Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-12-13

| utSCIlptlOu OI some OF the more
curious motor carriages that we're
seen in England during last century
between the beginning of the third
decade and the end of the fourth, for
that was the great era of this class of
vehicle ere it was temporarily driven
into obscurity by the increasing rail-
ways, until it has "boomed" again in
these later years into full brilliance
may be of interest to the reader.
Perhaps the most celebrated of early
motor carriages was that invented by
w. II. James. This gentleman was a
civil engineer who took out patent
for "new and improved method OF
making steam carriages" His vc-
hicle was intended to carry 18 passen-
gers, of whom six could ride inside.
1t was meant to proceed at a speed OF
about IL miles an hour, and i. was of
about 20.horse-power. The whole
weight OF tie carriage and machinery
was two tons, and this motor carriage
was the talk of all London during the
spring of the year 1928, at which time
it was built. Crowds gathered to see
its initial performance, the success OF
which bad much to do with the subse-
quent development Of that style of We.
hicle during the next 10 or 20 years.
Mr.. James had made the machinery
part of the carriage. but Gurney tried
to improve upon this by making his
power separate. His invention was
given test in August, 1929, drawing
car which contained no less person.
age than the Duke of Wellington, be-
sides other noted people OF the time.
But the engine itself had really trav-
eled from Bath, and it had done the
whole distance to London, about "a
miles, in just over nine hours, which
included stoppages, an average speed
of about IA miles per hour. The speed
was an improvement upon that made
by James's motor, but there was the
disadvantage that Gurney's had not
drawn an equal weight nor 90 many
passengers, which was an important
difference. But by this time the pub
lie mind was thoroughly excited on
the subject and faint glimpse of
what the future might mean for
horses began to dawn upon every one.
Caricaturists pokcd fun at the motor.
One Of the beet OF these was q carica-
ture by the then famous Cruikshanks,
which wittily described horses as go.
ing TO the dogs"
The chief improvement in motor
carriages, was made by William
Church, in 1882. This was a some-
what heavy but prettily decorated car
on three wheels, which carried about
50 passengers. The vehicle was alto
gether . great advance upon all former
motors with regard to filing the place
that the coming car was required TO
fill in the country's development. II
marked the crucial point Of the fight
then starting between the roads and
the railways that were coming into
public favor and rapidly increasing,
and it is hardly too much to say that
what eventually turned the scale in
favor Of the railways was the fact that,
being reserved for one kind Of traffic
alone. the carriages upon them were
enabled to proceed at speed that was
beyond what could be managed on the
ordinary highways. Otherwise, the
motor cars upon the latter from 1882
10 1840 did first-rate and showed won-
derful signs of improvement and future
success.
About this date there came upon
the scene Walter Hancock, whose
name will be always associated with
our early motors. Hancock soon
grasped the fact that steam was the
coming traction power rather than
horses and he built road car which
began running at the end of the year
1881.
For general ugliness, it would be
difficult to beat the car built by Sir
Charles Dance. The steam power was
in an engine of the most extraordinary
shape, with a funnel that narrowed at
the top. The engine afforded seats for
six or seven people besides the driver.
The vehicle behind the engine was.
if possible, even more ugly than the
engine itself, and resemblsd nothing
OF our day 90 much as horse box on
the railways. Altogether. this motor
car was a. eccentric q marvel as Eng
land had seen for some years upon the
highways.
The final celebrated builder Of mo.
tor carriages in the decade referred TO-
that ending in 1S40, was Fred Hill
His car may be said to have been the
last under the old regime, since it wa,
running az late as 1843 on the road
from London to Birmingham, after
having done 30 for four years. Al
with its predecessors, its motor power
was steam, and the engine was placed
Immediately behind the coach, ol
which it formed part. This engines
situation was an improvement upon
that Of others preceding it. But the
fight against the locomotive became
too strong for the motor carriage Il
stand. Parliament threw all its sup
port toward the former by restraining
the rate Of speed that the motor might