The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-18
must work on the wheels. and one must
keep the vehicle from sliding back

and OF stopping the engine; one system
| must work on the wheels and one must
keep the vehicle from sliding back
| ward"
The manufacturer OF a machine in
| conditions, while any machine brought
| in from a foreign land will be examined
at the point of its arrival in the coun-
| try and a certificate will be given to the
owner. Happily. certificate from any
| one of the departments of the country
is good in all.
Every man who runs an automobile
Is required to possess a certificate of
his ability, which he must present to
any official On demand This certificate
says that the bearer is capable of run
ming certain type of motor vehicle,
and to obtain it the holder has had to
appear before a certain authority and
prove his ability to manage the ma
chine, as well as his understanding of
all its parts and their uses. This GER
tificate from the representative of the
Minister of Public Works must contain
also the photograph of the holder. If
the automobilist has successfully full
filled all these conditions he will then
hold his right to run his machine only
precariously. for if the authorities think
that he has broken some rule or rules
twice in one year his cherished docu-
ment is taken away from him.
The law prescribes that in no case
should the speed of a vehicle exceed
thirty kilometres an hour, and that
twenty kilometres per hour shall be the
limit in the city. A short walk on the
Champs Elysees or in the Bots de Bou-
logne gives ample opportunity any
afternoon to see how much this law is
regarded. Races can be run after
much red tape has been expended, and
then the limit of speed is not set, the
proviso being made, however. that 1.-The
management of the race shall keep the
track clear and shall make money res
titution for all damage done"
The Government of France loses no
opportunity which presents itself for
making money, and is consequently
profiting a great deal by the auto"
craze through the tax imposed on the
motor vehicles. The yearly tax for a
vehicle with two places is "a francs.
and II francs for each additional place.
In connection with this 1t might be
mentioned that all bicycles brought into
the country have to be registered at the
customs Office of entry. where permit
for circulation, good for three months,
will be given in exchange for 60 GEN.
times. Those persons who expect to be
in France longer than three months
will have to pay small tax and get
a lettered and numbered metal plate,
which must always be kept on the BIZ
cycle. where it can be seen by any in
quisitive gendarme.
Paris is completely fast in the grip
of the automobile craze-just how fast
can only be understood by the person
who has seen the condition of things
with his own eyes. The city is hysteri-
cally enthusiastic, and. of course, no
one can tell how long the present fit of
Mysteries is likely to last. 1t will leave
its impress, however, for not only have
the persons of fashion taken up auto
MODELLING as a sport, but the business
world has taken it up. There are plen-
ty of automobile cabs or the streets,
and the omnibus and street car COM
panies have, so to speak, caught on"
Nearly all the car lines are run by an
Independent motor system. based on
steam, compressed air. or electricity, /
and automob e bus lines are already |
in process of establishment V. B.