Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-10

Nv I'LL WUhlUs
The American Bicycle company. better
known as the bicycle trust, has completed
its organization and settled down to bust
ness. The size Of its capital stock is s40,-
000, 000-one-halt in common stock, one
fourth In preferred stock and the balance
in bonds. Forty four manufacturing plants
are combined in the trust and all the stock
was taken by members OF the company.
It is asserted that the trust has secured
control OF more than 1000 patents, pro-
t~ecting with many safeguards the bicycle
industry, not only the wheels themselves,
but saddles, Fights, tires and all accessories
and sundriee. The company also controls
many foreign patents,
To what extent the company's patent
rights will enable 1t to control the product
remains 10 be developed. The action OF in
dependent factories, OF which there are
many, goes to show that the trust cannot
control product or prices for some time to
come. One of the strongest Of the indie
pendents is out with a significant deh-a
reduction Of from $40 to SIS on different
grades OF wheels. Even the price OF the
chainless, which was held rigidly at SIS
since the first of the year, was brought
uONu W 9OU' NtlldlHlg the lnuSptuueulS
can put up a lively fight for the combine
should the latter show a disposition to
hog the market.
Designs for next years cycles are now
being completed by the makers, and in not
a few cases the 1900 models have been passed
upon finally. 1t was generally expected that
this would be an unusually early year with
the manufacturers in getting out their
models for next season. SO far as the buy
ing Of material parts and the articles for
equipment goes, 1t has been an early year,
but the formation Of the trust has acted as
somewhat of a check on the perfection Of
models. There has been more or less hest
tation everywhere because OF It's being un-
certain what moves the trust might make
In the direction Of modifying and standard
izing. One thing that seems assured Is a
general recognition that the weight limit
has been reached. A slight reaction is likely
in this respect. 1t is on long rides that ad-
ditlonal. weight In a machine makes the rider
realize how much 1t handlcaps his efforts,
and as touring has increased, the objections
to heavy wheels have grown stronger until
the complaint has been heard by the makers.
Tightening the excessively big sprockets will
be one of the targets, but this does not mean
any reduction in the size OF the average
gear. 1t is thought by some that the year
will also mark the beginning Of a reaction
in the matter of large tubing, although no
decided and immediate jump to the smaller
tubing is anticipated. One maker has al
ready begun to turn out as stock machines
bicycles with a twenty-s steering
wheel, and it Is not unlikely that he will
have quite a little company. The small
front wheel Is a feature that was first in
troduced by pace followers, notably Jimmy
| Ntnboal II 10 ,rved in lie fuyor TINT tha
twenty-six-inch wheel in front not only en-
ables makers to reduce the weight, but per-
mits the retention of the dropped hangers,
together with longer and stronger heads.
There seems to have been a tendency toward
wider handle bars all this season, the leis-
urely riders who make long trips finding
that they do not get enough expansion Of
the chest with the sizes now popular. There
will be more chainless wheels on the mar
ket than ever next season, several makers
who do not produce them having decided to
add them to their lines. A number Of manu-
facturers will make the cbainless their
leader, and a wave Of popularity is conf
IDENTIFY expected for this type. The tide in
Its favor 1t Is expected will be largely due
to the changes, for the chainless will
probably show more marked improvements
than any of the chain cycles. The first i'm
portant change will be In the matter OF
weight. 1t will be reduced four or five
pounds and racing models will be made.
The two years Of probation that the chain
less has passed through are considered to
have proved its stability and efficiency
enough to warrant this tightening. The pres
ent machines were made on a safe basis in
order that their future might not be spoiled
by breakdowns. The refinement Of bearings
and construction will continue and some de-
velopments Of interest in bearings are
promised.
Denver claims to have more bicycle riders
in proportion to population than any other
city in the country. There are said to be
5000 wheels in use in the city, or about one
to every four persons. They are used in
every line OF business, and the street car
companies claim they lose trafic valued at
81, 900. 900 a year since the general applica-
tion of wheels to business. In fact, one
company went into the hands OF a receiver
two years ago, alleging that the universal
wheel had impaired it's earnings to such an
extent that 1t could not meet its interest
demands. The open weather and fine nat
ural roads are largely responsible for the
popularity Of the wheel, as 1t Is conceded
that ordinary riders can use their wheels
daily for fifty weeks out OF the hfty-two
and not suffer any annoyance from mud or
snow. Denver wheelmen are not required
to carry lamps at night.
The bicycle is making trouble among
plumbers. 1t is agreed by some bosses that
the journeymen OF their rivals who have
bicycles place their own men at a disadvan-
tage, because Of their ability to travel to
and from work more quickly. A plumbers'
union in California has prohibited It's mem
bers from using bicycles in connection with
their work. In the east a different view
seems to be taken. One master plumber
here keeps five wheels which he rents out
when they are not in use by his men, and
1t frequently happens that he has no wheels
for rent because his men are going about
from one Job to another on them. Much
time is saved In suburban districts where
train service is poor.
Anent the League of American Wheelmen
meet at Boston and the relations between
the league and the National Cycling esso-