The sun., 1899-08-24
NEWS OF THE WHEELMEN.
THREE OPP oHEEJS OF THE BICYCLE
TRUST PUBLISH THEIR DEEL

Likely TO ASK Hin to BE Rrebtuont OF tho
New Organization, with George Pope
as Vioe-Presidopt-Notss of the Sport.
Concerning the American Bicycle Company.
which has been popularly called the Bicycle
Trust, the latest and the strongest ir-
dications that have yet appeared are
that the opponents OF the man who
formed It, A. G. Spading. will unite
with his friends and supporters and tender
him the presidency. The same information
has 1t that Col. George Popo will be vice. presi-
dent. That the new combination 10 not to be
completed In hurry 10 evident. Directors and
officers will not be elected until individual
stocks are delivered, and It may be month or
two before this is done. Tho evidences that the
so-called trust will not start out as monopoly
are not wanting. Several OF the firms
who gave options have issued state
ments to the trade declaring that they
are not in the trust and are not going In but
are ready to compete In quality and price with
all the world. There are several concerns
which have steadfastly remained on the out
side. and have been standing like cats with
arched backs ever since the trust began to
form. These are by no m cans small concerns
either. but at present 1t cannot be said whether
they really intend to fight to tho finish or to get
their price. In some cases it looks as II only q
finish fight can be expected. because the
firms involved are ones that make their profits
on other lines and manufacture bicycles as a
side Issue Among the big Eastern concerns
"on the outside" are the Waltham hanufac-
turing Company. the Iver- johnson Arms and
Cycle Works and the George N. Pierce Com
psny. The Iver-Johnson Company has just
come out with preliminary cry OF defiance.
1t was recently announced that manufacturer
in the com bne had said that the price Of high
grade wheels in 1900 will be $50. In response
the Iver-Johnson Company has announced
that their highest grade chain wheels will sell
at $35. and that they will market chainless
at $50. The product OF this concern has
always been recognized by the top -notchers.
A member OF tho firm. when sought
spoke briefly as follows: We have announced
our policy. and our prices and our goods are
known. We are not thinking about the trust.
do not see why 1t should cause any STIR"
The G. N. Pierce Company came out this
week with blazing ads" in all the trade papers
TO the effect that they were not connected with
the trust and had bicycles 10 sell and would
compete with ali comers This was supple
mented by signed statement. in letter form,
that dwelt upon the proposition at length. The
Watham Company has also declared its in
dependence and defiance. the tone OF all being
the same Each OF these firms. under
their different name plates. IN ak es many cycles,
and each is rsruted to be wealthy. Two Of
them have plants in which cycles are only
viii 2hVs to as an
position force.
Cyclists who cross the bridge frequently have
not cad that for some time past matters have
neen getting worse instead Of better So far as
cerned. and the need Of a cycle path never has
lesn teit more keenly. The accident OF Tues
tween two cars. and one rider killed demon
etrated that the rulo requiring ca - to keep lO2
feet ot open space between them. Is not OBJ
!, 1t i; IN fact very seldom that there is more
tnan hi,ySs sXtT ,"et of sIaco HetwSsn sS p thS
authorities have the power to enforce ia
gycI;st. would he comparatively, safe in follow
ing h"h'nd ear. as he would then escape the
TiaGe,, This latest fatality rcfcrrsI to has
om "e yens s adc to he osct
tho apthoritist DO not build path, cyclists
sS2'a sS be ppstysy from g'lns
would be unique as the single public highway
on which truck. and carriages could trayn but
are SO great as 20 create such q sentiment in
these who fought to gain tor the bicycle recoR
|, isnot strange that the cycling traf:ic over
the bridge i .%a and sroTnS smaller bs every
soemnly gathering statistics on the number
Of Of cyclist. Eho Do ride on these hose roadway,s'
sures SHa has ' prorsn S%a That 'G%r'f1T snd tx
thousand who nrn daring enough TO
cross arc not as many ms those who 20 up and
down the least used stairway. which ne hns
been asked to convert to the uss, Of cyc'istsend
that therefore he would not be juhtified in
building a path ard taking tho stairway. It's
two months aimee Commissioner Shea said that
within two weeks ho would give tinal an
built and the public is still waiting for him to
speak.
An English cycle trade papNr prints the fol.
lowing in its serious column: THE chet
actually bite through the tires"
Alex schwalhack Of the Good Roads Asso-
citation. who is a veteran Of twenty years cy-
cling eIpsrscpee AMI Tho has been the father
on on which he ,tormed some new opinions
of sTs he ..d Snt T@ have
the right line on the future Of this motor
s thnf so or .so TO snd
thinf so now. | had ap idsa that ths motor
Fashionable classes, they, would, supersede
in bicycles. two-whseled motor driven singles
tandems and trirlets and tricyc'es The
motor carriages " on the roads as as ordinary
bicycles now outnumber horses and carriages
talked With %pny ~ S, psrs9ns OF r'dn %rny minds on
oithsm trnds.men q, great foresight, and ny
reasons for thinking thus are manifold. The
surely and fastldous persons who 90 In most
for touring are the very ones who most dislike
long rides in Weather that causes protuse per
among the riders Of this class and also with
those who make short trips: They are waiting
What / felt and thought on my topr has been
repeatedly expressed to me by Others, As
went over stretches Of sandy road and climbed
tjrasome hills. l thought to myself that some
DAY l would go over the sans ground again
fleefuly on a motor bicycle and laugh TO think
how was getting even with those hills and
sandy spots; You ask why the motor coach
a machine that can be kept at home like
too much trouble, that does NOT necessitate
stable and coachman. that Is inexpensive.
always al hand ready TO use and that IL capa-
Bic of greater speed than the four wheeled au-
tocars. The motor bicycle fills this bill and it
will be inst costly enough to please those who
object to the common level that the simple bi-
Cycle has reached The motor cycle will he
more like the bicycle at $50, beyond tho
reach OF those who most discredit oYclinR."
Tho Madison Wheelmon. who have seemingly
more OF the old time enthusiasm than any
other organization. have. ccme out with an
oriulpa1 anhAma which Ia n Riye n an m m