The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-14
RGFFaLO 4 BICYCLE TOWN.
One Person in Every Eight Owns n Wheel
There, Owing Chiefly to Eddie Bald.

BUFFALO. May 13.-This is a bicycle town.
Every summer day on which there is no rain
from 10000 to 10000 wheelS are ridden.
Every day On which the rain falls steadily from
morning to evening the receipts OF the street
car lines are increased by from $500 TO 81. 2OO
There is one wheel to every eight men. women
and children. including the poorest Poles and
Italians. The wheel is the common means OF
locomotion for 100000 persons. so dealers in
bicycles figure.
There are about 1870 dealers in bicycles and
sundries. nearly 100 repair shops and nearly
100 small shops and stores in which bicycles
are sold exclusively. There are more men
dealing in bicycles than in drugs or bread.
More men are mcnding wheels than are shoe
ing horses and repairing wagons and other
vehicles.
Eddie Bald and the asphalt pavements are
responsible for Buffalo's friendship for the
wheel. Bald Is OF a family Of butchers. His
father is Il butcher. and four other Balds run
meat markets in various parts Of the city.
while many lesser Balds are engaged daily in
carving meat for those who eat 1t. Bald worked
in his fathers meat market. He was a strong
boy. His muscles grew under the weigh OF
beef. mutton and pork. He belonged to a BIZ
cycle club. and came into prominence carrying
the club colors and riding for glory ard l.. A.
W. diamonds, Buffalo was full of fast anna
Tours. ana Wnen Balu worked his way TO the
top he found he could make more money rid
ing as an amateur under /. A. W. rules than he
could in wrestling with beef. and when the
club to which he belonged asked him to cease
shouldering sides OF meat and ride altogether.
he did so.
The ,club, sent him away from home to win
fresh ~laurels for it,. and Bald won them not
only for the club, but also for himself. Buffalo
went crazy over Bald. lust as New York once
did. over Dixry and Boston did over Mike Kelly
and John ,Clarkson, and =. G. Bald became
n1ilaG nj nGnhnIf naNanDnnf in fhn aitu and
everybody who could scrape enough money
together to buy a wheel did so. They were OK
pensiye vehicles in those days. but the more
asphalt. pavement. was laid the cheaper the
are, 23!0 miles Of asphalt street payement now.
and wheels cost from SO up to SIS. and soon
save their price in street car fare. A bicycle
that Is well taken care OF will last three years
or longer. and as u financial Investment in a
city with smooth streets it is a good one. 1t is
Everybody rides a wheel. Laborers go to
work in the morning with picks and shovels
over their, shoulders while they push the
pedals; Clerks. lawyers. doctors. business
men, shop men. boys and girls ride the bicycle
the ordinary course Of business. Doctors find
them faster than horses and less troublesome.
One OF Bufalo,s familiar signs that strikes
the stranger is. DO not lean bicycles against
this building" Few stores, or business houses
customers and a bicycle storeroom in the
building for employees. Bicvcles are checked
at the theatres and at the churches, Those
churches which do not check wheels have a
room for them and many have been adycrtis-
vices. :" Wheels checked free or Free store
room for wheels" Some have gone so far as
to advertise. "Wheelmen welcome"