The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-07-12
The Horseless Carriage.

Inc automoDlle, or hOrSelesS car
riage, is fixture. That fact is gen
orally settled, for to-day there arc one
million of dollars invested in their
manufacture.
The idea of che horscless 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
themselves; but within the past six
months. or such natter the Ameri-
can inventors hav, made strides that
Indicate the leadership of the world,
in another 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 IL miles an
hour for u distance Of 100 miles, or
more, is not at all unusual. Up TO
the present time Mr.. Charron, a
Frenchman, enjoys the distinction of
being the leading automobile manu-
facturcr Of the world. His machines
range in price from 81 200 to about
$4,000.
The motive power for the automo-
oiles is generated in different ways.
Electricity and compressed air have
both proved quite satisfactory; but
the ordinary steam engine, with Pc
troleum for fuel, seems to give the
best results. Electricity and COM
pressed air arc kept in storage reser-
voirs capable of holding 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 petroleum machines a1e
also pretty nearly automatic, and
generally more convenient and desira-
BILE, 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 rs
common carriers in most of the lead
ing cities of the country. 1t is ex-
pected 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 thst is practicable for horses
and vehicles. They can travel, too,
over pretty rough roads; but they are
liable to stick IL the mud almost any,
where. They require good roads, or
it is no go.
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 moro with some iu-
ventions that would come fully up to
expectations. He would not give any
intimation as to the nature Of prom
ised inventions; but he did say that
to be Of practical value, an automo-
bile must be noiseless, easy running,
capable of going at least 100 miles
without being re-oharged, and simple
enough to be operated by child. It
is safe to assume chat 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 be long time, too, before they
put in their appearance. The roads,
generally, are too bad.
- Benny, the 4-year-old member Of