The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-10
THE HORSELESS CARRIAGE.

THE HORSELESS CARRIAGE.
Here is an Argument Tending 10 Prove
That it is Really Cheaper Than the
Horse aud Carriage.
From the New York Tribune.
1t looks Il little appalling to man
who hasn't kept horses that horseless
carriage should cost say $1,000. and that
Is the average price in Paris for one OF
these vehicles, but what would II cost
TO buy even modest carriage? Hardly
any one would care to run horseless
carriage more than ten hours day,
and a IL horsepower motor would be
more than sufficiently powerful. YoL
kave here a cost of 80 cents a day, or
Sl5 month. 1t would be under favora-
Bile circumstances, indeed. that good
horse could be kept in New York city
for less than $50 a month, and the cost
might be $50. The advantage in favor
Of the motor carriage on this score OF
running expenses is apparent.
But to begin with the cost of the
horse. To get any kind of a fair driv-
ing horse as the New York horse mar
kets are at present one must pay $500
or Si00. and many a dealer will scofr
at these figures. To have a team at all
to be compared with a horseless car
riage, such an outfit as would enable
the owner to pretend that he preferred
drive behind pair of nice horses to
a ride in a horseless carriage, 1t would
he nscessary to pay at least $500 down.
and TO secure a choice Of steeds 1000
would not be at all an extravagant
price to pay. This is for the horses
alone. 1t may be safe to add that to
have a suitable trap, with harness.
robes. whip. blankets and accessories,
1t will be found impossible to do with
much less than another $1,000.
The Difference in Cost.
To start a fine pair Of horses and q
carriage, then, 1t may cost $1,000. But
the limit Is by no means reached. II Is
a little like yachting, this keeping a
carriage. The first cost and the actual
running expenses are not all. The in
cldeatals cannot be overlooked. In the
first place, not every man Is horse
man. And even pretty fair horseman
Is likely to be talked over by his coach
man. This worthy has two ideas on the
subject OF making money. He consid-
ers II his prerogative to buy your horses
for you and his duty to have them sick
or lame as much as possible In order
that he may got his commission from
hts friend. the veterinary surgeon. Vol
umes could be written about the tricks
Of the rascally coachmen that are
played In this city every day. horse
dealer could sell horses at from a quar-
ter to third less than he does II he did
not have to divide with coachman.
II may be safely set down that out Of
allow noes for real and feigned sickness
your horses will easily cost you from
$500 to 81, 600 year and If the coachman
does not In addition get about the same
amour out of you directly or indirectly.
10 say nothing Of his wages, clothing.
ETC., he does not know his business and
should be discharged at once.
The advance Is Large.
The comparisCm then. Is greatly in
favor OF The horseiess csrriage Once
bought, even at gudh aprice as $1,000 or
81, 500, 1t becomes a krowEi quantity,
and ihe running expenses are incon-
siderable, especially as no coachman In
the form of an engineer Is required.
The motors are SO simple that one can
BE- his own coachman. with pleasure as
well as profit. The more one looks
into the subject, the more he Is con-
vinced thas before many years have
passed a horse in New York or In any
other big city will be almost n rarity
And what a difference 1t will make, this
pasging of the horse! II will change the
appearance of New Yorks streets tre-
mendously. One result Of the introduce
tiys of horseless carriages will be vast
increase in the cleanliness of the streets.
Then there are the infectious maAdies
generated in neighborhoods where
stables abound. II 1t we're not for the
iron hoofs of the horse. the streets and
avenues OF she town would be far less
noisy.
Effect on tho Farmers.
Kit IL difficult to figure out the possi-
bic improvement In the human race
when 50 many injurious elements are
eliminated, how much more difficult Of
solution becomes rhe problem when the
economic side of the horseless carriage
development is looked at. II Is possi-
bla that It win ibe long before the new
motor is sufficiently developed TO en-
able the farmer entirely to do away
with the horse in his farm work, but It
Is not likely to be long before q great
part OF the farm produce, grain, etc.,
will be either shipped direct to the mar
kets on motor wagons, or at least trans
ferred to the railway and put aboard
the cars without the aid of the costly
horse labor. Then rhink of the costly
crops grown for the consumption of
horses! II these fields were employed
in the growth of food for 1rumanbeln8s,
what reduction in the cost Of living
there would be! Already there has been
. grea. falling on in the breeding OF
horses. because they are being replaced
every day by machinery. The new mo-