The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-28
OUTPUT OF BICYCLES
SHOWS DECREASE
But Motorcycles Increased Enormously in
United States From 1899 10 1909,
According to Census Blu
reau Findings.

Washington, d. C., June 2s.-Statis
ties for the bicycle, motorcycle and part
industry are presented in bdlletin sooI
TO be issued by Director Dunnl of tn,
bureau OF the census, chief statisticiar
for manufactures.
The number of bicycles made decreased
from 1852, 69l, valued at S23,656, is7, il
1899 to 5044S7, with value OF So
74o,923, in 1904 and 233,707, valued al
| 1925, ls9, in 1909, while the output oil
motorcycles increased from 100. valued
at S33,6T4, in 1899. to 2.32S valued at
S359,lS0, in 1904. and 1909. With a
value OF S3.0l5,96s, in 1909.
The evolution Of the bicycle from
primitive and unserviceable types to a
useful and attractive means OF travel
may be said to have taken place be-
! tween 1868 and 1890; and IFS perfec-
tion and Standardization into practically
one form of structure, the modern safe
| tv" between 1890 and 1895. During
this latter period the popularity of the
bicycle became so wide spread that the
industry grew very rapidly, but otter
about 1897 it began to decline.
In 1889 there were q establishments
engaged in the industry, which gave en-
ployment to an average of 1897 wage
earners and reported products valued at
81, 56S 1926. At the census OF 1899, after
the industry had begun to decline, the
average number of wage Gamers was
nearly ten times and the value of prod
ucts more than twelve times as great
as in 1889.
During the five-year period ending
with 1904. the industry declined very
rapidly. The number of establishments
decreased from 3l2 to l0l, or $40 per
cent; the average number of wage
earners from 1885 to 1919, or SILL per
cent; the value of products from $751;
9l5.90 TO S5,153,240. or $50 per cent.
and the value added by manufacture
value of products less cost of materialsl
from $l5,l23,s57 to s2,525,094, or 1873
per cent.
A considerable recovery OF the indus
try as a whole is Indicated by the sta
tistics for 1909. While the number of
establishments in that year shows a
decrease from the number in 1904, the
average number of wage earners in
creased LIS. or 1877 per cent, and the
value of products. S5,545 1877. or 1915 per
cent. The most important factor in the
renewal OF activity in the industry has
been the growing demand for motor
cycles.
The average number of persons en-
gagged in the bicycle and motorcycle in
dustry during 1909 was 5,0l7, of whom
4 ,437, or Ss.4 per cent, were wage earn
ers. OF the total number of persons
engaged in the industry only 3.3 per
cent. were females. OF the establish
ments reported in 1909 about half were
operated by individuals. The value OF
the products of such establishments,
however. represented only FIVE per cent.
Of the total value reported. Nearly all
Of the business is done by establishments |
under corporate ownership.
There was a considerable increase in |
the relative Importance OF establish !
ments having products valued al $780, |
600 and over; this class of establish /
ments reported 900 per cent. of the |
total value of prod ucts in 1909.
As already stated, the industry was
declining at the census Of 1899. vet /
more than 100000 BICYCLES were made
IN that year. The output in 1904 was
barely one-fifth as great and there had |
been further decline by 1909. No tan
lem bicycles or tricycles for adults were
in 1909, although their
manufacture he'd been reported at the
wo preceding cenSuses. On the other
iand, the development Of the motor
.ycle branch of the industry has prac-
'cally all taken place within the decade
s9e-la0o. and more particularly in the
econd half Of the decade.