accelerated service given by these boats are already shown by the gain in exports during the first few months of this year (1898).

The general business of Colombia has increased during the past year, notwithstanding the unsatisfactory condition of the coffee market, and, with the efficient river service now assured, I feel greatly encouraged as to the future business of the company.

An addition has been made to the wharf at Cartagena, giving greater length by 120 feet, so that small vessels will not interfere with the berthing of large ships. There has been, also, important work done in the filling and preparation of the grounds adjacent to the wharf for the purpose of constructing steamboats for the Magdalena River; tracks and switches have been laid, a good store built, and three steamboats and one barge constructed.

The new steamers have rapidly cleared away the accumulated freight, and the service will be more prompt in future.

Statement of combined Cartagena companies, December 31, 1897.

*This account is made necessary by the fluctuations in the value of Colombian currency, the books of the company being kept in that money.

The total through freight carried by the road in 1897 amounted to 19,987,455 tons (of 2,204 pounds); the local freights were 10,405,795 tons; the earnings (gold) were $166,700; the number of passengers carried, 73,848. The imports and exports of Cartagena in 1897 (nearly all of which passed over the company's wharf) were:

*Compiled from data furnished by T. C. Stevenson, esq., Her Britannic Majesty's vice-consul. The following (included above) did not pass over the company's wharf, but were loaded at out ports:

* Compiled from data furnished by T. C. Stevenson, esq., Her Britannic Majesty's vice-consul.

BICYCLE INDUSTRY IN GERMANY.

There is danger of increased duties being levied on bicycles and parts of bicycles sent to this Empire. A crisis is looked for in Germany's bicycle business. Failures have occurred and are to be followed by others. "This," says a writer who wants to see increased duties, "is the result of the enormous increase in the imports of bicycles and bicycle parts from the United States." He speaks of the cheap and bad wheels brought over and the indifference. of American manufacturers to the quality of their wares, although it is known that American wheels and parts are the best in the world. The meaning of these articles is that bicycles will be put under the class of "vehicles" in the German tariff and made to pay, without doubt, from $10 to $15 each. The German bicycle makers have heretofore pointed out the danger from American competition and begged for increased duties as the only safe way to keep out American machines. Everyone admitted the need, but nothing was then

done. Now the danger has gone over into actual damage. Manufacturers are gathering statistics to show how many people have been thrown out of employment by the importation of American wheels. It is useless to disguise or to try to disguise what is everywhere too apparent, namely, that this country is commercially hostile to our own. Whether the product be apples, meats, wheels, or anything else, if it interferes with the products of the Empire, ways and means will be found to keep it out.

Inasmuch as manufacturers here flood the United States with their wares before every new tariff bill which increases duties goes into effect, it would be wise for our bicycle manufacturers to load up their German storehouses with wheels and parts, in anticipation of tariff legislation that seems now inevitable. Before sending, however, our manufacturers should bear in mind that this market is already overstocked. This is perhaps due to the efforts made by the best manufacturers to keep up prices. One of the largest and best concerns in the Empire has manufactured parts on hand, ready to be put together, for more than 200,000 wheels. If this is true, and I am quite sure it is, what must be the condition of concerns whose wheels are by no means as good as those of the firm referred to? If huge quantities of wheels are sent over, it must be with the object of relieving the United States market, and not in order to make money; for, in self-protection, the big manufacturers here. will have to seek relief not only in higher duties on imported wheels, but in reduced prices for their own products.

J. C. MONAGHAN,

CHEMNITZ, August 1, 1898.

Consul.

BICYCLES IN ADEN.

The following information has been received from Consul Cunningham, of Aden, under date of August 2, 1898. The report was made in answer to inquiries from a Chicago manufacturer, relative to the bicycle industry in Aden.*

The many inquiries received at this consulate from American bicycle manufacturers and exporters in reference to the bicycle trade here lead me to think too little is known of the conditions both of the climate and topography of this locality.

Owing to the very rough streets and roads, which are hilly besides, few inducements are offered for the use of the bicycle; then it is well known that the days are so hot that no one can expose himself to the rays of the sun on a wheel at any season of the year without great danger. This confines the use of the bicycle entirely to

* A copy of Advance Sheets has been sent to the inquirer.

the time between sunset and sunrise. For these reasons the trade in wheels, which is attaining so much popularity throughout the world, is remaining quite stationary at this place.

There are perhaps not over twenty-five wheels in the four towns in this British colony-Aden, Little Aden, Steamer Point, and Shaik Othman—and they are owned solely for recreation, and not for convenience of travel. Even if conditions were favorable to its use, none of the natives are able to afford a wheel. Those here are owned by Europeans, who are connected with some European or American exporting house, and by persons who are British Government or army officers, whose residence here is temporary and not such as to create a demand for many wheels. It is true there is a great deal of travel between the four places above spoken of, but the condition of the soil and the topography of the country render the use of the wheel between them next to impossible. To say the least, even an experienced cyclist finds no pleasure in it.

There are no regular dealers in wheels, nor in repairs for bicycles here. I think three firms, all of whom are general importing and exporting merchants, have made an effort to introduce bicycles by making small orders; but none has met with any success. One of them has had four of his wheels on hand since 1896. A very few (from one to six) may be sold here each year, but the number is so small that it would not justify any house to go to much expense to put their wheels on sale. Those now in use are principally of Ameri

can manufacture.

The demand for wheels being so limited, it likewise follows that the demand for repairs is limited, though some supplies can be sold here to meet the demand of the few wheelmen who are continually having to send to London or elsewhere for such repairs as they may need.

I can see no prospect for an increased demand in this market for bicycles of any description or make.

AMERICAN BICYCLE COMPETITION IN ENGLAND.

Consul Halstead writes from Birmingham, August 8, 1898: The following communication appeared in the Birmingham Daily Mail. While exaggerated and untrue in several particulars, it is a British recognition of the fact that American bicycle manufacturers use their splendid plants effectively. It may serve as an encouragement to manufacturers in other lines.

I think it is about time some of our cycle manufacturers woke up from their slumbers and realized the state of the cycle trade. It is all very fine for them to go

on in this old-fashioned way, and say that they don't fear American competition. But America can and does compete with them in their own markets. Many Birmingham firms to-day have expensive automatic machines standing idle, waiting for the next season to come round. Now, when the cycle season is over in America, they start these machines on such components as small screws, nuts and bolts, washers, rivets, adjustments, steps, lock washers, and various screws used in the trade. Just when the season is coming in again, they pack these off to England at very low prices and start their automatic machines on the ordinary cycle parts just in time for their markets. By doing this they not only keep the best of their workmen together, but make profits while the English firms are idle. No maker in Birmingham can deny that 90 per cent of the smaller parts come from America and Germany. English firms have plants just the same, and if they would go in for making these things in the winter they would make a small profit; then, when the season comes in, they would not have so much lost time to pull up. I should like to point out that there is a vast quantity of American hubs and pedals sold in Birmingham even at the present time.

BICYCLES IN MEXICO.

Consul-General Pollard, writing from Monterey, August 13, answers questions propounded by an association of bicycle manufacturers in the United States as follows:

No bicycles are manufactured in the Republic of Mexico. Several firms buy all the component parts of machines and put them together afterward, but the complete wheel is not manufactured in Mexico. All the parts are procured from the United States, and almost all the machines manufactured in the United States are represented in Mexico. The chief importers of bicycle parts are Messrs. Howe & Co., of Monterey; Messrs. Moler & Degrees, of Mexico City; and Messrs. Pomery & Co., of Guadalajara. The prospects for increased traffic in goods of high quality are promising. The entire component parts of each wheel, however, are demanded, owing to the number of different makes in the country. The duty on parts of bicycles not nickel plated is 2 cents per kilogram (2.2046 pounds); on parts nickel plated, it is 20 cents per kilogram.

With reference to the future of bicycles in Mexico, it may be interesting to state that for the last four years the demand therefor has increased each successive year more than 5 per cent over that of

the preceding year. There is no doubt that anyone having capital to start a manufactory in this Republic would meet with success, and that large gains would ensue to the investors in such an enterprise. There are good prospects, too, for the manufacture of rubber tires and rubber parts of bicycles. The raw material can be obtained in Mexico for this purpose.