The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-31
ITS UUEEIS Run BY OH.
an Automatic Delivery wagon IL Tested In
Washington square.

NEW YORK. Aug. 3D.-An automatic
petroleum wagon OF French make. and
said to have cost $1,000. was used yester-
I day for the FIRST time i'm this country.
| 10 went around and through Washing
ton Square several times. and was appa-
rcntly successful. There are 400 such
vehicles In use in Paris.
Through the enterprise Of Hilton,
Hughes & Co., who contemplate using
them in regular delivery work this type
Of wagon. capable Of carrying 1922
pounds. is brought before the American
public for the FIRST time. Three Of
them. with Inventor Emile Roger in
charge. arrived recently on the steam
ship La Champagne. one was taken from
the custom-house, fitted UP as delivery
wagon. and tried yesterday.
A large crowd had gathered in Wash
ington Square at II o'clock TO witness the
trial. VI. ". Gillian, representing Hill
tom Hughes & CO., and Emile Roger,
the inventor. stood by the wagon at the
arch before the trial commenced. NJ.
Poucot. the engineer was on the front
seat. I'm outward appearance, the wag-
on Is not unusual.
The operator had his hand on a brake,
and az "A signal q start was made.
n good pace. There was scarcely any
noise. save regular pumping sound that
could not be heard ten feet away. There
was just little vibration. too, but not
enough 10 make riding unpleasant. The
new wagon made the circuit of the Square
and went halfway round again 10 south
Fifth avenue when il turned into the
Park and stopped near the arch. Then
the people crowded about il. The eN-
pertinent. If N could be called that, was
apparently a complete success. once in
a while there would be a little dripping
OF water from the cooling-tanks. The
wagon ran we'll on the cobble-stones, and
had no difficulty i'm going up the slight
!nclnes.
The wagon is an automatic petroleum
vehicle Recuned petroleum Of 200 de-
grees is used. The motor Of horizontal
movement The wagon is fitted with
series Of sprocket-wheels and chains. IL
is guided by a crank and checked by
three breaks. It can be stopped or
started instantly. On good roads. the
wagon. which is Of four-horse-power.
runs about fifteen miles an hour. Ii
climbs easily 10 TO II per cent. grades.
II went yesterday up a grade Of 90 de-
grees I'm entering the stable. Tho cost OF
running is less than n cent a mile.
fire or explosion. An electric spark does
the lighting. This wagon won last Win
ter a 1.20l-kilometor race between Paris
and Bordeaux against forty cOmpcti-
tors
The wagon is fitted with rubber tires.
According 10 NJ. Roger. 10 will DE necos-
sarv 20 make some slight alterations
in the gearing apparatus before it can
be run easily over the granite-pavod
streets.
Mr.. Gillian said that as soon as the
other wagons were fitted up, and heavier
gear put on all Of them, experiments
would be- made on some Of the worst
pavements of this city. If these expert
ments prove successful, the so delivery
wagons used by Hilton. Hughes * co.
will be replaced by automatic petroleum
wagons.
The difficulty ~ operating these wag-
ons IN New York city was explained 10
a reporter for the New York Times by
Joseph Lippe. c0ach-bullder of Marion
street. He constructed such a wagon.
and used as power a petroleum motor
supplied by the Daimler Company
There is no difficulty I'm running such
q carriage over a smooth country road
be said. "but when 81 comes 20 the traf-
nc-burdened granite city streets, prob
lem is presented. The driver has 20 run
the engine. steer, and supply brakes.
IL was difficult 20 make quick turns. but
this has been overcome by having the
inside rear wheel released an the proper
time. 1 find that the double-cylinder
motor works all right. IL requires
tank Of water 10 keep the cylinders cool.
and this might have 10 Dee replenished i'm
a long Journey"