The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-08-30
AUTOMOBILES
ARE NOT new
Were Introduced by German
Inventor 300 Years Ago.
STEAM CARRIAGES IN SCOTLAND
successfully Operated Between Glasgow and
PAISLEY for Ssvsral Monihs-EaTly
American Automobiles
STEAM CARRIAGES IN SCOTLAND


reference to automobiles recently much
remains untold The history of auto
vehicles is long one. Notwithstanding
the fact that most of us look upon the In
vention of self-propelling vehicles as OF
comparatively recent date.
Various motive powers have been used
ut different times and in different lands.
Nearly 300 years ago German inventor
constructed horscless carriage having
for it's motor coiled spring.
Numbers of the vehicles were manufac-
tured, but apparently were not satisfac-
tory. as the building of these carriages
ceased when their inventor discontinued
their construction.
Vehicles propelled by wind were In COM
mon use in Holland at about the same PEE
riod. But the most popular OF all motive
powers appears TO have been steam, and
after the invention OF the steam engine
as applied to railway traffic many an am
bilious inventor experimental with steam
in its application to road travel and
many curious contrivance and make
shift was used to overcome the many sup
posed difficulties that stood In the way
of the practicability of steam locomouon.
In the early part of the present GEN.
tury steam stage coaches were running
I'm the neighborhood of London.
STEAM CARRIAGES IN SCOTLAND.
In 1916 a line OF steam carriages was
operated between Glasgow and Paisley,
Scotland They were success In every
sense of the word.
They were capable OF speed of ten to
nd tot
tween the stations named. They ran for
several months punctually on time, and
were daily increasing in popularity with
the general public but We're discontinued.
Many other ventures in steam auto
vehicles were made during the following
wears. but were abandoned after strug-
gle with the stage coach proprietors, who
like the cabbies OF today, derided and
fought the innova.tpn.
The stage lines died out, and for years
no further experiment in auto-locomotion
was attempted. 1t seems strange to those
who know the favorable conditions under
which automobilism might have become
a permanent fixture In England. with her
good roads, that antagonism sufficiently
strong should have arisen to nullify the
rteps made toward cheaper and more rap
I'd transit.
Parliament, too, took a hand In the fight
and the influence OF those whose interests
were apparently jeopardized was sufh-
cient to induce the legislative body OF
England to adopt measures that were
prohibitive to the operation
Of automobiles. :.
Parliament appointed n committee 10
Investigate the merits of the machines
then in use. and. although they reported
to them political influence was
strong enough to kill the attempts of the
promoters of horseless carriages to run
regular, lines.
SAID THEY WERE PRACTICAL.
During the investigation by the Parlia-
committee, the best engineers OF
testified to the entire practicable
ity and utility OF horseless vehicles. In
one report the committee said that the
substitution of inanimate for animal
power In draught on common roads Is one
OF the most important improvements In
the means of internal communication
ever Introduced
They also made tue prediction that the
use of such vehicles as were propelled
by auto power was bound to come as the
of scientific men drew pub
lie attention TO their usefulness and econ
ouy.
This committee further stated that at
surely cannot be contended that the in
PRODUCTION of steam carriages on COM
mon roads Is as yet an uncertain expert
ment unworthy OF legislative attention."
But, despite the favorable report made
by a committee of its own appointing,
Parliament, urged ON by political infiu-
ence adopted such measures i'm the way
of regulations" for the use of auto
mobiles that they were driven out. and
I<..-
OF use
II was not until within the past two or
three years that interest In such vehi-
cIes was revived. and the progress made
has been marked. Some OF the same
old hostile ieaven is still present and
not only In England, but in the United
States antagonism from the same class
IL stu alive, although. perhaps, not as
strong as in the earlier days before ca
bies, electric trolley rails, and numerous
other contrivances for rapid transit were
in common use.
The public of today is accustomed to
see ana demands more rapid means OF
transportation from one point TO the
other and that same public in progress
five communities halls with delight tho
fntroduotion OF any method thar may add
10 their comfort Indeed whole COM
nlunities IN the United States have beon
tuilt up by the Introduction OF better
and more speedy means OF TRANSFORMATION
70 and from their homes
WHY ENGLAND is BEHIND
This opposition. however, among tho
conservative, and perhaps sordid Interest,"
OF England placed an effective check on
automobi1ism, and England in conse-
qncnce Is far behind France and Germany
In the number and class OF automobiles
in use.
France early perceived the advantages
OF autolocomotion, and. although. like all
countries where innovations are intro
duced. opposition arose to their use. soon
became convinced OF their necessity and
encouraged rather than discoura ged their
Introduction.
The consequence Is that today more au-
tonobfIes are probably I'm use. proportion
ete'y. there than in any country en-. the
word. Germany. too. although one OF the
mott conservative countries of Europe,
lent Its encouragement 20 inventors OF au-
tom obilcs. and 10 Germany we owe credit
for the Invention OF the first petroleum
pronelled vehicle IN operation
The vehicle was IN reality the forerunner
OF the first really successful gas engine
produced. for bv the explosive properties
Of oil IN its combustive state most Of the
gss engines OF the present day are util-
England was not slow 20 recognize the
p0esibi1ities OF petroleum. but the pro-
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