The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-10-18
AN ARTIFICIAL RACE HORSE.

y PRIVATE lcttcr 10 IN" NlnEslOn
/ lCanada) Wing gives the following in
| tcresting description of the iron saddle
horse some Frcnrhman has invented:
! The iron horse bears no resemblance
to its equine namc-aSc. Imagine II
trunk-shaped box about seven feet long,
and wipe enough for man to sadie and
about five feet high, the whole concern
mounted on five wheels; the wheels
G nccaled, however under thGmachinc.
1t Is covered with leather, and has II
saddle only the saddle Is very high,
front and back, so that there il no
/ chance of being unhorsod. In front Is
Il steering apparatus of the simplest kind
two silk cords-and just before the
saddle II steel bar, which regulates the
/ speed. lfyou pull it up you start the
machine ; pull il higher up YOU increase
the speed; is you dcpress it you slow it
until point is reached when the appa-
ratu- stops.
The inventor, quite Il young man,
commenced winding up the machine
with what seemed to be Il crank motion
and n distinctly heard the click of the
rachel, | therefore supposed that it was
worked by coiled spring, but have
ken. suppose it took two minutes to
wind it, when he mounted it and start
ed it by pulling up the steel bar. 1t
moved gradually, so that for the first
minute could keep alongside Of it but
presently it started at the speed of a fast
horse, and in a moment more it was
lost, going round the curve of the circle.
/ suppose you know the grand Expo
sition has series Of concentric rings,
each one devoted to Il particular branch
of industry. The one the machine was
running on was the Numera Quatra Sec
ton del MccaniqucS, and is among the
largest, and measuring some yards more
than an English mile. 1t seems to be
incredible that he should have perform
ed the circuit in two minutes and twelve
seconds. a hearty clupping of hands
greeted the machine as it came career
ing on and gradually stopping without
any apparent trouble.
noticed the Emperor, generally taci-
turn, loud in his applause, clapping his
hands, as did, and l was assured by
NJ. de NJ. that he had never seen His
Majesty on any occasion before show
the least sign of cOmmcndation. The
J inventor then said that he would put il
up to its speed, but to do this he mus
give the machine start. He thel
wheeled round, and, just like ii jockey
; starting II horse, got it up to maXium
AS he passed rs, he secmrd to be flying
The circuit was made in tifty-eight sec
onds. y new salvo Of applause me
| him as he brought the machine to whcr
the Emperor was standing, and ! mus
, say | felt some emotion when the En-
q peror took the legion Of honor from hi
J. button-hole and placed it on the youn
v inventors breast
NJ. told me Its endurance, if | ma
It use the term, Was extraordinary tn;
st at its highest speed it would keep on g
1t ing for four hours. | was led to belicl
l. that the mechanical power Was- sccOn'
Is AIRY to it, and that Il galVanC batter
e was the real motive power. 1t was r.
lc mored that u battery of cons tantly il
e creasing elements suStains the motto
lc Anyhow, the secret is well kept, Il
:, Emperor having, with the inventor, Il
At only knowledge Of it. NJ. also tuid II
If that, in NincenncS, a battery OF artille
10 was TO move with il, instead of horst
ne may say | saw four persons mou
l. it, and it moved more rapidly thi
n would Il carriage. An Interesting c
+ pertinent was made rs to its capabiliti
I'd going ovcrrough country. Several loa
H. ofdirt were shot on the tlOor,and il pa
H. ed over it with apparent ease. one thi
:, | remarked was that there was n p'
:" pendioular play in the wheels, and I'll
ne as one difficulty was surmountcd, o
ia wheel would be higher than the 9TH
~ whilst the body was on the same plal
Dp,r,r'r\- Gnpn Ne hon rI of "A mr.