste
basket"
Consul Shepard at Calais SAYS in regard
to bicycles in northern France:
Blc!c cles are in general use in this con-
sular district, and the number used is re-
Stricted only by the financial inabili.y Of
the greater proportion Of the people to pur-
chase them. The use thereof is increasing,
end, owing to the great reduction in the
prices CT all makes, the coming year will
probably showea greater growth than any
previous season. The streets of the large
towns are generally poorly paved Ind i'll
adapted to the use of the wheel, lut the
country roads are very level and smooth.
Ihe principal supplies come from domestic
and English sources. l do not think wheels
of any other make are to be found in this
district"
Consul Harmony at Corunna, Spain, says:
Cycling in northern Spain Is almost en-
tifely confined to the young members Of the
middle classes, and is considered merely q
pastime. The use of bicycles is not in
creasing: there is no demand, and 1t would
be difficult to induce the lower classes to
buy them, unless the actual prices were
much reduced without seriously affecting
the quality of the machines. Very little is to
be expected from the wealthy classes. The
superiority of American wheels is not ig-
nored here, but their importation meets
with the same obstacles that keep Spanish
ports closed to many American products.
There are no direct means of communica-
tion, and there is difference in the duty
of II pesetas s2.TO per 100 Kilograms
against the United States"
Commercial Agent Hayden writes from
Castellamare di Stabia, Italy, follows:
bicycles are not in general use in this
district. Riding is confined to certain
classes, but the Of the wheel is increas-
ing. To be sold here. bicycles should be of
cheap quality, owing to the scarcity of
money. The price usually asked Tor wheel
is from 25O to 100 lire ($iS.25 to $3.50; and
there is demand for cheaper, well as
for better. wheels, the European wheel be-
ing inferior to the American. The roads
here are excellent; there is no locality in
Europe better suited to bicycling.
Consul Burke writes from Port Stanley
and st. Thomas Ontario:
There will be a demand in this district
this season for a cheap, reliable whee! for
practical by the poorer class. The
streets of this city, as well as the roads
leading into the country in all directions,
are admirably adapted to wheeling. Port
Stanley is favorite summer resort for both
Canadians and Americans. There are hu-
merous small factories throughout On
tario but the larger proportion of .rheels
in use are of American manufacture. the
duty being 30 per cent ad Yalorem. After
July / a preferential tariff arrangement
with Great Britain will go into effect