Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-11-23
OF INTEREST TO AMERICANS.

The buerau of foreign commerce pub
fishes a long account of the Berlin mo-
tor carriage exposition the most inter-
esting feature of which appears to have
been a combined electro and benzine
motor carriage. In this the problem
Of making an electrO-motor carriage
Self-Sustaining and Independent of
charging from an outside source has
been apparently mastered. The wheels
and tubular frame are of the ordinary
type, except that the front and rear
axles are connected by two strong, rigid
steel braces, on which rest the electri-
cal motor, accumulation and the device
for regulating the speed. A benZine
motor rests on springs over the front
axle and turns the main shaft, which
extends backward through the cleo
trical motor and connects by mitered
gearing with the rear axle, that con-
meets the driving wheels. There is
thus benzine and an electrical motor
geared to the same driving shaft, and
the kernel of this combination is that
both can be worked at the same time
or either thrown out and the other left
in action at the will of the driver.
When in cities the vehicle would be
used as an electro-motor carriage, with
all the advantages OF that system; but
on long journey or remote from out
side electrical supply the benzine mo-
tor is not only efficient to propel the
carriage but by running the electrical
motor as dynamo or generator it
recharges the accumulation.
In Down county Ireland, there has
been in operation for sixteen years a
combined tramway and wagon road
the arrangement of which might be
duplicated on any of our suburban cleo
trio lines enabling farmers to hitch
their wagons to the electric cars and
have them drawn into town. The
DOVE County line is built of ordinary
steel rails, outside of and adjoining
which is a lower line of steel rails.
The wagons, without fanges on the
wheels run on the lower outside rails;
the inner rails for the cars, are high
enough above the outer rails to act as
guide to the wagons, keeping them
on the track. On either end OF the
line the wagons are detached from the
train and taken to their destination
over the regular streets and roads by
horses There is no delay or difficulty
in getting the wagons on or off the
ends of the line.
The commercial intelligence branch
of the British board OF trade was
opened last week at so Parliament
street, London, S. W. The work to be
done by this branch of the Board OF
Trade is to keep British merchants and
manufacturers posted as to trade op.
lportunities in foreign countries, obtain
all sorts of information concerning
competition, ascertain what the princi
pal competitors to British trade Ger.
mans and Americans) are offering il
foreign markets and give hints as tt
the best way for the introduction O.
British products abroad.
The figures relating to the trade O.
Italy in the first six months of thi
year reflect the activity that has beer
mentioned several times and tel
tale Of prosperity long IN
precedented in Italian history TIL
importation Of raw materials for man
ufacturing purposes-coal, wood, to
bacco leaves, cocoons, raw silk, wool
iron and steel-increased s13,703, 00G
!. The raw-material exports went up 81,
l 1000, manufactured articles s2,S95,
t 900. The total exports in the first si
months of 1899 were 1920, 1872 ,00t