Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-08-08
FRENCH MACHINES SUPERIOR
iIY GENERALLY RECOGNIZED.
GOOD ROADS RESPONSIBLE
interesting Data Furnished in Al.
vance Sheets Of Consular Pc.
ports-Great Machine Ordered bv
an Austrian Statesman-Quick
Stopping Device.

on Automobiles In Europe. The
recent Paris-Berlin auto race. which
proved such ''walk-over'' for France.
has apparently fully established the
superiority of the French people in
the motor vehicle line. The Paris ex-
position is said to have shown that
much progress has been made and
prestige obtained by the automobile
as q factor in every day life.
With regard to French roads. the
paper says:
Without doubt, the excellent roads
OF this country have contributed
much to the development of the
automobile industry. The highways
are remarkable for their durability
and evenness. and they receive con-
,tinual attention. If rut or a hollow
forms, it is at once attended 10,
usually by being deepened and
roughened, so that new material will
adhere, and then rounded by small
chip stones. This is undoubtedly one
Of the prime reasons for the superior
ity of the French machine. The
smooth running necessitates less re-
pair and less power. One of the
greatest aids to American industry
along this line would be better public
roads. The Automobile club of
America has only this year taken up
the subject of placing sign posts upon
the highways. 1t is to be hoped that
they will be Of a material that will
not decay or the figures become
illegible. Here all the roads are fully
provided with explicit information
and the posts are of iron"
A Viennese Order.
The Austrian minister of railways
from the Viennan Daimler Motor COM
pany. 1t is to be of the dimensions
of an ordinary third-class European
railway carriage, with thirty-two
seats and standing room. Under the
flooring will be placed a thirty-horse
power, fCur-cylinder motor, with the
mechanism and supplies necessary TO
enable the carriage to travel indepen-
IDENTIFY at a speed of thirty miles an
hour. Controlling levers will be
placed at both ends of the carriage TN
platforms inclosed with windows,
enabling the carriage to be direct
from either end. The car neces-
states the service of only one man,
and will probably be put into use
during the coming autumn in lower
Austria.
Such a vehicle will permit 9x-
ceedingly economical traffic on local
lines in thinly populated districts, and
consequently more frequent trains and
better connections with main lines.
The drivers of automobiles in France
often out-distance the fastest trains.
Protective Legislation.
Exaggerated speed, inexperienced
drivers, want of attention and the
cheap automobile cause so many &C
cidents that protective legislation IS
being enacted all over Europe.
NJ. Waldeck-Rousseau, president of
minister of public works, sent only a
few days ago to the conseil d'etat
the project Of a decree to reduce the
excuses of speed against which so
many complaints have been made.
The maximum speed allowed in the
open country is thirty kilometers
(18.6 miIes) an hour. According to
the new project, any automobile
capable of exceeding this speed, and
thus liable to violate the law. shall
be provided in front and behind with
plaques" bearing a registered mum
Der, and this number shall always De
visible. The use of alarm horns is
to be circumscribed. The horn must
not be sounded except for the purpose
of giving notice of approach in dan
gerous places and of avoiding &C
cidents. 1t is no longer to be EN-
ployed for the purpose of clearing
the way" an unlimited distance ahead
in order 20 guarantee a free and ex-
elusive passage. Finally, some very
minute directions are to be given
with regard to racing.
The Quick Stop Kind.
The Statthalter, of lower Austria,
n consequence of complaints Of the
police regarding excessive speed,
sent a letter to the Auto
mobile club Of Austria on the subject.
70 this letter the club sent long
'eply, from which the following pas
;ages are taken:
he 1nToin1 fhot oprfa
drive very fast and
make themselves liable to accidents.
This is, however, the exception and
lot the rule. The greater number If
prosecutions are really due to the
act that the police authorities 40
lot completely understand the au;1-
lobile. An automobiles, when driV-
ng at full speed, can bring his
ehicle to standstill within two
ards, and can, therefore, drive up to
n obstacle without diminishing speed
0 any great extent A carriage
rawn by a horse at slow pace,
rhich can be stopped only within
even yards, is much more dangerous
han fast-traveling automobile,
hitch can be brought to standstill
rithin two yards"
At the conclusion Of its letter, the
Tub expresses the opinion that the
resent state Of affairs is similar to
lat prevailing at the introduction Of
le bicycle, and that in short a time
apole and horses will be accustomed
, the automobile as they did to the
rcle.