The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-08-16
EVOLUTION IN VEHICLES.
The Progress in Modes of Transit
Up to the Present Time.
IN Interesting Exhibit for the Columbian
Exposition-The Sledges of the An
clients and the safeties
of To-Day.

transportation will bring to the front
IN the Columbian exposition is the evo
luton of vehicles of locomotion. This
VIII be shown with great accuracy &c
detail, the only carriages or means o1
land transportation to be omitted be.
ing the railways In connection with
this all appliances associated with these
vehicles or necessary to their operation
will also be exhibited The crude con.
structions of the builders of almost pre-.
historic times and those still in use in
savage and semi-civilized lands will be
grouped SO as to bring into startling
contrast the great improvements which
characterize the means of locomotion
employed in the present day.
! Willard Smith, chief of the DEPART
ment of transportation, has already de-
voted good deal of work to research
as to the earliest vehicles used by man.
Rough hewn logs or planks dragged
along the earth were probably the first
sledges used for the transportation of
heavy burdens. Then the use of rollers
was discovered The immense blocks
of stone used in the construction of the
pyramids and temples of Egypt were
moved from the quarries in this man
ner. The first sledge of which there is
any authentic account Is seen pictured
IN the sculpture on temple at Hebes.
rms sledge had long runners, turned up
In front and strengthened by numerous
cross pieces. Later on rollers were dis
covered, and from them came the
wheels, which at first revolved with the
axle and then Independent of it, Few
original examples of these early con-
trivances can be found, but an effort
will be made to secure what there are.
The first carriages will also be exhib-
tied in the original when possible, by
pictures when the originals cannot be
secured. For this purpose the imperial
stables of Russia form an almost mex
haustible source of supply. In these
stables are the carriages and sledges
used by the successive sovereigns for
generations. Among these is the car
riage of Catherine the Great, which cost
nearly one million dollars, and is stud
ded with precious stones. Another is a
sledge made by Peter the Great, the royal
carpenter, with his own hands. An inn
perial sledge owned by Catherine was
drawn by sixteen horses and was fitted
up with every imaginable luxury of
the times. 1t was large and beautiful
parlor on runners with windows of
double sheets of glass SO that they
could not become frosted over and OBJ
scure the view of the country through
which the empress and her party might
be passing
The progress of coach building in the
United States will also be shown. In
the early colonial days carts were first
used. Then came wagons and subse-
quently carriages, most of which were
imported from England The Cones
toga' was strong, heavy and large
covered wagon, drawn by six horses,
and a favorite medium for travel among
the farmers of Pennsylvania. It cor
responded to the prairie schooner" of
the days of the California gold craze.
The first stage coach for passengers as
well as freight was run between New
York and Philadelphia, and made the
trip in three days Atthe time this coach
commenced its trips there were only
thirty-eight public or private passenger
vehicles in Philadelphia Even toward
the close Of the eighteenth century
coaches were a curiosity and when
George Washington travelled through
the various states in a coach sent to him
from England lac created a sensation.
Another step ln the course of evolu-
lion win be shown IN veloeipedes. BIZ
'ycles and tricycles One Of the largest
bicycle firms in the country in applying
20 Chief Smith for space for an exhibit
promised 10 show bicycles and tri-
'ycles Of every style known TO tho
rade from the first "bonc-shaker" up to
he highly finished pneumatic tire Of
he present day The intention is TO
dispose of the cycle exhibit in sew
rial rows along the' entire length
# the building, allowing one hundred
nd fifty square feet of space for each
exhibitor One feature win be an inn
nense bicycle, perfect in every part, the
arge wheel Of which will have a di-
meter Of thirty feet
Horse trappngs and appliances win
lso be largely represented The
Wholesale Saddlery association of the
'nited States has provided a fund of
hirty-iive thousand dollars for pro-
noting a collective exhibit. Not only
Ill home products have an ample and +,
etniled display, but special agents
ave been commissioned TO secure rare
nd ancient specimens from abroad.
rom Austria and Bohemia sets of /
lver-plated harness Of unique design I
ill be secured; from Belgium will }
ome spurs. stirrup irons, steel bits, I
ridles. harness and side saddles; from
rail sets Of bride reins or raw bull
'ck's hide linked with silver the hide
eing prepared, cut and plated without a
ne use of tools other than common .
nife' from Egypt dromedary saddles y
nth appurtenances skin holster for :
stols and donkey saddle Of velvet !
ehly mounted and embroidered with
I'D