The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-01

be done better and more cheaply, at
least in a large number of cases, by
specially devised motor vehicles. Pro-
vision trains and cannon could be
drawn by motors, and they would be
of especial utility in the ambulance
service.
Already a heavy vehicle, somewhat
similar to a circus wagon, has been
built and fitted with a Daimler gasoline
motor of sufficient power to drive an
electric generator that has been re-
peatedly used to furnish the illumina-
tion for the whole factory. Imagine
such a wagon perfected so as to become
a veritable electric power mouse on
wheels, with energy enough to drive
its own propelling motor and the mo-
tors for lighting as well. Its outer sur
faces might be sheathed with steel, SO
as to protect it from rifle shots, and it
might even be equipped with a gatling
gun or two, so that in case of need 1t
could return a hostile fire. When night
came on and the battle ceased such a
wagon might roll forward upon the bat
tie field, followed by train of motor
driven ambulances with surgeons and
nurses on board, bringing suncor to the
wounded. The wagon stops; wires are
reeled out quickly by its corps Of men,
and arc lamps suspended at various
points, and in few minutes,
for hundred yards around,
the battle field becomes as
light as day. Meantime the ambuiances
have come up and ranged themselves
about in a circle, within which deft-
fingered men and women are speedily
at work with TASKS and bandages.
And think of the advantage il speed
of marching and transportation that
would be enjoyed by a regiment equip
ped with bicycles and motor vehicles.
From thirty to thirty-f1ve miles is a
long days march for artillery CT in
fantry, while cavalry troops rarely
make over eighty miles a day in a
long march. But nearly a year ago
motor vehicles in France made over
three hundred miles in a day, keeping
up an average Of sixteen miles an hour
over ordinary roads, although it should
be said that the roads il France are
excellent. There is no doubt that the
manufacturers could now build motor
vehicles for armies which would carry
a battery of cannon from New York to
Philadelphia in a single night, and in
the same time take a train of provision
wagons from New York 10 washington.
The value Of swift-running motor
wagons to support a body of bicycle
cavalrymen is ait once apparent Judg-
ing by recent records, it is perfectly
conceivable that a regiment equipped
according to the plan of General Miles
with bicycles and motor wagons could
in forced dash cover two hundred
miles in twelve hours-that is, in the
light Of a single day; or twice that dis
lance if they pushed on through the
darkness for twenty-four hours.
THE FUTURE OF TILE MOTOR
BICYCLE.
1t is impossible to discuss motor We
hicles without considering the future
of the motor bicycle, about which there
has been much speculation of late.
Sores OF inventors are nov at work
perfeet.Eg various mo ors which they
claim will do wonders in enabling
wheelnen to climb hills easily and to
attain high speeds on level stretches
without undue exertion. a French in
ventor has brought 0ut steam bicy-
Gle capable of covering twenty miles in
an hour while western firm in this
country is manufacturing bicycles
driven by petroleum motors, one Of
which, at a recent test, made a mile
in f1fty-eight seconds. The former is
built with a water tank curved over
the back wheel, and burns coke or gas
oline in producing its steam. The lat
ter carries an oil tank holding fuel
enough to drive it a hundred miles
Both machines are considerably heav-
Ter than the ordinary bicycle, the steam
model Weighing 155 pounds.
While there are many advocates of
the power bicycle, it must be said that
the bicycle manufacturers do not, as
rule, anticipate any great development
in it, One of the chief officers of one
of the most important manufacturing
companies has assured ME that while
he recognizes fully that the four-wheel-
ed motor vehicle has come to stay, and
his company is actively preparing to
it, he does not believe that
the great army of bicycle riders
througout the country will take kindly
to the idea of sitting idly in the sad
die and merely balancing the machine,
while the motor does the work The
chief element in the popularity of bicy-
cling is the enjoyment the rider gets
from the wholesome exercise of his
If a person were too indolent
or feeble to pedal himself along, he
would probably discard the bicycle al
1. Er,x 49,