The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-05-07
EVOLUTION IN VEHICLES
The Progress in Modes Of Transit
Up to the Present Time.
An Interesting Exhibit for the Colum blan
Exposition--The Sledges of the An
clients and the Safeties
of To-Day.

One feature which the department Of
transportation will bring to the front
in the Columbian exposition is the evo-
luton of vehicles Of locomotion. This
will be shown with great accuracy to
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 seni-civilized lands will be
grouped 50 as to bring into startling
contrast the great improvements which
employed in the present day.
Willard Smith, chief Of the depart
ment of transportation, has already de-
voted a good deal of work to research
as to the earliest vehicles used by man.
Rough he7vn logs or planhs 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 III the construction of the
pyramids and temples of Egypt were
moved from the quarries in this nam
ner. The first sledge of which there is
any authentic account is seen pictured
in the culpture on d temple at Hebes.
This sledge had long runners, turned UP
III front and strengthened by numerous
cross pieces. Later on rollers were dis
covered, and from them came the
wheels, which at first reyolved 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
rage of Catherine the Great, which cost
nearly one million dollars, and is stud
ded wiz ,grecious stones. Another is d
a'5dge made by Peter the Great, the royal
carpenter, with his own hands. An i'm
perial sledge owned by Catherine was
drawn by sixteen horses and was fitted
mp with every imaginable luxury Of
The times. IT WAS large and beautiful
par1or On runners with windows Of
double sheets Of glass SO that they
could not become frosted over and OBJ
scurc the view OF the country through
which the enpress and her party might
he 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 a strong, heavy and large
covered wagon. drawn by six horses,
and a favorite medium for travel among
the farmers of Pennsylvania. 1t cor
responded IL, the "prai1'ie schooner OF
the days of the California gold craze.
The first stage coach for passengers as
we'll us freight was run between New
York and Philadelphia, and made the
trip in three days. AT the time this coach
commenced it's 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 i'm q coach sent to him
from England he created a sensation.
Another step III the course of evolu-
T.. III
cycles and tricycles. One Of the largest
bicycle firms in the country in apply ing
to Chief Smith for space for an exhibit
promised to show bicycles and tri-
cycles of every style known to the
trade FROM the first ''bone-shaker' up to
the highly finished pneumatic tire OF
the present day The intention is to
dispose Of che cycle exhibit in sew
eral rows along the entire length
OF the building, allowing one hundred
and fifty square feet of space for each
exhibitor. One feature will be an i'm
mense bicycle, perfect in every part, the
large wheel of which will have di-
ameter of thirty feet.
Horse trapplngs and appliances will
also be largely represented. The
Wholesale Sadalery association Of the
United States has provided a fund of
thirty-tive thousand dollars for pro
noting collective exhibit. Not only
will home products have an ample and
detailed display, but special agents
have been commissioned to secure rare
and ancient specimens from abroad.
From Austria and Bohemia sets OF
silver-plated harness of unique design
will be secured; from Belgium will
come spurs, stirrup irons, steel bits,
brides, harness and side saddles; from
Brazil sets of bride reins or raw bull
locks hide, linked with silver, the hide
being prepared, cut and plated without
the use of tools other than a common
knife; from Egypt dromedary saddles
with appurtenances a skin holster for
pistols and a donkey saddle Of velvet
richly mounted and embroidered with
gold.
A Grand Panorama.
Major Meigs, the government engi-
neer in charge of river improvements