The San Francisco call., 1899-07-13


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Mrs. Davis, who has pluckily decided
to accompany her husband, Is an at
tractive young woman, who has never
laid eyes on bounding prairies She
comes from New Haven, Conn. Mr..
Davis han spent several years on the
plains, and is more or less famllar
with the country between Denver ana
San Francisco. Their automobile is a
handsome affair, and while 1t bears a
strong resemblance to the road phae-
ton. one may see at a glance that 1t
was not built for horse propulsion. The
wheels are of the bicyclist type with
steel spokes and pneumatic tires. The
back is built high for comfort and well
cushioned, and a buggy top, which may
be lowered at will, covers the vehicle.
The driver sits on the left side. with
his right hand on a nickelplated steer
ing lever Two shorter levers are with
in reach of his left hand. These con-
troll the speed gears, one of them. NOV
ed forward, gives a speed up to ten
miles and when moved backward
throws in the reverse gear, which is
for backing, and also acts as brake.
mediate gear when in a forward posi-
ton, and when to the back it throws
in the high gear which gives a speed
up to thirty-five miles an hour. The
gasoline motor is concealed in box
beneath the seat. Except for levers
for guiding and regulating the speed,
and the belt box that extends to rear
axle, no signs of mechanism are visible.
Mr.. Davis made the run in the auto
noble from Stamford, Connecticut,
where it was built, to this city without
accident. When the vehicle arrived in
Herald Square it attracted crowds. Mi.
Davis was accompanied by his wife,
and the two were at once recognized IS
the long distance voyagers. Mr.. Davis
moved the automobile forward and
backward through the crowd and in
and out among electric cars. trucks
and delivery wagons with ease. 1t
seemed to be under perfect control. MI.
Davis was obliged to ring his bell re-
peatedly and to slow up frequently to
prevent running down small boys who
persisted in getting in front of the ma
chine. Horses in the city paid little
attention to the odd-looking vehicle,
from Stamford teams of country horses
showed signs of fright as he passed
them Mr. Davis said that he expected
to lose considerable time on the jour
ney by slowing down and stopping TO
avoid causing runaways.
Half dozen automobiles of differ
ent styles of manufacture are expected
to rendezvous tomorrow Thursday
in Herald Square shortly before II
o'clock to see the stgrt. Mr.. Davis will
have the right of way with his car
riage. The route Will be through
Thirty-fift street to Fifth avenue. UP
Fifth avenue to One Hundred and Six
teenth street, west to Seventh avenue
and north to Central Bridge.
Only a moderate speed will be made
within the city limits. The owners of
escorting vehicles may drop out at
Central Park or may continue on to
the Harlem River or farther. Mr.. Da-
Wis will take Sedgewick avenue to
Kings Bridge, where he will turn to the
left, crossing the tracks of the New
York Central and New York and Put
nam roads to Broadway, which will give
him a good road to Yonkers.
The route to Albany will closely fol-
low the east bank Of the Hudson River
From Albany the road runs west
through the Mohawk Valley, passing
through Utica, Syracuse and Roches-
ter At Buffalo the route turns south
and leads along the shore of Lake Erie,
through Cleveland and Toledo. and
across Indiana to South Bend and
thence to Chicago.
The route from Chicago to the Pacific
Coast lies through Des Moines. Omaha.
Denver, ogden and Sacramento. Mr..
Davis has studied the good roads maps
of the League of American Wheelmen
and other available information bear
ing upon the roads through States
which he must cross. He planned his
route with care. He will collect data
he has to climb and descend. and other
matters of interest to automobilists.
cyclists and persons who favor the bet
terment of American roads.
1t is Mr. Davis plan after the first
day to make early morning starts. rest
in the middle of the day. and run again
late in the afternoon and in the early
evening. He aims to put in ten hours
a day on the road, and expects to make
an average Of fifteen miles an hour.
Daily bulletins Of the runs made will
be printed in the Herald and The Call
Mr.. and Mrs. Davis were naturally
impatient at the delay caused by the
manufacturers failure TO complete the
motor carriage at the stipulated time
They have been ready for week OF