The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-08
The HORSRLBSS VEHICLE
Progress Made in the Last Few
Years With the Automobile.
It's Use for Business a. Well
Pleasure Becoming GeneraI-TeSts
of Speed and Durability show the
Machine to Be Very SeryiceubIe.


Machine to Be very serviceubIe.
IN nation, the greatest claim to fame
of whose people lies in their inventive
genius and adapta5iity TO innovation, no
product Of the inventors mind ever made
such tremendous strides in public favor
as has the automobile. Perhaps 1t could
better be termed the horseIess vehicle, -
for there is now or the market today an
infinite variety of mobiles with various
prcliXes-
Washington. an ideal city for autos -
three years ago scarcely knew "a horse
less conveyance and the infrequent one
which made its appearance was the cyno-
sure Of many surprised eyes and the
cause Of many strained necks.
The bicycle a number Of years ago made
a wonderful jump into popular favor
Comparing the cost OF bicycle and the
cost Of even the cheapest auto it viii
be seen that the latter is gaining ground
more rapidly.
Probably one reason for this Is that the
average automobile of today is d substan-
tiaI machine, built for service. The bi-
cycle, before it was vehicle for business
as wei as pleasure, was q fragile affair,
and the cost Of maintenance in fees to the
repair man laid a heavy tax on the own
er- Automobiles are not perfect by any
means. but the man who can expend
from $3.50 to 5000 or $500 on a machine
can well stand the incidental expense of
wear and tear
The seal of royal approval has been
set on the auto King Edward VII has
ordered i steam vehicle from a European
company. The machine is the same mo-
del as one which made a speed OF sixty
miles an hour in q contest at Nice 1t is
improbable that the King with all his
well-known procIivitics for sport, viii
indulge in racing. however.
Worldwide attention was attracted to
the Shah of Persia last year when he pur-
chased an automobile in Paris. His
Royal Highness acquired a severe attack
of the mobile fever and since his first
purchase he has added a large number of
machines ID his stable" Many of them
are upholstered in brOcaded silk of deli
cate shades. The cream white horses of
the Court of Persia bid fair to soon be
come a thing OF the past. The King of
Belgium is another royal patron of the
sport provided by the festive auto
Then, there are the mfIlionafres of this
country, many OF whose immense in
comes enable them to indulge in every
experiment they desire.
Automobile racing is becoming daily
more popular throughout the country. 4
year ago there was great rivalry to pro
duce machines of great power and courses
were laid over level stretches Of road with
4 view TO attaining the highest possible
speed. OF late, this tendency has given
way to Il desire for what are termed en-
durance races, up hill and down dale over
muddy and dry roads. under pleasant
conditions and unfavorabIe, where the
skin and resourcefuIness of the chat
fcur" may be tested to the utmost and
where the high horsepower of the ma
chine does not cut so much figure
During the coming summer months
large number Of enthusiastic automobile
lists viii make the Pan-AmeriCau EXPOSE
ton their Mecca. At Buffalo there will
be races and tests of skill between pa
irons Of the sport. During the Week OF
September 7 there Will be an endurance
demonstration over "a 460-miIe course be
tween New York city and Buffalo The
run will be held under the auspices of the
Automobile Club of America, and il is eX-
ptcted that six daEE VIII be occupied in
making the trip. NO average speed OF