Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-03
THE PASSING OF THE BICYCLE.

In 1897 there were exported from the
United States bicycles and bicycle
parts to the value of $7,00b,323. During
the fiscal year which ended June 81
last we exported only $620,760 worth OF
bicycles, complete and In part
These figures strikingly illustrate
the fickleness of public fancy. A gen.
GRAFTON ago nearly everybody rode
Wheel Children raced to school on
their "bikes," clergymen sedately ped
aled to their churches, doctors went
swiftly on their errands of mercy and
business men of all classes rode their
wheels in preference to street cars and
horse-drawn vehicles.
Useful as it was for other purposes,
perhaps the greatest good of the bicy-
Gle was in its adaptability as q pleas
ure vehicle 1t enabled persons of all
classes to travel quickly and cheaply
during an idle hour or day. 1t took the
flat-dweller of the noisy, crowded city
out to the quiet and beauty OF the
country. On Sundays and holidays
there were almost unending process
sions of bicyclists on the thoroughfares
leading to the suburbs and outlying
territory.
Such trips undoubtedly made thou
sands of people change from city to
suburban and country homes, and
lengthen their lives by making them
healthier and happier. They learned
the Joys of the simple life'' more than
compensated for the attractions of the
city.
The bicycle was the advance guard
of the automobile. It educated the pub
lie to the charms Of travel In our high
ways and byways. Incidentally, 1t gave
great impetus to plan for the gen
eral Improvement of public thorough
fares in city, town and country. The
automobile simply could not have at
tanned it's present popularity had It ar
rived with our roads generally In the
condition in which the pioneer b1cy-
clists found them.
In one respect the superseding OF
the bicycle by the automobile is to be
regretted. The bicyclist was COM
PEELED to take healthy exercise. Every
trip helped to develop his lungs and
muscles. The automobile is more 80
cial institution, but tends to promote q
love Of ease rather than physical de-
velopment. Still, 1t must be admitted
that even the bicycle built for two"
was not adapted to conversational
pleasure.
In view of the fact that the bicycle
today costs only a fraction Of what IT
did at the height Of its popularity, Its
passing seems strange. In practically
every country on the globe it's sales
have been decreasing steadily since
1897, judging by the exports from TINS
country. In that year we exported
s2.375, 900 worth to Great Britain, and
only $4,000 worth last year. Ger
many paid us over 100000 for bi-
cycles in 1897, but only $4,000 the
past year. The bicycle craze" reached
it's height in Japan in 1904, when we
sold her $426, 900 worth. Last year she
bought only $21, 900 worth. Cuba is the
only nation showing an increase in re-
cent years in the number OF bicycles
used but even there 1t is losing
ground. In the fiscal year ended June
80, 1908, we sold there $4,000 worth
of bicycles, but last year she pougnt
from us only half as many.
The whole world owes a debt OF
gratitude to the bicycle and Its pass
ing is to be regretted. Chicago inter-
Ocean