New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-01
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
FEELING OF CONFIDENCE AND sTAR'L-
Try IN THE TRADE

FEELING OF tONFIDENtE AM ''N'''|T
ITY IN THE TRADE.
GENERAL BELIEF THAT 1899 WILL BIZ sri-tNpiD
ONE FOR THE INDUSTRY ENGLISH WHEELS
DO NOT COMPARE WITH THOSE OF
AMERICAN MANUFACTURES THE
ROADS OF PORTO RICO AND
CUBA - NOTES AND
COMMENTS
TIE established dealers OF the district are
particularly happy and confident lot OF men in
these merry holiday times All looking for
ward to one OF the best years IN the history OF
tho cycling industry. The manufacturers APP
pear TO he just as confident, and the fact that
most OF the large factories are working at ful!
time would indicate that the makers themselves
have no uneasness regarding the industry for
the new year Theodore T. Merseles. OF the
Western Wheel Works has just returned from
trip abroad. and he says that every indication
points TO a splendid year for the makers Of stan
dard wheels in this country. AS for that, 1898
was our biggest year" said he yesterday. We
sold seventeen thousand more wheels than We
did in 1891 | think IL is safe TO predict that the
chainless wheel has caught the eye and gained
the confidence OF the public. The prices now
are within the reach of the public and the fact
that those who have ridden the chaness this
year speak well for It viii help ii. Agents
throughout the country are taking more samples
his time than ever before. which shows a
general confidence in the minds OF the dealers.
which IL encouraging all around or the orders
for wheels from agents at least ~ per cent
stipulate that chainless wheels shall be included
IN those orders" Mr. Merseles did not think
Of Afnaf
wheels had any particular bearing on the cut
I'm prices by English makers. All the makers
over there have been suffering from the engi-
neers' strike. which started hfieen months ago
This strike affected all lines 81 manufacture,
ana the bicycle makers We're unable TO MI their
orders Ia time. Mr. Merseies says mat the
alleged reduction in price Of the Eneiish Wheel
is not SO marked as 1t looks Until recently
wheels which listed at from 10 70 40 were as
posed OF at from - 10 40 per cent discount TOT
cash. Next season the Enslishman viii follow
the policy OF the American manufacturer VINO
puts a fair price his bicycle. and gets II anu
does little or no cutting. he did not thihk 'ha'
English wheels would be able ever 10 compete
with the American machine on this side OF lhe
wafer no matter what the tariff might be.
Many OF the foreign makers. 1t IL said. are
using the cumbersome and heavy pedals which
were in vogue I'm this country in the days or the
high wheel. Experts say that the Ensiish
wheel has not the same style. grace ana nh'sh
as the American article and. while u IL much
heavier. that II Will not stand up under severe
strain any better than the American "hrri
VIII do.
Many Il the soldiers who went 10 Porto RICO
and Cuba in the with Spain were en-
thusiastic wheemen. Two OF them met at the
headquarters OF the New-York division or the
J.. A. W yesterday. and began 10 compare notes
one OF them was a member OF Troop c. OF
Brooklyn and he said: II have heard the claim
made that the natives down there did not know
akr.
showed me that such was not the case. The
military road from Ponce TO San Juan runs
dlagonaly across the island from southwest 10
northeast. This road IS probably ninety miles
long and It is a splendid piece Of macadam. II
Is bordered on each side. FOR a part OF the way
with trees and II furnishes fine road for cy-
cling The road IS kept In repair on the Euro
,ean system. I'm sections. There IL wide gully
or ditch on the side OF the road which furnishes
excellent drainage. and the culverts are aiso
admirably arranged. About the heaviest grace
is probably q per cent in the mile ten you
that many OF us wished that We had our "h-es
along when We were down there Ihth INC
other wheeiman who had spent copsloerhD,e
time in cuba before and since the wal. SUN
There are some good roads IN Cuua anu ut n,,
the new order OF things there VIII De mort N. h"e
sheu road on the side Of the lslanu IL ms
and IL is about thirty miles long inc roaus
ebout Santiago don't amount 10 much al pres
mi There Ia "A tine road near ,leiiutS o"N
have travelled over II for about eighteen
miles In my trips through the island nave
found good macadam roads IN the mountain. MOUNTAINS.
In some places these roads appear W DC ~ ~
az the solid rock, and they are IN an soou con
d,,ion to-day as they were ! don KNOW no"
many years ago / suppose mat as soon as
they become thoroughly Anericanize1 uoMh a
here Ne will have 20 send missionaries hIu
,rrant1e an l. A. ". alliance and a good
roads association. They nave rone soou 70,
now. but most OF them seem 70 Degih nowne'e
afnt-
IL tho scheme for the formation OF local con-
s,,lates OF the League OF American Wheemeh
: carried out Il will change the government ol
,hs accumulation considerably IL Is proposed
that these consulates be formed on club lines In
everv village and city in the country. Then the
work or agitating for good ROADS and laVofHoe
legislation will be placed IN the hanos OF 'neSe
local representatives,. Az matters now s'aho
the State officials are endeavoring 10 assis' IA
local work in places entirely remote if""i heau-
quarters. and tits next to Impossible Z" % IT,
I-noer the new scheme the State ans National
bodies VIII gain. because Of the numerical
strength Of these consulates but the Work oi
the organization viii be done directly IN each
CITY and village. They VIII make quarterly re-
norts TO the secretary treasurer or the division,
win do the recruiting and see that the rene"as
Of membership are made. In TINS way IL IN eN-
pected thai the League WIN sc>uie q pe'
membership something which II cannot rely on
un,y Th.. cousulates will have representatives,
ON the State Board. and their work Will be d.
rected from headquarters They VIII secure
norton of the funds derived from membership
faes and will be aided In important matters by
the National officers The League OF American
Wheelrnen will then be organized more on the
plan OF some OF the largest secret societies, ana
ITS scope OF usefulne-s Hill be widely enlarged
Several States have already adopted resolutions
favorIng this plan Ead u Will be brought TO the
National assembly for vote 10 make II Ma
tional in character
While there is stiii some talk OF candidates 10
oppose the election g. T. j Keenan,. 1r. TO the
presidency " the T.. rgue OF American wheel
man ~ 10 Of such = usture as to warrant the