Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-01-29

which has a thorough system of water
works and good drainage. has thus far
been able to defend itself from the pres
eut plague Utica Herald.
THE HoRsELEss HACK.
Slowly but steadily the horseless car
riage, so much wanted and so generally
expected, is making its way Into use.
Two Philadelphia inventors, who have
been at work upon the problem for two
years, have produced an electrical car
rlage motor which is so successful that
strong company of New York and Phla-
delphia capitalists has been organized
for the purpose of building and running
in the large cities of the country coupes,
hansOms and hacks, and thirteen of
these carriages are now being construct
ed for use in New York. They will be
very handsome vehicles, similar in APP
pearance to those now drawn by horses,
which they are intended to supplant,
and will weigh complete $500 pounds
each, including the motors, which weigh
800 pounds each, will be supplied with
|
on the Pavements and will be operated
with levers and foot brakes, by means
of which their movements can easily be
controlled. They will carry storage
batteries under the seat of the driver
and the motor will be attached to the
front of the axle, and will have maxi
mum speed of from twenty to twenty
five miles an hour, depending on the
condition of the streets and grade. The
motors will be three-horse power and
each charge of battery is expected to
run the carriage to which it is affixed
twenty-five miles.
The company has already secured a
building in New York and is putting in
power plant from which the batteries
will be easily stored. Several of the
vehicles are nearly completed and in a
few weeks will be running on Fifth
avenue and between the Grand Central
depot and the hotels. The company es-
Inmates the cost of the electric power at
about one-half that of horse power for
the same purpose and expects to make
great deal of money. Its intention is to
supply New York first, then Philadel-
phia, and as soon as possible all the
other great cities, and to very large
extent take the business now done by
hacks, hansoms and coupes drawn by
horses, as the electric cars have taken
the business of the horse cars.
Assuming that this enterprise is sue
cessful, and there is the greatest con-
fidence that it will be, we may expect
the principle upon, which it rests to be
applied very soon to other classes of
vehicles now moved by horses. When a
gwen unit of power can be developed
from coal and applied where it is needed
at one-half the cost of developing it
from hay and oats, the thing that eats
grain and hay must give way to the one
that devours COAL Mirror and Farmer.
HoUDoN's STATUE OF WASHINGTON.
One of the most valuable and interest
ing collections of colonial relics in ex-
istence is now in the new State library at
Richmond, Virginia
The greatest treasure IN the collection
is the marble statue of Washington by
HOudon. 1t possesses the merit of being
the only effigy that remains of Washing
ton that was actually taken from life.
The statue conveys very distinct idea
of Washington, different in many re-
spects, however, from the familiar por-
traits which tor the most part are copies
of the same original. In 1881, five years
before the adoption of the federal con-
stitution, the general assembly of Vir-
gnia ordered this statue
When the statue was provided for,
Thomas Jefferson happened to be in
Paris, and he engaged Houdon as the
the sculptor, because, as he afterwards
said, "He is, without d riyalship, the
first statuary of his age, as the proof Of
which he received orders from every
country for things intended to be capt.
tall" Houdon received one thousand
English guineas, a tri1e over $1,000. Be-
sides, the expense of the journey from
France to Virginia was paid, and his
life was insured during his absence from
France at the cost of the general assem-
bly,. Houdon left Paris in August, 1873.
In October he reached Mount Vernon.
lie was treated with great consideration
by Washington until the formaity Of
his first meeting wore away. Houdon
made known no desire to get to work at
the statue, and it is believed that Wash
ington's hospitality grew a trifle cold
before the sculptor really set about the
work for which he had come over the
sea. One morning while the family,
of which Houdon had become temporar-
lily member, was seated at breakfast,
a message was brought to Washington,
informing him that pair of carriage
horses had been brought for his inspec-