Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-07-01

lt Is constantly GROWING In fopularity
and PracticabilIty.
The automobile, or horseless car
riage, is fixture. That fact is gener-
ally settled, for today there are one
million of dollars invested in their
manufacture.
The idea of the horseless carriage is
probably as old as the steam engine;
but it has only been within the past
few years that practicable road ma
chimes have come into general use.
The French people have made more
headway than anybody else along this
line. Until short time ago, they had
pretty nearly the whole field to them
selves but within the past six months,
or such matter, the American inven-
tors have made strides that indicate
the leadership of the world, in anoth-
er six months, of the same kind of
work.
Throughout France, the country
roads are almost uniformly as good as
are the streets in the more progressive
American cities, and furnish ideal
tracks for the automobiles. Races be-
tween the machines of different max
ers are quite common, and ~ miles an
hour for a distance of 100 miles, or
more, is not at all unusual. Up to the
present time Mr.. Charron, French
man, enjoys the distinction of being
the leading automobile manufacturer of
the world. His machines range in
price from 81 200 to about $4,000.
The motive power for the automo-
biles is generated in different ways.
Electricity and compressed air have
both proved quite satisfactory but the
ordinary steam engine, with petroleum
for fuel, seems to give the best results.
Electricity and compressed air are kept
in storage reservoirs capable of hold
ing enough power to run the machine
from 6 to IL hours on stretch. There
is little for the driver to do, except to
regulate speed by keeping his hand
constantly on the throttle. The petro-
lium machines are also pretty nearly
automatic, and generally more con-
venient and desirable, for the reason
that fuel and water are more easily
obtainable at out of the way places.
Hundreds of automobiles are to be
seen daily on the streets of New York
and other northern cities. Several
large companies have recently been
organized to manufacture them, and
companies have also been chartered
for the purpose of operating them as
common carriers in most of the lead
ing cities of the country. 1t is expect
ed that where the roads are at all
suitable, the automobiles will soon do
away with horse vehicles, especially
for carrying passengers.
The most improved automobiles are
equal to the task Of climbing almost
any hill that is practicable for horses
and vehicles. They can travel, too,
over pretty rough roads; but they are
liable to stick in the mud almost any
where. They require good roads, or
it is no 60.
Thomas A. Edison has lately turned
his entire attention TO the automobile.
When he gives time to anything of the
kind, surprising results usually follow.
He is reported to have said last week
that he would be heard from after
few weeks more with some inventions
that would come fully up to expecta-
tions. He would not give any intima-
lion as to the nature of promised in
ventions; but he did say that to be of
practical value, an automobile must be
noiseless, easy running, capable OF 60
ing ut least loo miles without being
re-charged, and simple enough to be
operated by child. 1t is safe to as
sumo that it is machine of this kind
that Mr.. Edison proposes to produce.
There has been no automobiles down
in this corner of the country yet. 1t
will he long time, too, before they
put in their appearance. The roads,
generally, are too bad. At any rate
the people who live to the west, OH the
Howell's Ferry road, or to the east be-
yond Waters Hill, need not be in any
hurry to dispose of their draft horses
and mules for the present.