The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-31
OTHER TROUBLES.

OTHER TROUBLES.
Thus it will be seen that one of the
greatest difficulties that the inventors
will have to contend with Is the weight.
and this is what they have been strug-
Cling with up to the present time 1t
would not be safe, perhaps. to say that
this difficulty is insurmountable. for al
most anything in the line Of mec hanical |
achievement seems to be possible In this
age of invention: but the obstacles In
the way are certainly OF the most for
midable kind.
Assuming. however. that the weight
of motive power can be reduced to a
point where it would be practical. it
would still he necessary to remove sev-
eral other objections to lender either
gas or oil motors acceptable One of the
greatest of these objections Is the dis
agreeable smell. Everybody knows that
very small amount of gas will do Il
great deal IN the way of making its
presence felt. even TO persons who are
fifteen to twenty feet away from the
point where il escapes. Such being the
case il Is very evident that an almost
intinitesimal leak would be- disasreeable
in the highest degree. 1t may he said
that the smell from the tank can be
avoided. but even If this is assumed
to be true there would still be the odor
of the burned gas which would be en-
hausted from the motor after doing
its work, and this would be nearly as
bad as that arising from the gas holder
With Kerosene oil or gasoline engines
the case would be even worse. because
a very small amount of either spilled
over the tank in the act of filling 1t
would leave "a smell that could only be,
removed by strong soap and hot water.
Perhaps inventors may get around this
difficulty by making the gas or oil odor-
less.
Another objection to the use of either
gas or oil is the danger of fire or en-
plosion. and this might be the ca,Ine Of
very serious accidents. especially in the
case of women riders. Although mis-
haps from this cause might he very few.
the mere thought that one was riding
on top of a small volcano would serve
to detract greatly from the pleasure Of
the sport.
Perhaps the greatest objection with
the majority Of people would be the
cost of the motors. which would in all
proba bility be fully equal to that Of
the wheel itself. The cost of operation
would also be higher than the average
rider would desire. The bare cost Of
oil or gas would probably be but a few
cents a day. but to this would have to
be added the cost of repairs and break
downs. which would no doubt amount
to considerable sum.
1t may seem strange tn many that n
bicycle that can be propelled up ten
per cent. grade by the unaided effort OF
"a man should require nearly one
horse power motor to operate it sue
cessfully but this difference In pow
er is due to the fact that it has been
assumed that the speed when running
up hills would be- in the neighborhood
of twelve miles per hour. 1t is prob
able that very few riders can run up a
steep grade faster than five or six
miles. This difference in speed would
at once reduce the power required to
propel the wheel to One-half horse: but
as the weight carried would be about
sixty pounds less. there would be still
further reduction, so that the actual
power eXerted by rider in going up a
ten per cent. grade would be soma"
where between one-quarter and one
third of a horse power. A man of aver
age strength can do one half of horse
power for a few minutes, but the
strongest men cannot keep 1t up for
any length of time While many rid
ers may be found who can run up a
steep grade two or three hundred feet
long. few. If any. could ascend the same
inclination for distance of one or two
miles without a rest
A motor could be so constructed that
II would run at a high rate of speed
on a level road and reduce its velocity
to five or six miles on steep grades.
and in this way the size could he re-
duced to less than one-half horse pow
er. But to accomplish this result 1t