Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-09
REVIVAL OF POSTING.
What the Automobile il Doing for
French Roads and Inns.

From Chamber journal.
Many people still remember the days Of
stage coach travelling; the well-kept roads
thronged with vehicles, the hustle of arri-
val and departure at the various posting
houses and the various incidents and ad-
ventures connected with the journey. With
the invention of the steam engine and the
more rapid means of transit that il offered
all became changed; the roads grew me-
elected and deserted, the posting houses 81
lent and forlorn, and the stage coaches and
their garrulous drivers disappeared one by
one from the scene. Though We all ac-
knowledge that everything comes round
again. with variations, no one, probably,
has ever dreamed that posting would be re-
vived. and that the country roads and inns
would wake from their long slumber and be
once more the busy haunts of old. But
time that loves to work in a circle has
brought or is about to bring, back the
former custom OF road travelling, though
the old-fashioned vehicle with its team of
horses will be exchanged for horseless car
riageS driven by electricity: and it is their
universal use, which, in consequence of a
new idea. will undoubtedly soon take place
that Will revive almost all the adjuncts of
coaching. One of the difficulties hitherto
preventing the more general application of
electricity for transport purposes has been
the impossibility of carrying sufficient mo-
tive power for long journey or of renew
ing 1t en- route To meet this objection
company has just been started in Paris
under the title of the International Elec-
trio Posting Company. 1t proposes to es-
tablsh on all carriage roads postal relays
destined not only to recharge the accumu-
lators of exhausted electric vehicles but
also to light hitherto neglected and dark
neighborhoods.
The company will naturally begin its CD,
erauons in France: thereafter it intends
to take the roads of Belgium under its care
and then those of other countries 1t is
easy to see that this suggested perpetual
service of electricity will give rise to many
changes 1t will undoubtedly bring about
greatly stimulated trade with regard to
autocars for pleasure purposes and will
also entirely revolutionize land transport
The industry of automoblism will enter on
a new and apparently boundlesS course
when the driver of electrical convey
ance can feel certain of being able to OBJ
tain the necessary motive force for his We
hlcle anywhere on the road, and when he
can insure not being left high and dry in
some lonely spot miles from his destination.
and without the faintest prospect of sue
cor: 1t will follow that the highways and
oyways will soon be crowded with trade
carts. stage coaches, omnibuses and wag-
ons OF all descriptions driven by electricity
There are still many places which the rail-
way. though perhaps not far off does not
exactly touch. and many, too, that owing
to cross country, are only to be reached
with much delay and vexation of spirit
The new idea will do away with such
trouble, and to outlying districts will prove
an undoubted boon. In addition to recharg-
ing exhausted electrical accumulators the
French company engages to cater for the
wants of the petroleum driven carriage
and to supply all the possible and impos-
sible requirements of the cyclist 1t aims
also In fact, at establishing a chain of ex-
cellent country hotels. where all the neces-
sites of travellers will be carefully studied
medical aid included Probably the railway
companies will be the principal sufferers by
and directors to this scheme. Most of us
will gratefully acknowledge the enormous
advantage to be gained by the general pub
that electricity is the future mode of con-
Yeyance: and the company that is first in
the field to supply what will soon be a cry
ing necessity deserves to be both welcomed
and thanked.