Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-12
A NEW STEAM CARRIAGE,

The problem of making light steam
way by NJ SepolIet, the French engineer,
whose instantaneous steam generator was
brought to notice year or two ago. This
generator consists of a strong spiral tube
from which a fine jet of water issues over
fire and instantly expands into steam, ex-
plosion being impossible, and the steam
being brought at once to full pressure.
Such boiler is especially adopted for light
vehicles. NJ Serpolet has been expert
menting with it on tricyces, and in his
latest effort he employs is on a large phae-
ton, capable of carrying six persons on its
two seats, with a seventh passenger on a
stool in front. The carriage is elegant In
appearance, and very comfortable. The
boiler is under the rear seat, and the fire.
boxes receives fuel automatically from
chests on each side, while the water reser-
volr and the engine are placed under the
front seat The normal horse power is
four, which may be instantaneous In
creased to six speed of fifteen miles an
hour is obtained and the grades of one In
twelve are easily surmounted with full
load. Water may be carried for trip OF
about twenty miles, and fuel for thirty five
miles, and with full charge of fuel and
water the total weight of the carriage is
1850 pounds. Coke, of which about thirty
pounds is consumed per horse power, Is
preferred for fuel on city streets on ac'
count of its smokelesspess. This novel
vehicle is readily guided through crowded
thorougnfares, and is permitted on the
streets of Paris with no restriction except
that the speed shall not exceed ten miles
.an hour.
DRESS REFORM IN JAPAN.
The people and Government of Japan
continue to make commendable progress
in their efforts TO adopt a full measure Of
so-called civilization. The nation is now
rejoicing in a brand-new constitution, {
Legislative assemblage, under the name o.
Diet, and other parapharnalia of popular
government. No Car Reed has as ye
dawned on japanese politics. He will
doubtless appear, however, in due time
when their Legislative institutions affair
the same high development that character
ICES own. 1t is true that an honorable
member of the Japanese house of represen
tatives. emulating the example of certain
contemporaneous republican statesman
helped himself to certain funds intrusteG
10 his charge. He was, however, consign
ed to durance vile by the criminal tribun
ais, without even being asked to vindicat,
himself. Moreover, political associates
who endeavor to raise the question o
privilege in his case were met by the rud,
fejoinder of the stony-hearted minister O
justice to the effect that such considera
tions had nothing to do with the admins
tration OF criminal law. While the Jap
anese are thus struggling with the in
tricate principles Of representative institu
tions, they have failed to solve one of thu
first problems of civilization which the
encountered They recognize that then
picturesque but inconvenient nationa
dress is bound to disappear. The sdoptio1
of European clothes is incr easing, but, i
seems, with far from satisfactory results
A system of costume must be in harmony
with the conditions of the homes of those
who wear it, and be capable of reproduc
ton In material of native manufacture
Neither of these conditions is realized fol-
the japanese by Eulo pt an clothes. Native
journals complain that ladies' clothing il
the f, reign style is decidedly expensive
As regards the sterner sex, the chief com
plant oCnIIns trousers. Tie natlona
custom o. souatting on the floor when al
rest is apparently ineradicable. The result
is bagglng at the knees in its most viru.
lent form. The unfortunate japanese a1e
accordingly in quandary form which ii
would require the genius of Worth to
eElue them.