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BICYCLE TRADE.
Tremendous Proportions of a Grow¬
ing Industry,
An Immense Capital and an
Army of Employes.
People who call bicycling a passing
fad have probably never stopped to
consider what an enormous amount of
capital is employed in the business of
making wheels iu this country, and
probably have no idea of the number
of people dependent upon the busi¬
ness. Tho figures are astonishing.
There are in this country today about
130 good sized bicycle manufactories.
If all thesmaller concerns were counted
in, concerns that turn out from fifty
to two hundred bicycles a year, the
number would be swelled to about
three hundred. The number of bicy¬
cles these three hundred factories will
produce this year will not be less than
500,000. At nn average cost of $75
each to the buyer, this means that
$37,500,000 will be spent in this coun¬
try this year for bicycles, providing,
of course, if the entire product is sold.
But there is little doubt of that. Go
to a bicycle store and try to buy a
high-grade wheel. They will take
your order and tell you they will de¬
liver the wheel iu a couple of weeks.
More good wheels have been sold this
season than have been made, and it is
doubtful if8ome of tho manufacturers
catch up before the snow flics.
But the $37,500,000 do not cover
the entire expenditures iu the bicycle
way of the people of the country.
There are costumes—bloomers and
such lamps, cyclometers, patent mud
guards and patent tlm-that-aiid-tbe
uther kind of apparatus that will swell
the sum to $50,000,000.
In a Chicago factory that turns out
30,000 bicycles a year 800 persons,
mostly full-grown men, are employed.
That would be an average of 37.5 bi¬
cycles to each employe. If there are
500,000 machines, to be made, and
each employe makes thirty-seven and
one-half machiuos, there would have
to bo, therefore 13,333 1-3 employes.
But as there cannot very well be a
third of an employe, it may be well to
drop tho fraction, call the number
even 13,333 and let one of them work
a little overtime.
That estimate, however, includes
only the people employed in the act¬
ual or exclusively bicycle factories.
It takes no account of tho workmen
employed in machine shops in mak¬
ing bicycle parts, which are sent to
the bicycle factories and handled by the
employes there only as tho bicycles are
put together. Tho Chicago factory
mentioned above does not manufuct
lire more than one-half the parts of
its own machine. The fact, of course,
makes it necessary to double tho 13,
383 to fiud the number of people in
the bioyclo army, which gives 26,6GG,
and still not including tho country
agents and their salesmen and helpers
who surely swell the total to 30,000.
Next year enough more money will be
invested, factories started, people em¬
ployed and wheols made to increase
by half all tho estimates above given.
The number of bicyclos to be turned
out next season is estimated at 800,000.
What will they be like? What will
they cost? Will they be as heavy as
the ones now iu use, and will they be
as strong or stronger? First as to
weight and strength, There is a
probability that there will be a light
increase in both, and it is needed.
Bicycles now are too light, and cor
tainly they are not strong enough.
At least that is the evidence of many
bicycle riders, and one does not have
to be very observing to know that
men enrrying brokou wheels through
the streets are more numerous now
than they were before the days of
light wood tires. Broken frames ou
race tracks are commoner now, also,
than in the days when wheels were
heavier, nnd bicycle accidents of all
sorts occur with much greater fre¬
quency. All of which leads a good
part of the bicyole public to demand
heavier wheels, for everybody knows
that during this year, at least, the
manufacturers have sacrificed consid¬
erable strength to lightness. Heavier
wheels would be stronger wheels.
Three or four pounds material judi¬
ciously distributed over a 20-pound
wheel would add a power of strength
to it, and the increased weight would
scarcely be noticed by the rider.—
New York Sun.
A Queer Clock.
Among the effects of the late J. F.
Davies, which are to be sold by J. S.
Pitt next month, is a curious form of
night clock, which is not described in
any of tbe histories of dockmaking,
and is believed to be altogether
unique. Water clocks and sand clocks
are known to have preceded more me¬
chanical timepieces, and Asser attrib¬
utes to king Alfred the Great the
adoption of candle clocks, with wax
candles twelve inches long, which
burned all day at the rate of an inch
in twenty minutes, and were put in
horn lanterns to prevent draught.
This clock is more modern render¬
ing of the same idea. It consists of a
light stand cast iu lead in the form of
a candlestick on the top of a glass
cylinder used as a reservoir for the
oil, tbe wick being placed iu a little
projection at the bottom, very much
like the Isobath inkstands which are
now in use, and, of course approxi¬
mating to the very earliest form of oil
lamp, Passing vertically over th3 oil
reservoir, immediately behind the
wick, so as to be lighted by it, is a
band of metal, on which are marked
tho hours from four to twelve, and
then on to five, presumably with the
idea that it does not get dark before
four, and that by five everybody
ought to be up and about. The stock
of oil was no doubt calculated to last
the requisite number of hours. The
relic, presumed by the British Museum
authorities to belong to the last cen¬
tury, is quite perfect and is likely to
excite a good (leal of interest among
antiquaries.—Bristol, England, Mer¬
cury.
“General I.”
Tlie shortest name in the world has
been developed by the war between
Japan and China. It is that of Gen¬
eral I, a Tartar commander, who has,
perhaps, distinguished himself above
other Chineso generals, having con¬
ducted a campaign—though a losing
one—of some effectiveness.
The French are supposed to have a
monopoly of smunines, names which
consist of one letter. A considerable
number of surnames have been cited
in the French press from time to time.
Mademoiselle O, for instance, keeps a
grocer’s shop at Louviers, and Mon¬
sieur A, is a ruruul guard *in the de¬
partment of Cote-il’Or. A family
named Y is the pride and joy of a
small Belgian town.
Iu tho United States, given names
—they could hardly be called Chiis
iian names—consisting of a single let
ler, have not infrequently been be¬
stowed. A Western business man boro
the given name of P—no more, no
less—through a long life, and a cer¬
tain New England boy is named J.
No name so short as that of General
I has yet been discovered, however, as
I is certainly tho thinnest letter in tho
alphabet. —Youth’s Companion.
Bicycle Riding and Obesity.
It is not necessary to go away from
home to fiud the “new woman” ; that
is, the womau who has boon almost
created anew by the bicycle and a
close observation of the laws of health.
There are several of them here in Lin¬
coln. One hears very frequently now
of a charming woman who has lost
forty pounds of nature’s geuerosity,
and has had the looks of her girlhood
restored to such an extent that ac
quaintances pass her every day on the
street without recognizing her. The
transformation was made by dieting,
by taking baths and by riding the
wheel. When the “new woman”
movement assumes this form, the
masculine population will take off its
hat in cordial and undisguised admira¬
tion.—Lincoln (Neb.) State Journal,
A Comfortable Route.
The Siberian railway is now in com¬
plete running condition, and open to
Omsk, 2,200 miles from St, Peters¬
burg. In the construction of the line
the engineers and men engaged in
drawing a bog sixty miles wide bad to
live in huts built on piles, which could
be approached only in boats. The
mosquitoes were so plentiful thaj
masks had to be worn and 4,000 were
in use.
It is said that Queen Victoria has
painted a portrait of Emperor Wil¬
liam, the likeness being excellent.
GATE CITY GOSSIP.
\VH *T IS GOING ON AT GEOB
GIA’3 CAPITAL.
Exposition Notes and Other Matters
of General Interest.
Attorney General Terrell has not
yet rendered his opinion in the Gate
City Guard’s case. When seen by a
reporter he said he was reserving his
opinion in order not to interfere with
the present status of affairs. The Gate
City Guard has plans for entertaining
visitors at present, and he thought
best to reserve his opinion, which,
however, he will give in time to settle
the complications that would naturally
arise again in the preparations for
“Georgia Day.”
* __ *
The Southern Railway has bought
the Atlanta Compress property for
$325,000. The site will be used for a
new union passenger station. A few
months ago the Southern bought some
property on Peters street around the
East Tennessee passenger station. It
was the original purpose to build a fine
station there, but it was found that the
extension bridge would have to be
built. So that site was abandoned and
the company has purchased ground on
the east side of the tracks.
* _ *
From the sturdy king city of the
great northwest a great army invaded
Atlanta last Monday and Tuesday.
The glorious republic of Illinois has
conquered the Empire State of the
south. Her chief executive, the flow¬
er and chivalry of the state and her
loyal soldier boys came to do the south
and weld anew the ties of love and
make stronger the bonds of fellow¬
ship. Thrice welcome was Chicago
and her soldiery. With wide open
gates Atlanta received them with warm
heart and cordial greeting. The city
was theirs, and they were given a right
royal welcome to our land of brother¬
ly love.
*__*
Hon. W. D. Mayfield, state superin¬
tendent of education of South Caro¬
lina was iu the city a few days ago
making arrangements for South Caro¬
lina day at the exposition on Thanks¬
giving Day—the 28th. Mr. Mayfield
looks for a big attendance of people
from the Palmetto state on that day.
Governor Evans, accompanied by his
staff, will be here, and so will the girls
of the Winthrop Normal and Indus¬
trial institute at Rock Hill, the cadets
from the Citadel academy at Charles¬
ton and Clemson college,Fort Hill and
several companies of state troops. Al¬
together, the display will be the most
imposing yet made by any state out¬
side of Georgia.
* ___ *
New York day, November 25th,
promises to bo the greatest day of the
fair, judged from a spectacular point
of view. People who visited the Chi¬
cago world’^ fair remember the grand
show made there by the New Yorkers,
The Atlanta (lay promises to be on
quite as grand a scale if not grander.
The most prominent guests of tbe oc¬
casion will be Governor Flower, who
was here at the opening of the expo¬
sition, and Hon. Daniel E. Sickles,
congressman from New York, who
came here a few years ago when there
was no exposition. Along with the
governor and other dignitaries will
come that great American volunteer
military organization, the famous
Seventh New York Regiment. It is
also more than likely that the Twenty
second Regiment, which holds a posi¬
tion hardly lower than the Seventh,
will come aloDg with the governor, the
commissioners and others.
»___*
S. M. Inman Day.
Thursday, the 28 th day of November,
was fixed some time ago for a second
trial of Atlanta day, this being Thanks¬
giving, on which business will be gen¬
erally suspended. It will be remem¬
bered that the last effort at Atlanta
day was not as successful as was ex¬
pected on account of the exceedingly
bad weather on that day. At the
meeting of the board of directors a
few days ago a resolution of thanks
was tendered Mr. Inman for his re¬
cent work in behalf of the exposition
and a resolution was unanimously
adopted instructing that the admis¬
sion tickets for Atlanta day shall bear
the features of Mr. Inman. This will
be done and this makes Atlanta day
S. M. Inman day as well. There is
ti ns double inspiration for every At¬
lantic to honor the day.
♦__
A Generous Act.
Vice-President St. John, of the Sea¬
board Air-Line system has issued a
circular to tho employes of that sys¬
tem in which he savp, speaking of the
Atlanta exposition: “Recognizing it
as a vast educational institutional, and
desiring that the employes of the Sea¬
board Air-Line shall reap that benefit,
which should prove profitable alike to
themselves and the company which
they serve, we beg to advise that all
who have been in the service of the
Seaboard Air-Line for a period of
three mouths or more, will be furnish¬
ed with free transportation to Atlanta
and return, npon application therefor
to their superior officers, and when
accompanied by a statement from such
officer, that such party or parties can
be spared from duty without detri
ment to the company’s interests. Such
request for free transportation may
include the wife and dependent mem¬
bers of the immediate family of the
employe.”
* __ *
To Adjourn for Georgia Day.
An important act of the house of
representatives a few days ago was the
: adoption of the resolution introduced
by Mr. JeDkins, of Putnam, providing
that the legislature adjourn ou Geor¬
gia day, November 19th, and attend
the exposition in a body. The resolu¬
tion, provides that:
“Whereas, the exposition sets forth
the wonderful advancement and devel¬
opment made in the south since the
war, and the same embodies the spirit of
the movement which is sooner or later
to make our section of the United
States one of the most prosperous and
progressive; and
Whereas, the people of Georgia have
a profound interest in displaying to
the world all of the great resources of
our great state, and it is the duty of
ourselves as representing the people to
take some official action and notice of
the same; and
“Whereas, there has been set apart
the 19th day of November, to be
known as Georgia day, to be especially
devoted to the state at large; there¬
fore, be it
“Resolved, by the house, the senate
concurring, That the Cotton States
and International exposition, and the
spirit which it embodies, has our
warmest support, concurrence and
help, end in behalf of the people of
the state we most heartily indorse and
subscribe to any movement which
looks to the upbuilding of our
country.
“Resolved, That both the senate and
the house shall adjourn on Ihis day
and attend the exercises in a body and
that a joint committee of eight be ap¬
pointed—three from the senate and
five from the house—whose duty it
shall be to provide a programme for
this day, and said committee is di¬
rected to invite the mayors of the
various towns and cities of the state
and the officers of all public institu¬
tions, colleges, railroads and military
organizations to co-operate with them
in securing a good attendance of the
people of the state at the exposition
on that day.”
TRADE TOPICS.
Previously Reported Advances in
Prices Have Been Checked.
Bradetreet’s report on business con¬
ditions for the past week says:
“The interruption of general trade
throughout the country incident to
the election has been emphasized by
unusually mild weather which checks
demand for clothing, heavy weight
textiles and other seasonable goods.
Except for iron, steel and cotton, the
larger portion of advances in prices of
commodities reported since March
lost has largely disappeared. Antici¬
pations of a continuance of advance in
prices and demand this year, the out
growth of the activity of two and three
months ago, have met with disappoint
ment. But there is little reason for
the reaction in settlement by many
who discuss business conditions. The
sentiment of traders generally is that
the outlook promises an active spring
trade and with the holiday season will
prove satisfactory.
“Bank clearings throughout the
United States for the week aggregated
$1,221,000,000, a gain of 3.5 per cent
over the preeeeding week. The fall¬
ing off during the week in comparison
with tbe like total in 1892, when the
volume of business was very heavy, is
less than 5 per cent. It is to such ex¬
hibits as this, together with greatly
increased railway earnings, the heavi¬
est iron and steel production on record,
widespread advances of wages and
prices for cotton and cotton goods
promising prosperity during the com¬
ing season that those should look who
have felt only disappointment in the
falling away of demand since Septem¬
ber.
“The feature of the business week
among larger eastern cities is an im¬
proved demand for textiles with in¬
creased strength in iron at'Pittsburg
after the recent reaction. At cities in
the central western states a moderate
volume of business is reported without
material change, complaints being
most numerous from Cincinnati. A
fair business is reported from Chicago
in shoes and rubbers, owing to the
weather conditions. St. Louis reports
a larger volume of trade, while at
Kansas City the opposite is true, owing
to the consequence of prolonged dry
weather last month. Similar advices are
received from Omaha. At Milwaukee,
Minneapolis and St. Paul general trade
is quiet, in part owing to the mild
weather. Grain continues to move
freely to Duluth and lake traffic con¬
tinues active. At the south unreason¬
ably warm weather is complained of
and in some instances there are reports
of decreased demand for staples, but
on the whole the prospect favors an
active spring trade. Mercantile col¬
lections are improved and in a number
of instance? longstanding accounts are
being paid. ”
Wb always learn fastest in a day of
sorrow.
WOMAN'S ENEMY.
nntiTONiTis sisr.no u Sp A!lB3
VICTIMS. ITS
■=SSSS- uiora Woman,
From the Herald, Baltimore
srandehildren. Mrs. J. P. Grove, a mat-rial 'i a1v ru” 1
lives 417 Pinkney
Baltimore. She would easily
state woman of of good half health her age. and owes her rrZ Hrl? ?
and probably her
the use of Dr. Williams’ Pint pnig. A ’
_
reporter called at the house a few a av
and was informe,1 that Mrs. j
for Grove had 2om>
out a walk and would
scribe was ushered into the parlor to
her arrival. The room “
gave every attention!! wld
of refinement and the care and
a good housewife. Choice books lay arou Jamil, J
givingproof of tho intelligence of the
and the walls were decorated with m
articles of virtu and bric-a-brac Wyri s.,,™ «
Amertoa, Japan, } rom Whi»
and other countries
Mrs. Grove was announced the renort«
and astonished healthy to find her She such is a younir edueafe l^t f » 13
woman. well
is a fluent talker and Interestin'' to sr,Z}% .
the She, results however, she declined at first" to
had experienced skid, from * MM W
the Pink Pills ns. she she did not !lk«
to have her name appear in print in any wav
tation, ‘However,” she added, after some little Wu
the pills did me so much good «...
I other might sufferer be doing know wrong what by they not did letting soml ,?
Then she said, f or L
“Dr. Williams’ Pink Pm, theS
certainly all the proprietors represent ^
to be. I never had such relief f, om
other medicine. A short time ago I had
attack of peritonitis which left an
prostrated nnd mo in such ,
spalred nervous condition that sleen" I de
of recovery. I could neither
eat or read with any degree of peace or sab
isfaetion. and life was absolutely a burden
Having heard that others had been cured ot
the same troubles by Dr. Williams’ Pink Pill,
I secured several boxes and began to take
them. As if by magic I at once began to
improve. Thev cured me, and now I have
no symptoms of nervousuoss or of the disease
which so prostrated me. Now that’s enough ”
said Mrs: Grove, in reply to another ques¬
tion. She walked to the door as lightly as a
young girl and, with a pleasant goo t morn¬
ing to the reporter, disappeared within tho
portals of her happy home with a little
grandchild clinging to her skirts.
Dr. Williams’ Pink Tills contain, in a con¬
densed form, all the elements necessary to
give new life and richness to the blood and
restore shattered nerves. Pink Pills are sold
by all dealers, or will be sent post paid on
receipt of price<(50 cents a box. or six boxes
for $2.50—they are never sold in bulk or by
lObj, by addressing Dr. Williams’ Medicine
Company, Schenectady, N. Y.
The Bessonette Cotton Bale.
A man of the name of Bessonette, of
Temple, Texas, has invented a process
of compressing cotton, which, it is es¬
timated, will save to the south $32,
000,000 annually. Imagine, if you
please, a cotton bale so dense and so
well covered that a fire may be built
upon it without causing calculable
damage; also imagine a bale so packed
as to occupy much less room than an
ordinary compressed bale, yet not need
any ties to keep it in shape. Imagine
further a bale which contains no moist¬
ure, no air and nothing but cotton,
and so compact as to be like a block of
hard wood into which nails can be
driven the same as if it were wood.
The cotton, according to the Besso¬
nette process, is ginned into bats,
wound on iron spindles, pressed down
upon theVpindle by a revolving cylinder
with auy required pressure, and then
wrapped with cotton duck, something
after the style of the wrapping of a
cigar. Cotton dnek cups are placed
over the ends of the cylinder of cotton,
after the spindle is withdrawn, and
strands of wire passed around the ends
of the cylinder hold the caps in place.
No iron bands are used, as the way
the cotton batting is wound on the
spindle retains the full force of the
compressage. The duck is to protect
the outside of the cylinder of cotton
from dirt.—Tuscaloosa (Cal.) Times.
That’s Just as Bad.
It wasn’t really her fault that the
biscuits burned a little ou the bottom,
and he ought not to have raised so big
a row about it.
“I suppose such a thing never hap¬
pened in all your mother’s cooking,”
said she sarcastically. “Occasion¬
“NeveT,” he asseverated.
ally she used to get them so light that
they would float up to the top of th«
oven and get scorched that way, but
they Dever burned on tho bottom. —
Cincinnati Enquirer.
Need of Help Then.
“Oh, do come and help !” gasped “there »
boy who ran up to a policeman; in
is an awful fight going on onI
street!”
“Who’s fighting?” another man.”
“My father and
they been at it ? ^
“How long have
“Oh, half an hour.”
“But why didn’t you come auc. i tel
me about it before?” ths
“Why, because dad was getting _ minnW
best of it along up to ten
ago.”—Tit-Bits.
A Practical Youth.
Old Bullion—What! You wish to
marry my daughter? She is a ffi ert
schoolgirl yet. I early .
Suitor—Yes, sir. came WeeLy
avoid the rush.—New York
Dora—Mr. Spooner says he alwap
feels like fish out of water when n<
a
is with me. hooked hinii
Cora—Then you’ve Bazar.
have you?—Harper’s
“Splendid hat you’ve got there.
Must have cost a lot. How muc •
“Don’t know. Man wasn’t in shG
when I took it.”—El Liberal.