The San Francisco call., 1895-11-03

The ELECTRIC WHEEL.-If multitudinous
patents and numerous improvements go
for anything, the road electric cycling ma
chine will soon be an accomplished fact
One electric tricycle., "built for durability,
comfort and everyday business and pleas
ure use,' weighs complete, without motor
or batteries, AZ pounds; with motor ana
batteries, 100 pounds. The machine isde-
signed for a maximum load of 500 pounds,
riders and baggage. The battery case and
motor are spring mounted, and the seat is
OF leather, hammock style. Another cleo
trio tricycle. is peculiar in having the for
ward wheel as the driving wheel. The cur
rent is obtained from two cabinets of bat
terry, each 24x8X8 inches, which are fixed
on either side of the driving wheel. The
weight is 100 pounds. The carriage part
of the vehicle is a light structure con-
sisting of a simple framework, with
wide comfortable seat and two pneu-
matte tired wheels hung in ball bearings.
Each wheel is independently journaled, so
that all extra friction on curves is avoided
The peculiar feature of this tricycle. is
that the front wheel, being the driving
wheel, and carrying within itself the en-
tire locomotive force, is practically me-
chanical horse. 1t can be detached from
one vehicle and hitched on to another in
one minute, and will work as well in front
OF sleigh as when drawing a carriage.
1t Is claimed that one filling OF the cells
will run the vehicle from 100 to $50 miles
according to the condition of the roads
and the load carried. Enough of the con-
centrated battery solution may be carried
for 500-mie run. In England a tricycle.
propelled by tiny petroleum motor
is being used. It's weight is under
ninety pounds. The petroleum vapor
is lighted by an electric spark. In
order to set the machine in motion
the rider admits the petroleum by turn
ing tap, which at the same time turns on
the electric current. In mounting hill
the rider can assist the speed by gearing
up the pedals and using the feet, thus add
ing animal power to that of the motor.
The latest form of electric bicycle is now
running in the streets of New York. 1t
weighs, with its electrical equipment 81
pounds, and carries $50 pounds for twenty
four hours at the rate of thirty miles an
hour. The power is derived from stor-
age battery placed under the saddle,
which is connected with a small motor
geared to the rear wheel. The current is
controlled by push buttons near the
handle-bars. A powerful electric lamp
and an electric buzzer to warn pedestrians
complete the equipment.
The TROLLEY IN PoLITIcs.-PoIitician
have discovered that one of the most eff
fective cenvassers ever depended upon for
bringing votes to the polling-booth is the
trolley car To swell the audience at a
political mass meeting in Newark, N. j.,
last week the Democrats engaged two cars
to run all day throughout the city and ad-
vertise their meeting by huge signs which
announced the speakers. Each car had
drums and flies on board, and at night
they brought up the Democratic sympa-
thizers to the meeting hall. Seeing the
success of this move the Republicans, who
had heretofore been content with adver-
tising their meeting on a furniture van
covered with painted canvas signs. hired a
car, nearly filed it with big brass band
and dispatched it triumphantly around
the town. At night political clubs from
all parts of Newark and the Oranges were
carried in illuminated trolley cars to the
places of meeting, and the demand for
streetcar accommodation was so brisk that
every special car OF the company was in
use: