Evening journal., 1897-05-15
SATURDAY,. MAY Is. 1897.
POSSIBILITIES OF THE NEW
HORSE.


HORSE
If American inventive genius and
mechanical skill does not experience a
great set back within the passing Of
the next decade or two, the horse must
either become an outcast or pet. In
deed it looks as though the fate of
good faithful old Dobbin is sealed. The
promoters OF new tangled ideas on mo-
tor power claim to be prepared to sup
ply the farmer with a hauler that will
require no fodder and will not tire out.
While we are not ready to welcome
this wonderful mechanical device as a
demonstrated success, a recent prize
trial in Chicago certainly showed re-
markable possibilities for the new
horse" which time and practical appli-
cation alone can decide. Perhaps the
history Of the sewing machine at first
looked upon as a freak OF mechanical
genius Is about to repeat itself in this
line OF invention. Let us hope so.
There was large number OF these
queer machines on exhibition at Chi
cago. There were two tests required;
road trial and a laboratory test to
ascertain the tractive power, fuel con-
sumption, and other details. These
tests were so uniformly satisfactory as
to make It appear certain that another
industry is on the way to tremendous
development. AS yet we are unfamil-
lar with the motor vehicle, or at least
the greater number of us are. We
have heard superficial and fragmen-
tary descriptions Of It, but we have
paid little attention to them and we
NAV have seen in an illustrated week.
ly the picture of two respectable-look-
ing men in high hats and frock coats,
speeding over fine road In one, but
we have assumed that they ventured
out only to get their picture taken.
Our knowledge has been of the vaguest
and we have given little thought TO the
subject.
The most interesting part Is that ouT
grandmothers tell us this is precisely
the way people talked about the steam
locomotive few years ago. There
we're vague, floating rumors OF an out
landish affair built OF iron, that moved
by itself, owing TO the steam inside oi
It. It was built on the principle Of Q
tea-kettle they said, though that ex-
planned nothing, for the tea-kettle was
known to be extremely sedentary in it'
habits. Finally 1t became known tha
this steam wagon was being put tC
practical use in hauling freight. Ant
then the most absurd reports got abou
to the effect that it would carry pas
sengers, and that It could go faster thar
two horses, could pull a farm wagoI
over a good road. OF course no on
credited these reports, and no doubt
lot OF good people in that generation
died IN the belief that 1t was all hum
bug. Certainly the building of rail
roads was bitterly and PERSISTENT
fought ,on the ground that the steam
wagons would take away the busines
of the old freighters and would ais
frighten their horses.
Il looks now as If the grandmother
OF forty years since may open the eye
Of their young people with some sue
story about the beginning of the mote
vehicle of that day. OF course the
will not be called "horseless vehicles
then any more than we call railwa
cars "steam-wagons" now. After OF
generation has grown used to the al
sence OF the horse, further reference
II will become superfuOus. And que
1t will seem to the young person
that day that they were once call'
"horseless" vehicles to distinguii
them from the kind drawn by horse
Indeed, it Is not unlikely that the hor
story itself will excite incredulity.
that time, it is assumed, even the ia
mer will have foresworn the horse. H
plough and harrow and reaper will ;
be motor vehicles, and so will I
green-b bodied wagon in which he driy
to town every Saturday.