Evening star., 1898-11-12

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ssThe pneumatic nub is the coming inven-
tion in the bicycle line" remarked repre-
sentative cf d well-known bicycle manufac-
turing concern to Star reporter, and IL
promises to be bigger thing in every way
than the pneumatic tire, which made the
wheel the great success 1t is. There Is no
denying that the solid tire had about ended
up the bicycle business, when the pneumat-
ic tire was introduced and Immediately
caught on. But the pneumatic tire is not
altogether a perfect thing. as many have
realized to their discomfort and sorrow.
While they don't puncture or explode as
often as non-riders may imagine, there is
an uncertainty about them that is very an
noying. for there is no telling when they
will break down, and somehow the break
down always occurs at the most inconveni-
ent place and at the most inconvenient
time. The dozens OF patterns and styles
of punctureiess tires are all right, only they
are not punctureless In every other re-
spect they are all that is claimed for them.
The punctureless tire has not been invented
yet and probably will not be, for there will
be no necessity for it if the pneumatic hub
proves to be anything like as glorious IN
achievement as is claimed for it. There
which have been offered to manufacturers
and experiments are being made as to their
practicabiity. The principal idea in them
Is to have the hub of the wheel built 81
that 1t can be inflated. This will give all
the resihency that is needed to make riding
pleasant. and goodbye can be said to
pneumatic tires There will be solid tire
again, as when the safety form of the
wheel was introduced The pneumatic hub
which has the most springness or resiliency
ABOUT II, and which at the same time is
thoroughly strong an1 safe. will go into
general use Immediately. ! do not know
that any manufacturer Is sufficiently salts
fled with the various pneumatic hubs which
have been offered to announce that ii is
practical and will do the WORK required of
It. but | think that in less than six months
this announcement can be made. The one
that seems TO be nearest a success is a
French invention and is the work of man
Who never rode a wheel of any kind. The
next best as far as l learn Is The invention
OF a mere boy. who is very likely to be
millionaire if his idea works out right The
Wheeiman, OF course. can get along with
the pneumatic tire and can keep on pump
Ing and patching ii up. but he won't do so
II the pneumatic hub offers itself 1t will
be satisfaction to him if he can leave his
Kit OF tools home during his runs for while
many are expert in repairing punctures
ninety-nfne out of every hundred riders are
not and are not inclined to learn how to
DO IT." ~
= Il
planned an old railroad man to a Star re-
porter, was not in this country. as many
suppose but in England, between London
and Manchester. This was In 1850. The
Baltimore and Ohio railroad was running
the same year, but steam was not put in as
motor Until 1881 the cars being drawn by
horses. The road then only ran from Bal
CmOre TO Ellicott Mills. There was a loco
motive. however, built long before it was
introduced in England. being the invention
or Cuynet. in 1863. in France. a Scotch
man named SymingtOn invented practical
locomotive in Scotland in ITO. Oliver
Evans OF Philadelphia obtained The first
patent granted for a locomotive in this
country. He called II a steam wagon but
IL was 10 all intents and purposes a loco
motive. and, according to the patent office
records, secured 1t in 1877. The high pres
sure locomotive dates back to 1892 and an
improvement on ii in 1903 The high pres
sure was applied to locomotive In Eng
land In ISL The Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road started off with locomotive built 20
a great extent after the plan of the loco
motive used by the London and Manchester
road, but II would not work we'll in taking
the curves Peter Cooper. who afterwart
became famous a millionaire merchant
candidate on the presidential greenback
ticket. and philant hropist overcane the
uhcuity and devised and made loco
would take the curves of it's road The
London and Manchester road was perfectly
straight The Baltimore and Ohio js also
entitled to the credit of the first passenger
car-that is, covered car, the cars in use
then in England being open The South
Carolina railroad was the first to adopt 4
locomotive as traction power on q Iona
road. a distance of $50 miles and the FIRST
to make continuous trip of over one hun.
dred miles There was a train run by 2
locomotive between Albany and Schanec.
tady in 1881. but it was rather a primitive
affair, ordinary carriage and wagon bodies
being placed on car wheels. There were
besides. in this country. several other shor
lines. which did all the traffic they could
secure.
X Il Il
Il don't know who is responsible for it, >
said a private coachman to a Star reporter
but just now the fad is to do away witt
robes OF all kinds for the drivers and occu-
pants of carriages. as well, and particular
ly victorias and other open carriages 1t is
not the proper thing for the gentlemen VIII,
drive their own road teams to wear any
Find Of a robe to protect their legs or t.
allow their coachmen to do so. Until the
past week or so 1 did rot complain much
about 1t, for the weather was not severe
enough TO cause any suffering but it i.
somewhat different now. The thing started
in New York OF Newport during the pas
summer. when some royal visitor drove ou
without a robe. and he was copied irame
diately. II well enough for sumrne,
and early fall driving. but 1T seems TO N,
10 be cruel kind of IL fashion, and on,
which 1 hope will not generally prevail IN
this section OF the country. What Al like,
me as so peculiar about it is that tbcs.
who have nice open turnouts who coult
seldom DE tucked IN under the robes com
Sortably can now ride without any protec
uon at all WaIie 1t Is not the place for i