The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-09
The New Motor Carriage.

Paris, Berlin and others of the CONT
mental cities, but especially Paris, have
been enjoying horseless vehicles in stead
ily-increasing numbers for the past three
or four years. Paris has possessed for
some time an automobile club, the men,
bers of which drive their traps up and
down the Champs EIysees and through
the "Bois" much to their own delight and
the admiration of others. This admira-
ton turns in many cases to envy, and
the desire to go and do likewise, so that
the leading manufacturers of automobiles
in and around Paris are completely over
whelmed with orders, and deliveries are
generally long delayed. On this side of
the Atlantic we have been slower, al
though, possibly, surer in coming to
horseless road traction as a practical
reality. The electric cabs in New York
have, however, become a familiar sight,
and it is understood they have proved
most successful financial venture. on ac-
count of their great utility and notwith-
standing their unusual appearance. In
Newport last season Mr.. Harry Payne
Whitney's and Mr.. Belmont's electric
traps. as well as the others used there,
received favorable comment from all
cept the Newport hackmen. With US in
the United States it would therefore
seem that the electric variety of horselesS
carriage was destined to become the more
popular-rather than the gasoline motor
vehicles, which are the most common
type on the other side The electric car
riage is ideally simple, and there is little
or nothing to get out of order A mere
child can guide and control il after d few
moments of instruction. In crowded
streets it is under perfect control. occu-
plying so much less space than the ordi-
nary horse equipage, and stopping, start
ing and backing at the will of the driver.
These points are well illustrated in the
electric vehicle which the Pope Company
is showing in actual operation. Physi-
clans have found the electric carriage
practical and economical in their exacting
service.
Recent visitors to Paris will recall the
| large numbers of automobiles seen in the
| principal streets and parks there, and
many have been impressed by the unpre-
possessing. and clumsy appearance pos
sessed by the French automobiles, as well
as by their noise when in operation,
which, however, is lessened by the streets
splendidly paved in many cases with
wooden blocks, which one finds not only
in Paris, but all over France. The CO.
lumbia motor carriage which is being
shown does not, however, possess an awk
ward appearance, in spite of it's great
strength, and in fact the avowed intention
of the Pope Manufacturing Company in
producing IT was TO have ii compare IA
vorably with the most luxuriously APP
pointed and stylishly finished type of or
binary vehicle for park driving The
pneumatic tires give a most delightful
| sensation in riding, and are practically
non-puncturable. For any errands of
| business or pleasure or for riding in the
| parks or avenues of city we can say
| from experience that this new Columbia
| motor carriage is splendidly adapted. At
| first the absence of horses impresses one
| as being an unaccountable omission, but
| after a little one realizes that ii is not
} altogether undesirable 20 have the view
! in front entirely unObstructed and to be
| Independent of animals who, like human
| beings, possess nerves and do not hesi-
| tate 10 show thir aversion to strange OBJ
! jects in manner sometimes distressing
| TO those who ride behind them.