, 1867-10-18
An Aruacial Racs Hur.e.

AprivAte letter from Paris to the Kingston
(CAiAdA) WAig, gives the following interesting
description Of the iron saddle horse some French,
met have invented:
neliron horse bears no resemblance to its
equine namesake. Imagine trunk shaped box
about seven feet long, aud wide enough for q
mas y saddle, and about Eve feet high, the
whole concern mounted on Eve wheels, the
wheels however, concealed under the machine.
IL is eqered with leather aud has q saddle, ouly
the sadie is very high, front aud back, 90 that
therslh no chance Of being uuborsed. In front
= = sfesriug apparatus Of fthesunpiest kind-twO
silk cords-aud just before the saddle is'a steel
bar which regulates the speed. Ifyou pull il up
you start the machine; pull-it higher up you in
crease the speed if you depress it you slow il
urtil point is reached when the apparatus
| stops.
| The inventor, quite young man, commenced
winding up the machine with what seemed to be
scrank motion, and as distinctly heard the tick
d the ratchet, l therefore supposed it was
worked by coiled spring, but have reasons
iince to think that was mistaken. | suppose it
took two minutes to wind it, when he mounted
1t and started it by pulling up the steel bar. 1t
moved gradually so that for the first minute
could keep along side of it; but presently it
started at the speed of fast horse, and in a mo-
ment more was lost, going round the curve Of a
circle. | suppose you know the grand Exposi>
tion has series of concentric rings, each devo.
ted to a particular branch of industry. The one
the machine was running on was the Numero
Quatra section del Mecaniques, and is the larg.
est, measuring some yards more than an English
mile. 1t seems to be incredible that he should
have performed the entire circuit IN two minu
and twelve seconds. A hearty clapping of hands
greeted the machine as it came careerng on,
and gradually stopping without any apparent
trouble.
noticed the emperor, generally taeituru,
loud in his applause, capping bis hands, as /
did, and was assured by NJ. de NJ. that be had
never seen bis Majesty on any occasion before
show the least sign of commendation. The in
ventor then said that he would put it up to its
speed, but to do this he must give the machine
a start. He then wheeled around, aud Just like
jockey starting horse, got it up to the maxi
mum. As he passed US be seemed to be flying.
The circuit was made in ftty-eight seconds.
new salvo of applause met him he brought the
machine where the Emperor was standing and |
must say that | felt some emotion when the En-.
peror TOOK the legion of honor from his button
holeand placed it on the young inventors breast.
NJ. told me its endurance, if | may use the
term, was extraordinary; that at its highest
speed it would keep on going for four hours.
was led TO believe that the mechanical power was
secondary to it, and that galvanic battery was
the real otive power. 1t was rumored that
battery of constantly increasing elements sus-
tains the motion. Anyhow, the secret is well
tvgS, -Ae~ Emperor navlng, vita heIuveEtor, the
only knowledge of it. NJ. also told me that,
in Vincennes, battery of artillery was to be
moved with it, instead Of horses.
may say saw four persons mount it a5d it
moved more rapidly than would carriage. An
interesting experiment was made as to its capa-
oiiitiesfor going over rough country. Several
loads Of lrt were shot on the floor, and it
passed over it with apparent ease. One thing,
remarked was that there was a perpendicular
play in tn, wheels, and as one difficulty was sur.
mounted enc wheel would be higher than the
other, while the body was carried on the same
plane.