The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-10
FUTURE OF THE AUTOMOBILE.
1t Has Come to Stay and Has Great
Possibilities.


Cleveland Moffett, in Review of Reviews.
For the present however, the electric
automobile cannot offer the general useful
ness of the steam carriage or the gasoline
carriage The man who would journey
about the country In any direction on roads
The gasoline carriage has won its spurs;
the steam carriage is rapidly winning spurs
also and owes much of its success to the
fact that for generations now engineers
have been working TO improve and SIM
plify the steam engine, while the gas
CINE, more recent product, has been less
perfected. Therefore IL is not surprising
that the machinery in steam automobile
takes up half the space and weighs half as
much equally effective machinery in the
gasoline automobile. Still, this heavier ma
chinery bears a broader stamp of approval
than the lighter, because ii has had time to
win that approval. Hundreds will argue
for gasoline where tens favor steam. Steam
carriages are speedier: / myself have rid
den at forty miles an hour in one of them;
but there is, of course, that boiler TO make
trouble. Steam carriages are cheaper by
% per cent. and lighter by 40 per cent, but
they do not equal the gasoline carriage in
convenience for touring; indeed, only two
models are on the market now-one run
about covered or uncovered). with small
capacity, and a two-seated road wagon
(uncovereO not much better off. The ques-
tons of odor, noise and vibration have
been sufficiently considered, and III operat-
ing cost, repairs and trouble Of running
there is small choice. 1t is easier to see
future for steam, but the present is a
toss-up.
Indeed, the greatness of the automobile
lies chiefly in the future, as the greatness
of the bicycle is drifting into the past.
But the newer product has come to stay
we may be sure of that. Already freight
lines are looking with apprehension at the
splendid possibilities of the freight-carry-
dering II automobile BUSES and coaches
are destined TO war against them, as they
have warred against the railroads. Recent
ly the New York custom house tested the
automobiles freight-handling efficiency
with impressive results. For years the car
rying service between docks and custom
house had been done by three wagons,
drawn by two relays of three horses, max
ing six horses in all, and six men, Instead
Of these single freight-carrying steam,
wagon was put on with two men, and all
the work of the old service was done quite
as well with this much cheaper force and
an hour saved every day. Experts all agree
that for hauling lumber, coal, stone, farm
ers' produce, etc., over reasonably good
roads, the automobile fnsures saving OF
from Is per cent. to 40 per cent. as against
horse and wagon. The movement for
network of automobile roads over
the land is strengthening steadily.
ing for transcontinental highway on
which automobiles and bicycles may speed
from ocean to ocean under best and pleas
ATTEST conditions. This is to be great
pense of building IL to be divided among
the behefiting States, counties and cities
along the line Everything will be provided
for needs and comfort of rider and driver,
automobile inns or clubhouses, repair
shops recharging stations, ETC., and MOTH
ing will be allowed to interfere with the
primary purpose OF making this great
peoples highway for self-propelling We
hicles-the greatest and finest road seen
In the world since Roman conquerors
spread their marvellous paved ways across
empires. At least that is the plan and it is
so well thought of by engineers and army
men (for of course the strategic Importance
appeals to them strongly that committee
of some prominence has already been Sc
lected for the furtherance of this interest
ing project.
With the realization of this dream land
the day of its realization may not be so
far distant) we shall probably find public
taste changing so that many people will
prefer to travel from place to place more
slowly than at present, and will delight
to journey along beautiful, smooth high
ways by their own conveyance and at their
own will and pleasure, rather than to rush
blindy along iron rails. And If the auto
mobile does that for us continuing the
spirit born of the bicycle): IL IL makes us
see more of our own country out of beaten
lines. and ii more quietly and sanely-
IL will have rendered a splendid service to
our American life and character--a service
second, perhaps, to none of its more ma
terial ones. But first, we must have the
beautiful, smooth highways now only
draa nod Of