The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-12
PUBLIC AUTOMOBILES.
Line. Soon TO Be Established
in Portland.
Company Organized and WIN Shortly
BE Doing Business.

1t is only question of very short
time when Portland will be equipped
with an automobile system large enough
to meet her growing needs along this
line Of modern improvements and 1t can
be stated on the very best OF authority
that company organized under the laws
OF the state will run AUTOMOBILES tor the
transfer Of passengers, merchandise and
baggag over the streets Of the city.
This company will soon start to run
different kinds Of automobiles carrying
from two to ten passengers and by next
spring viii have in fun operation series
of tally ho'' coaches running up
through the state to the White Mountains
and to the various summer Tesorts. The
Preble house will be the rnllying point
for these coaches and It Ia proposed to
have them leave there just as they depart
in Boston for instance. from the Bruins
wick and in other cities from some lead
ing hotel. The capital of this company Is
500, 600 in which ara Interested some of
the heavy business men OF Portland and
Massachusetts. The president is Charles
w. Gray, jackson, N. H.; secretary and
general manager. Edward Preble, Bos-
ton; clerk, Edward NJ. Rand. Portland;
treasurer, George r. Thomas. Portland
directors. g. w. Gray, Edward Prvble.
George p. Thomas. David F. Murdoch
and William Odlin, Andoyer, Mass.
Thess automobiles will be run by both
electricity, steam and gasoline engines.
The hacks or cabs viii be the same as
those now running Ia Chicago. This is
bound to be big enterprise of great ben
eht to the city and is likely TO prove a
good drawing card for summer visitors as
1t will afford them a novel way to reach
the several attractive spots In the state
The officers of the company say they are
prepared to meet all demands which the
public may make on them and to inereass
the number and kind OF vehicles as coca
sion may require.
The gentleman In che rye of the company
are already negotiating for a building In
the central part of the city which win be
used as sort of stable or car barn
Mr.. Edward PrsbIe who has been In
the city for the past six weeks perfevting
the arrangements for the company was
seen last eFening by reporter of the
PRESS and speaking of automobiles said /:
They have sprung into general use in
remarkably short time. Today in
France over GOOD private automobiles ars
very successful demonstrations of their
adaptability In carrying heavy loads Of
freight up hill Six tons have bean taken
up grade of one in nine.
"The other day enc of these carriages
single two scatter, went mp Mt. Wash
ington without stop In one hour and
thirteen minutes, a distance which 1t
takes the average four horse stage about
three hours to cover.
AUTOMOBILES are run at a speed any
where up to 20 mile an hour. Their are
over 30 cabs running in Boston. The
delivery vans which are used for some of
the big stores there are proving very sue
oessfull ahs great advantage OF their use
to the streets of a city. having oleanli-
ness in view, is too obvious to need the
slightest explanation. 1t speaks for
Itself
MIR. Preble was asked how they run
through the deep SHOWS of winter and he
answered:
why last winter they were the only
vehicles that went through the deep snow
after the big storm in Now York city and
/ personally saw II. II. Whites delivery
van go up Bacon street. Boston, when
the snow was very deep and slippery at
that
MIR. Prebls is very enthusiastic over his
new enterprise and believes it will meet
with the greatest favor and is destined to
be q big success