The age-herald., 1899-01-21
POSSIBILITIES OF
 BOOKSELLERS CITY
From the New York Evening Post.

TOIn lHo NGW 1Ofh ENen1fB GOSIs
 What kind of city shall we have when the horse Is eliminated entirely from it7 This is a question which interests greatly all students of electricity and civil engin- eering, and anyone who talks much with them will be likely at first thought to reach the conclusion that they are extremely visionary in their views. Whether they are visionary or not, their descriptions of possible developments are very interesting. No one who takes a thoughtful survey of the changes of the last Quarter of cen- tury, or even of the last ten years, can say that there is anything absolutely im- probable in their forecasts of future condi- tions It is not our purpose at this time to weigh probabilities, but to set down for con- sideration some of the many speculative ideas which have come to our notice.
 The first result of the final passing of the horse will be the elimination of stone pave- ments. A horseless vehicle causes little or no wear to the surface over which it runs. It matters not whether the surface is slip pery or not, or what the substance Is so long as it provides level and firm roadbed. Some engineers think it not improbable that before many years iron may, because of ilo tHedpSI Qudlll9t ldhe tH6 pldCS Ol oS- phat. With no iron shoes of horses and no iron tires to come in contact with it, there are no obvious objections to be made to it's use It could be cleaned as easily as asphalt, and it might be so constructed as to make the effects of heat and cold upon it comparatively unimportant. That it would prove as healthful as asphalt says President Murphy of the health board seems doubtful, according to our present lights, but improved methods of using it might make 1t as desirable In that respect as asphalt is now
 With smooth pavements everywhere, over which horseless vehicles can move with ease and rap,dity, an extraordinary trans formation of street locomoton becomes pos- sible. Some observers go so far as to ques- tion the wisdom of the Metropolitan Tr;ic- tion company in investing so much capital in the underground trolley. They point to the proposed introduction of motor omni- buses upon Fifth avenue as an indication of what may become general practice. So soon as you have smooth roadways in all streets, what is the need, they ask, of rails for public conveyance? Why not allow such conveyances, all propelled by electric ity, to have equal rights in the streets with other vehicles? Why not let them run where they please, over such routes as they choose to lay out and follow? Would not the public convenience be served more ade- quately in that way than it is at present by the street railway lines?
 Then, too, consider the changes which may come through the use of motor ve- hicles for private purposes. We published an account several weeks ago of the use Of trolley car on one of the Brooklyn street lines by party of neighbors in one of the outlying sections of Brooklyn. They chartered it for their private use, riding to New York in it every morning and return- ing in it to their homes at night. "Trolley parties are we1-established institutions in many of the cities of the country, and in many also the trolley cars are used to take theater parties to and from places of amusement. If we had motor omnibuses running at will through all our streets, what would be more natural than for the inhabitants of neighborhood to charter one to take them to business in the morn ing and bring them to their homes in the afternoon? Surely here Is field for busi- ness which would be certain to be occupied.
 Then, there is the family use of the mo- tor vehicle, Most of the vehicles of this sort whish we have now are very heavy, and are somewhat clumsy in appearance, but improvements in the direction of grace and lightness are being made constantly. Some of the delivery wagons which are in use by our great dry goods establishments are distinct advances in these respects. Suppose that invention shall give us within few years a light, graceful, compact ve- hicle which can be housed in small space, can be easily handled, and will run swiftly, what will be the effects? Would it not be an extremely "handy thing to have in the house?" It could be used to take the mas- ter of the house to and from his business, to carry the mistress on her housekeeping and social errands, and for dinner and the ater or dinner engagements in the evening. It is not impossible that the dwelling of the future may be so constructed as to have a room for the storing of such a vehicle. It may be said that if everybody had one the streets would be crowded uncomfortably with them, but there is slight danger of that. The good paving of every street would of itself make the crowding of any one extremely unlikely; and while many households might afford the keep of a pri- vate vehicle, the greater number would still rely upon the public conveyances for loeo- motion.
 But the greatest gain of all from the departure of the horse will be in cleanli- ness. When he goes the larger part of the work of the street cleaners will have come to an end. The cleaning of the roadbeds will be very simple matter and can be done almost entirely by flushing them from the water mains. The same electricity which gives us the motor vehicles will give us in steadily increasing measure better lighting of our streets and houses and bet ter heating as well. Even the bicycle may return to it's former favor and exceed it even, for with good pavements everywhere thousands of men and youths could use it on all pleasant days as their most enjoy able and most healthful method of transit to and from their places of occupation. Verify, the horse cannot pass too quickly, if we are to have city in which the com- forts and delights of modern civilization are to have their fullest opportunity.
 AMBASSADOR JOE
 From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
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