New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-15
AMERICAN WHEELS ABROAD
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH EXPORT
ED EACH YEAR TO NEARLY ALL
COUNTRIES OF TIE WORLD.

Washington May Is CSpecaD.-The opening or
the wheeling season gives especial Interest TO some
figures just prepared by the Treasury Bureau OF
Statistics These tables. which present the status
tics OF bicycle exports during the last few years.
show that American wheels are now being ridden
in all parts Of the world. In the wds OF Mexico
and Central America. under the blazing skies OK
Cuba Porto Rico and other West Indian islands,
across the pampas OF Argentine. Brazil and otner
South American States amid the densely popu-
lated areas OF China British East Indies ana
Japan. and in the jungles of Africa. the American
wheel is making IT, way Even IN the great manu-
featuring countries OF Europe. where workshops
and skilled workmen abound. millions OF dollarT
worth OF American bicycles are sold each year.
During the four fiscal years 1896 1891 1888 ard 1870
the expectations OF American bicycles amount In
round numbers 10 100000
That such large numbers OF a machine requiring
such high grades OF workmanship In its production
should be continuously and successfully exported
in competition with the workshops OF the most
successful manufacturing countries Of the world
IS fact OF which American workmen and Anerf-
generally may justly feel proud. Four million
dollars worth OF American bicycles will during
the fiscal year about 10 end 90 TO European coun-
tries. countries in which the manufacturing ndrs-
tries antedate by generations those Of the United
States To France. with all her skilled workmen
and ingenuity. expectations OF American bicycles
IN the fiscal year 1893 Will be more than double In
value those OF 1897 while the fact that there has
been general lowering OF prices indicates that
in numbers the increase has been much greater
To Germany the expectations OF bicycles In 1850
will be 60 per cent in excess Of those ofss7 though
something less than those 81 1895 To other coan-
tries on the Continent Of Europe the bicycle
ports OF 1889 ~ per cent In OF those Of
las; year or the year before. To the United King
dom the bicycle exports Of the year materially
less than those OF 1895 az measured BY values.
though the fall In prices probably accounts for
much OF the apparent reduction shown by tho
figures. which give values exclusively and do not
indicate the number Of machines exported.
one curious and interesting fact In regard 10 the
exports Of bicycles illustrates the general tendency
OF American export trade In manufactures This
is the fact that a large proportion OF the exports
OF manufactures go TO manufacturing countries
Two-;hirds OF the American bicycles go TO coun-'
tries which make a speciality Of manufacturing.
and this export 70 manufacturing countries In
creases rather than otherwise II will be remem-
bered that predictions made year or two
ago that the exports OF bicycles 10 Japan would
decrease as soon as the japanese had obtained
sufficient numbers as models for their own fac
tories and established themselves In the manu-
racture OF ,e m eynorts - bcvces 70 Japar
which IN the fiscal year 1897 amounted 10 S2.l1s
in 1898 SIS s5 and In the fiscal year which ends
next month will reach fully $4,000.
The Islands which have been brought into closer
the last year evidently appreciate bicycles as
among he good things Of the United states. Cuba:
which In the nine months or 1881 DouEnl Out AF5
worth has bought in the nine months o. the pres
ent fiscal year l0l worth OF bicycles The exports
OF bicycles for the fun fiscal year 1898 10 Cuba
amount to sa4; 70 Porto Rico SSSs: TO the
Hawaiian Islands. S2072 though 10 the Philippines
there seems TO have been direct expectation OF
bicycles.
The largest single buyer OF BICYCLES in the fiscal
year 1895 was the United Kingdom. which took
81 $50 1876 worth though. already indicated. the
figures 10 values for the current fiscal year VIII
not be as large those Of last year Germanys
purchase Of BICYCLES from the United States last
year amounted 10 N.72i l0i. Canada came next in
amount OF purchases in this line. the total being
Ssli 4no while France next with purchases
amounting 70 $3.50 $50. British Australasia next,
s3oe Os: the Netherlands &5l SIS: Denmark. s22s5To:
British Africa. SR58: British East Indies. So. 38s;
Japan sss so5: China. H74is: Dutch East Indies.
sl336s and Africa 81 s47. To many OF these dis
tant places the exports Of bicycles in the present
fiscal year will exceed those Of last year. To
Japan az already indicated. the present years ex.
ports are nearly 81 per in excess OF those OF
last year: 10 Argentina they have more than
doubled and 10 the British East Indies tho In
crease Is more than l50 per cent