New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-22
CHANCES HERE AND THERE.

In some OF the accounts 0f the German Army evo
lu0ns there illusions to the general use OF maya
zine guns by mounted infantry. Both these innova
lions In European military tactics borrowed from
experience in the late for the Union. Both
the magazine gun an invention and the use OF
mounted Infantry rs force travelling WIN
the speed OF cavalry. and fighting and pursuing rs
such or simply fighting foot soldiers according to
exigencies. of American origin. The writer wit
messed the first employment Of mounted infantry with
magazine guns In this way at the battle OF Hoovers
Gap In Tennessee. The regiment engaged on. the
Union side the 3oth Indiana Mounted Infantry,
Colonel Thomas Harrson-no relative Of the President
although from the same Sate-and the magazine gun
was the Springfield rife, slxteenshooter In firing
this gun the soldier had to bring the rife after each
shot to upright position In order to fire again. The
rebel attacking force encounterng this quckrpeating
gun for the first time broke under its rapid firing Those
who surrendered rather than retreat under such fire
when brought into the lines of the Both Indiana asked
eagerly "What kind OF gun youuns got when YOU
load time present arms ~ 1t VIII be an inter
fantry lighting on foot with repeating rifles drive foe
into flight and then pursue the futves on horseback
ns or one should IKE Seo 70 pe as
Mr.. Burdctt-Coutts, Of London and OF the Brook
field Stud, is in NewYork. having to attend the
horse show. The writer in the Office OF the Ma
tional Press Intelligence Company the newspaper
clipping bureau" letter from his secretary A. II.
Godfrey, Of the American Hackney Horse Society OF
this city, directing the manager OF the Intelligence
Company to change the address OF the clippings sent
to Mr.. Burdett COutts in London to the BRUNSWICK
Hotel, New York, where he would be after November
70 for an indefinite period. The writer curious
to learn upon what subject Mr.. Coutts was supplied
with clippings and found there several subjects.
all pertaining. however to the breeding, development
and exhibition Of the hackney horse Mr.. Coutts has
written book on the subject, which ne cans BROOK
field stud the of his large breeding farm In
England. His passion for horses Is not merely i "a
fad; he makes the breeding and Improvement OF inc
hackney horse a speciality and business. Horse
shows and stud farms he wants to know al about put
nothing about racing or race hores Is sent hlm'
Recent mention of Alfred speer the wine grower Of
Passaic, N. j., and inventive genius Of no mean
order, recalls to mind curious coincidence OF the
writer's intercourse with him, who had occasion 10
write him few days ago and incidentally, In post
script asked how his vineyards were yielding this year.
He wrote back In enthusiastic moOd, declaring that
he was absolutely at a loss to know where to find
storage for the wine he making from this years
grape crop, which he said unprecedented. HIS
letter was laid aside and the next thing the writer
read I'm The Tribune was an account OF the total de-
strucon Of his warehouse at Passaic with many thou
emsn o' day or u two later was found in great grief
over the loss Of his Wines but collection OF Gu
rios w be had s ssTed y d Sss
property, but apparently he had regrets only fo o,
no material value expressibe in dollars and cents.
Mention was made In the article above alluded to
of scheme OF Mr. Speers for passenger and freight
railway TO run at the rate of zoo miles an hour w
course this sounds absurd at the first suggestion OF
what even this fast age has not yet seriously conem
plated But recent achievements in the matter OF
fast and safe running the more substantial surface
roads like the Pennsylvania and the New-forK zen
trail lead one to think the attainment Of at least
double the average speed of the present time not by
any means an improbability. Average running Tune
has been practically reduced one-hah since the Close
of the war. We are likely TO forget this
fact in calculating the increased carrying ca
pacity of the marvellously developed rail-
road system of the country since 1t was
cemented by the late 1t is reported That prepa
rations are making for the running of trains over
part of the Northern Pacific system at uniform rate
Of 100 miles hour the propeng power to 20 eie ice.
trjcal motors. Mr.. Edison is said to be planning tne
engines for this test at the present time. Henry
Willard has been enthusiastic believer In the ultimate
substitution OF electricity for steam as the propeihg
power Of the heaviest OF railway trains ana ne Is
striving hard to be the pioneer In Its practical usra
ton,