150 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



[Feb. 20, 1885. 



land coiitirmed in the desired direction there can be no 

 question that we should liave continued to advance, how- 

 ever slowly, toward the completion of our enterprise." 



I think all Arctic authorities now concur in Sir Edward's 

 opinion. To this has been added another proposition, which 

 originateil, I believe, with Sherard Osborne, bat has of late 

 years been strenuously supported by Commander Markhani, 

 E..N. : " To penetrate far into the unknown region, it is 

 necessary to find a coast trending northward, with a western 

 aspect." This is negatively substantiated not only by the 

 loss of the Jeanyielle, but by the fact that the shores of cast 

 Greenland are practically inaccessible, while Spitzbergen 

 can rarely, if ever, be coasted along its eastern side. Posi- 

 tive and couviiu'ing evid<nce is presented by Barent's voyage 

 to the north point of Kova Z'enibla, Parry's to Melville 

 Island, McClure's to Mercy Bay, Kane's to Van Renssalaer 

 Harbour, Hall's to Thank God Harbour, Xare's to Floeberg 

 Beach, Leigh Smith's to Eira Harbour, as well as b>y the 

 whaler's yearly experiences in reaching the north water 

 of Baffin's Bay. The cause of this may in a measure 

 depend on the rotary motion of the earth, or other com- 

 plicated phenomena, but a reasonable explanation is 

 perhaps to be fjund in the north-easterly winds which 

 prevail to such an extent in the Arctic regions. 



Long sledge journeys are necessary for successful explora- 

 tion, even after tlie vessel is in harbour at a high latitude. 

 The easier the harbour is of access, so much greater will be 

 the chances of ultimate success. 



Thi ss conditions — continuity of land, with noithern 

 trend and western aspect, a secure harbour easy of access, 

 together with good ice for sledging operation-: — are all 

 fulfilkd in the fifth route, rj(? Franz Josef Land. 



(To he continued.) 



THE SPEEDWELL CYCLIXG 

 EXHIBITION.- 



IF proof were wanting of the 'wonderful improvements 

 which have been wrought in the construction of the 

 •'steely steed'' during the last few years, no better method 

 could have been d-;vised for furnishing it than that adopted 

 by the executive of the Stanley Bicycle Club in inaugu- 

 rating the annual exhibition of bicycles, tricycles, and 

 accessories in London, now well known as the Stanley 

 Show, the success of which was so complete as to induce 

 the Speedwell Bicycle Club Committee to take up the cue 

 and provide a similar pantechnicon fur Birmiugham. This 

 latter exhibition, which has also gained public favour, and 

 has increased in magnitude and importance each year since 

 its establishment, no doubt owes much of its success to 

 the fact thit a fair proportion of the cycling industry 

 of England is centred in the "midland" metropolis. The 

 expense of supporting two sejurate exhibitions in London 

 and Birmingham was so great that many of the manufac- 

 turers this J ear decided to exhibit at_ the Speedwell Show 

 only, with the result that the exhibition held at Bingley 

 Hall, formally opened by the Mayor of Birmingham (Alder- 

 man Martineau) ou the 5th inst, was especially interest- 

 ing. As in former years, the body of the hall was 

 occupied exclusively by the various exhibits, whilst the 

 gilleries were devoted to the trial of machines. The 

 arrangements were in every way perfectly satisfactory, and 

 the committee of management are to be congratulated on 

 the result of their fourth annual venture. 



'Want of space prrcludes the possibility of reviewing tie 

 whole of the exhibit-", and oar remarks will therefore I e 



confined to those which appear to be most worthy of 

 distinction. 



The fctand occupied by ^Messrs. D. Pudge &. Co., of 

 Coventry — which was in a central position, and occupied 

 the whole length of the building — was the largest display 

 of any one firm in the show, and included no less than 

 eighty-one machines of the highest class, style, and finish. 

 The celebrated Eotary was, of course, a prominent feature, 

 for the many wonderful performances which have been 

 accomplished on this machine have rendered it — and de- 

 servedly so — a very popular " mount." Another specialty 

 was a central-geared racing tricycle, made of the highest- 

 quality materials, and weighing only 4.'5 lb., upon which 

 the unprecedented feat of riding 50 miles in 3 hrs. 47 min. 

 -10 ses. has been accomplished. In addition to several 

 racing bicycles, Messrs. Pudge exhibited a new Safety 

 bicycle, which is an exceedingly presentable machine. 



Messrs. Humber, Marriott & Co.'s exhibits were very 

 tastefully arranged, and presented quite a picturesque 

 appearance. The secret of the fame attained by the 

 Humber machines was fully illustrated by the high-class 

 workmanship displayed in all this firm's productions. Not 

 only is the quality of the component parts undeniable, but 

 all the improvements that ingenuity and skill can devise 

 are introduced into these machines. Several bicycles and 

 tricycles were .shown upon which most of last year's 

 " records " have been accomplished. Messrs. Humber also 

 exhilited a Safety bicycle, which is only of recent date, and 

 has not yet had its record-beating abilities tested. 



The Poyal Machine Manufacturing Company were well 

 to the front with a fine variety of Poyal Mail bicycles and 

 tricycle.^, one of the latest of which is a two-track central- 

 gear double-driver, fitted with an improved break which 

 can be applied and set to resist any pressure, as desired, 

 without the rider having to retain possession of the 

 actuating-lever. Another specialty exhibited is a two- 

 track, convertible Tandem, with steering-wheel in front 

 on the right-hand side, and one at the back on the left- 

 hand side. This firm also has produced a Safety bicycle 

 said to possess certain special advantages. 



Almost facing the Royal Mail stall was that of Mr. 

 ^Ym. Bown, of iEolus fame, who has brought forward 

 many desirable improvements iu connection with bicycles 

 and tricycles ; his most successful invention, however, is 

 doubtless the patent yEoIus adju.stable ball-bearing, which 

 has become an almost indispensable necessity. Mr. Bown, 

 having established his undisputed right to the patent, 

 has, we hear, been besieged with orders for the coming 

 season's supply. The patent jEoIus two speed hill-climbing 

 gear for tricycles and the double-drivicg balance-gear are 

 also rapidly receiving recognition as important improve- 

 ments. Fiom practical experience, we can testify that the 

 former is a decided accjuisition to a tricycle; it enables the 

 rider to apply greater power to the machine in ascending 

 steep hills or when riding against strong head-winds, and 

 ou easy-going roads the gear can be instantly changed to 

 speed. Mr. Bown's exhibit also includes an adjustable 

 handle-bar, which, by simply loosening the centre screw 

 and pressing a small spring, can be brought jiarallel with 

 the wheels, thus enabling the machine to be "stabled" or 

 packed in narrow limits. A varied assortment of every 

 description of cycling accessories and fittings in all stages 

 of production, including ihe jiatent hand}' bell for tricycles, 

 foruiS a most interesting display. 



Mr. James Carver, of Nottingham, had on view several 

 tricycles and bicycles, which, ou close inspection, proved 

 to be of excellent workmanship and splendid finish. The 

 tricycles were of the Humber type. The Tandem Con- 

 Vcrlible is constructed with open front-stetrer, for lady 



