The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-30

the pounding OF his hoofs that causes
most of the damage TO the roadway,
aud it is his presence there that me-
ccssitates our large cities keeping a
force Of street cleaners always at
work. With the automobile, smooth
+, roads src necessity, but the wear and
tear caused by this class Of vehicle is
almost nil, for they move along
smoothly on pneumatic tires, causing
no more friction than a bicycle.
American firms arc now turning out
some light vehicles that arc proving a
delightful revelation to those who
been forced to use the ponderous ma
chimes that the French and English
makers have been selling. There is
no danger in the running Of these au-
tomobiles, no odor from gasolene, and
no noise or vibration. The motive
power is carried in storage battery,
and when it runs out it can be renew
ed at any headquarters for electric
! lighting. Nothing could be more sim
pie, more luxurious, more enjoyable
than tour in one Of these vehicles.
at present they are beyond the reach
of the man Of small means, but, like
the bicycles, they are perfected and
the demand for them increases the
output, the prices will drop until they
are within the reach Of all and become
the vehicle for all the world and his
wife to take their rides abroad when
on pleasure bent.
Gen. Nelson A. Miles is taking an
active interest in the automobile trip
erom New York to San Francisco by
Louise Hitchcock Davis and her hus-
band, with the two-fold object Of pro-
noting automobilism, establishing a
record and securing interesting news
paper material for the newspapers who
are behind the enterprise. Gen.
Miles recently said: "If 1 only had
the time and opportunity, this first
trans-continental trip is just the sort
of trip that would like to make my
self. | consider the journey from
New York to San Francisco quite fea-
sible. There seems to me to be no
reason why this plucky newspaper wo-
man should not succeed. It certain
~ will be valuable demonstration TO
the public of what horseless carri-
| age can do under service conditions.
In that much it will be useful in help
ing to usher in the era of auto vehicles
which will be watched with widespread
interest.
$50 far as che army is concerned,
there is no question but that the au-
tomobile will have field of useful
ness, limited only to the character Of
the country over which it is to be op-
Grated. The signal corps has already
ordered some experimental vehicles.
l do not know that that is quite fair
statement, either. The utility and
economy of the automobile has passed
the stage Of experiment. The only
question that remains is to determine
the best economic application of this
form OF machine, and also to find what
form and motive power is best fitted to
the needs Of the service.
"As to how far the automobile is
likely to be Of service in the trans
portation Of artillery, especially in ac-
tion, is problem. For transporta-
tion Of artillery over fair roads, it will
doubtless have its place. It's salue
will be limited by swamps, deep sand,
unusually bad roads and mountain
work. There is quite field of posi-
bility in its application to light ma
chine guns.
"What consider one Of the most
desirable features Of the prospective
development Of the auto-vehicle is the
emancipation Of mans best and most
abused servant, the horse. It is de.
plorable to 30 often see brute in the
saddle or on the box and the better
amman OF the cW0 under the reln6.
There may be o certain sentimental
interest in the passing Of the horse
and in finding man faithful friend of
some thousand years with his occupa-
tion gone, but I am certain that if a
vote could be taken on the question,
you would fnd that tho strongest ad-
vocate of the automobile was the horse
himself.
The complete revolution of hauling
methods and replacing the horse.
drawn with the horseless carriage will
be matter Of some time, owing to the
large initial cost Of replacing the horse
with something better. But it is. so
far as We can now Judge, certain to
come. One Of the greatest bars to the
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