The Washington bee., 1902-07-26

(hlS Latest invention Is an economical
Storage Battery)
comes less and less efficient and in a
few months wholly imperative; but
the nickel-irOn storage cell, which has
been evolved from Mr.. Edison's ex-
periments, and of which he gives a
most interesting description, remains
uninjured under any condition one can
imagine, even in the hands of an in
expert. The result of this invention
will be to make it practicable for a
large number of persons who cannot
afford the luxury of a carriage 10 pos
sess a serviceable pleasure vehicle
which Will be always at their beck and
call. With an initial outlay of 500, the
storage-battery automobile can be
used at any time at the cost of a So
cent charge. the cost being met as it
is incurred. Mr. Edison predicts that
automobile accidents, which occur so
frequently at present, will soon be
things of the past:
THE French types of electric ear
riages come nearer to my ideas in
strength and stability than any other
models. This result has been attained,
of course, only by experience. At first
l was inclined to the opinion that the
French machines were abnOrmally
heavy; but when l study out the con-
cussiOns and strains TO which they are
subjected. my inclination is to make
the touring carriage even heavier still.
1t is surprising to me that American
builders have not more closely fol-
lowed these French models, since ex-
Periments costing millions must have
been made to reach the present stage.
I'VE hear of fewer automobile acci-
dents in France and in Europe general
ly than in our own country. and they
are fewer in spite of heavy types Of
carriages. One reason for this is that
in Europe there are wider roads and
less traffic; another is that the public
have been educated up to the situation.
The electric carriage of the future,
and of the near future, will in my opin-
ion not only supersede other types of
automobiles, but it will be built and
run on such practical lines that acci-
dents will soon become things of the
past. Horse owners and drivers will
educate their animals. as in old times
they had TO be educated up to the
steam engine and later to the trolley
ear. The electric carriage will be
practically noiseless and easily
stopped in an emergency. Above all. it
will need no irresponsible chauffeur"
Civilized Birth-Rate.
Turning to the births. which num-
bered 927. .O62 in 1900, the most prom
inent fact that meets US is the cOntin-
ued decline in the rate. This is more
significant when taken in connection
with the increase in the marriage rate.
The fact gives fuTiOusly TO think"
We are in the habit of speaking of the
French as a decadent people who have
ceased 10 increase and multiply. But
the truth is that a declining birth
rate is not peculiar TO France. 1t is
with US. also. and with the Germans in
a less degree. In some parts of Eng
land the birth-rate now perilously ap-
proximates the death-rate. Taking the
country a a whole Ee have still sub
stantial difference; but if the present
tendencies continue to operate that
difference will not be obvious long. 1t
would seem thst the more advanced
the civilization the greater the disposi-
tios to sterility, and one Of the most
potent factors in the South African
probelm is the remarkable fecundity
of the Beers as compared with our own
race.-LOndon News.