The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-17
A TEST OF AUTOMOBILES.

The 500-mile endurance test of auto
mobiles under the auspices of the Auto
mobile Club of America, which was
started from New York city on Sept
over route leading to Buffalo, came
to an end Friday night, at the conclu
sion of the fifth day out, because of
the death of President Mckinley. The
contest was abandoned at Rochester,
within a few hours run of Buffalo, so
that while the race was officially
off, instructive results had been
achieved from which calculations may
be made.
Seventy-seven automobiles, driven by
all sorts of motors, left New York for
the run to Buffalo. 1t was not to be a
test of speed, but of endurance, the
speed limit being fixed at fifteen miles
an hour. OF the number that started
thirty three arrived at Rochester with
in the limit of time specified, that
is an average speed of fifteen
miles per hour for the distance. Eigh-
teen others arrived little after the
therefore disqualified.
The broadcast and biggest fact
developed by the contest seems to
be that the automobile has not yet
been brought to that state of efficiency
at which it may replace the horse.
The automobile, indeed, is not
yet out of its infancy. There are many
shortcomings in it to be overcome.
One of the chief of these is its sus-
ceptibility to the influences of the
weather In dry weather and with
smooth and level roads, there are num-
erous machines now in the markets
that will skim along like birds on the
wing, at thirty to sixty miles an hour
But when the rains descend, the mud
sticks and the clay gets slippery, then
most of the autos have to go out of
business; and at such times auto-driv-
ers have an increased respect for old
Dobbin, whose usefulness is not yet
ended.
On the run under discussion most of
the machines that had to quit the con-
er and bad roads. But wet weather is
an unavoidable condition that must be
taken into consideration in connection
with all methods of transportation. A
vehicle or conveyance that is good
only in fair weather will not meet
with the requirements of the period. In
so far as roads are concerned, they can
be made of easy grade and permanent
| ly hardened surface by the expenditure
of money; but not even money can
make the rain stop falling.
OF the many kinds of motors that
started in the contest only two types
survived to the end-the steam and the
gasolene, with the advantage in favor
of the former. Wet weather caused
some trouble with the gasolene appa-
ratus that depended upon electric
sparkling for the ignition of their ex-
plosive charges. 1t would appear there
fore, that these two types were the
most reliable under adverse conditions
Of weather though even they are far
from perfection. Inventive genius,
however, may be depended upon to
make still further and great improve
ments. Another thing shown was that
the American make of auto-carriages
was quite as good. strong and depend
able as foreign makes. AS a matter Of
fact, some American carriages with
one-fourth to onc-half the power OF
foreign carriages climbed slippery hills
ard waded mud along with their
stronger and heavier competitors. But
so far as a decisive showing Of the re-
spective merits OF the various machines
is concerned. it is probable that there
win have to be another endurance con-
test at a future day.