Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-19

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II IN THE WHEELING WORLD. I
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The decline in wheeling as pleasure or
| pastime Is not confined to Omaha. The Urea
feeling is strikingly evident in chicago
where a few years ago everybody mad wheels'
| The WoodIawu cycling club OF that city
has oficially declared that cycling is dead
The club does not disclose the cause, but a
lay physician pronounced Cycling the vic
tim OF it's own excesses.' Three years
ago" comments the Chicago Tribune, Mich
igan avenue was sight to bring blush
to the cheek OF an all l-nght hack driver.
Nor was modesty the only sense onended.
Beauty. grace and all the other charms OF
feminiuity we're lost sight OF. Lovely woman
had apparently become only crooked
backed gum chewing, mechanical attach-
mcnt to a swiftly revolving pedal Hun
dreds of young persons Of both sexes, other
wise sane and uormal, burned with the con-
suming desire to push their wheels over rs
many hundred miles of road as possible be-
fore heart failure or nervous prostration
put an inevitable end to the ridiculous am
bition.
ITO have stated these facts three years
ago would have been treason. Today 1t Is
only common sense.
THE bicycle is not dead 1t has simply
sown its wild oats and settled down to Il
sober and useful life. The wheel, has a
part to play in the world and it Is large
and valuable part ....
THE friends of the bicycle should not be
rppopnizp that
what was once only a passing craze is now
permanent institution; that what was once
an instrument of pleasure is now chiefly one
Of utility"
The Chicago Record commenting on the
death certificate OF the Woodawn club, sen
sibly suggests a needed reform in cycling
club life THE wide field opened up to
mankind by the bicycles travel possibill-
ties" says the Record "is utterly lost sight
OF in the anxiety to clip minute of
road record, and the century rider, returns
home as mentally poor as when he went out
and unconscious OF all he has missed The
desire to practice other amusements and eX-
ercises as features of club life deserves
encouragement. Anything that gives a
wider view of mental and physical life tends
to the benefit of the human race
"Wer cycling clubs to include in their
repertoire of diversions botany, entomology
and photography and other outdoor sciences
and arts wheeling would have additional
charms and its votaries fruitful subjects for
winter discussion
In an extended review of the organization
and plans of the American Bicycle company
the United States Investor of Boston reports
that the preferred stock sold to members at
80 is now down to 30. I'm a recent ISSUE
says the Investor, 1--WE expressed the opin-
ion that the statement of earnings Of the
forty concerns taken into the trust for
period of four years past certainly Indicated
"a decaying business since the earnings of
1898, as compared with those Of 1896, showed
falling off of over si,40O,0O0. Bicycle
manufacturers with whom we have conferred
the last week insist that the bottom has
been touched in the matter of reduced profits
and output and that while it is true that
the wealthy and well-to-do classes of people
are buying but few wheels, the poorer
classes are buying more wheels than ever,
sufficient, in fact, to offset the former class
of trade. They also assert that the export
demand Is large and is sure to so continue
for long time to come. Under the manage
ment of the trust, it is the intention to dis
pense with the middleman as much as pos
sible, and to bring the manufacturer and the
consumer closer together, so as not to in
crease the cost to the latter. 1t Is also an-
nounced that prices for 1900 will not be fur
ther reduced, but will be $75 and $50 for
chainless wheels, and $50, $40. $50 and ,$25
for chain wheels, in addition to the regular
juvenile lines. |
1t was claimed by the promoters of the |
bicycle trust that by the consolidation it was
aXDprtad n make a large saving In the COat |
of production and 1t was also estimated that |
a saving of at least 40 per cent could be |
made in the expenses of marketing the prod |
uct. AS these expenses in 1898 were in the |
neighborhood of So, 3,500,O00, there will be- it
is estimated saving in that item alone of |
81 400, 900. While many bicycle manufac-
turers consider that 81 100000 is a pretty |
high estimate of the saving to result from
the new order of things, they are Of the |
opinion that under proper management, |
there is ample opportunity to reduce ex-
penses very materially, and thus effect very
important economics. Certain it is that |
operated separately several of the larger
concerns were paying high salaries and |
spending large amounts Of money in pushing |
their product in competition with each other. |
In the lull between the close of the outdoor
racing season and the beginning of the in
door competitions, the discussion of what is
to become OF the game next year is waxing
warm. The New York Sun reports that the
sentiment in favor Of the League OF Ameri-
can Wheelmen reinquishing control of the
sport has been increasing throughout the
year The most that the league has to sur
render Is nominal control of racing but
there are plenty who believe that a fight
should be made for even this These are
composed chiefly OF the officials of the league
and their personal friends. The admins
tration of Thomas j. keenan, has been prac-
tically one OF racing. Its greatest energies
have been directed toward the fight for the
control of racing in opposition to the Ma
tional Cycling association. That 1t has been
a losing struggle Is conceded by the clubs,
most of the sporting fraternity, and by many
League of American Wheelmen members.
President Keenan, and Fred Gerlach, chair
man OF the board, and the other racing Of
fcials, who, like Gerlach, are salaried. take
another view of the situation however, and |
1t is reported that Gerach will go before the
national assembly Of the League of American |
Wheelmen in February, and contend that he
has vindicated the league and ask for a re-
affirmation on the part Of the organization |
that 1t is in control. This state will go to |