The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-14

1 uS iuu was lueu uletu6
east minneapolis and back to the main
Office over the Washington avenue bridge.
After leaving st. Anthony Falls station
mail was collected along Central to Mon
roe, out Monroe to Twenty-tifth avenue,
over to Central, to Broadway, out Main to
Marshall, to Eleventh avenue on Main
and back to Second street. At the station
another start was made and by cir
cuitous route Oak street and Washington
were reached for return, made by the
way Of the Interurban line.
The collector had the location of every
box in his mind and never made miss,
although it was only the second trip. At
some corners two boxes, one for mail,
the other for lower class matter are
cleaned out Considering the fact that
the heavy valentine day mail was due that
morning the time record was very good.
good.
Street Car Lines Followed.
. 1t will be noticed that the route follows
closely the street car lines. Collections
off the route are made by foot men who
deposit in the route boxes. One trip will
convince anyone that under ordinary cir
cumstances and probably at all times the
new method of collection is superior to the
mounted collector plan formerly used. The
automobile made the run of twelve miles
without change from the steady gait.
1t was a constant. pull along the road.
Aside from the doubt whether horse
could stand the trip the objection of a
constant change from a trot to walk to
rest the steed is done away with.
Three machines are in service No. 4
IS the second one put out and is assigned
regularly to this route and to one driver
who has long hours, but with time off
during the day. No. 4 requires few
changes incidental to the installation Of
any new machinery. Only twice has it
run away, and then Driver Gaines with
presence of mind instead of jumping, held
his companion in with one hand and
turned the switch with the other shutting
off the current.
The automobiles are electric. The
charging station is on Nicollet Island.
Bat teries which take some time to collect
a load Of juice are used. These batteries
are showed into the carriage after the
dead ones are removed. The machine is
not delayed longer than to cut in the fresh
battery. One charge will carry the ma
chimes loaded at least twenty-five miles.
The ampere register shows about eighty,
but if for some reason it gets down to
sixty it is time for the driver to take to
the woods as Manager Linton, himself,
was once compelled to do. Sometimes If
the batteries are left over night they col
lect enough electricity, especially in win
ter to take the automobile over to the
charging station.
Fourth speed" is rarely employed, the
fourth being saved for emergencies. Third
speed is used for regular work and car
ries the machine along at steady nine
mile gait Up hill work seems to be
meat for the kind of gear and battery used
by the Republic company. A hill is
mounted without the slightest effort.
The drivers become accustomed to the
topography of the country and know
where to avoid every little obstruction
that will use power without availing any
thing. Mr.. Gaines is an expert electrician.
He carries with him a kit of tools and
any little alt GRAFTON needed is made on
the trip. Rarely is anything required in
the machinist's or electricians line If in
spection is carefully made before the trip
is started.
Horses Can't Understand.
| Minneapolis from an automobile seat
occasionally affords amusing Spectacles.
No one could believe that SO many fool
horses live in the city until he makes a
trip with Uncle Sans mail wagon. Down
town equines generally have too much to
do to allow time for inspecting mail au
tomobiles, but out New Boston way or
down on Oak street, the horses do not
seem to understand what horseless
house on wheels is. All sorts Of fancy
three and half-steps are INDUCED by even
hay. Horses seem to sight the phenome-
non blocks distant and lay plans for get
ting out Of the harness in the most eX-
peditious way. Sometimes a driver will
send horse alongside the automobile for
blocks before he convinces the animal
that the machine belongs to the same
class as the pleasure automobile and the
horse buggy.
It is amazing what the owners of fancy
horses who take special delight in the
equine flesh, will do to balk the auto
mobile. They seem to have a. special
hatred for the vehicle, and forgetting that
Uncle Sans machine has the right Of way
to the detriment of the obstructionist,
will play all sorts of tricks to annoy the
driver. At the same time the chauffeur
! is devising ways to outwit the horse
driver, generally coming out first best.
Some Canine Mascots.
| The human element is decidedly inter-
ested in automobiles, especially in the
outski1ts and near the university, where
groups collect around the vehicle at every
stop. A gray-yelloW dog OF doubtful an
! tecedents has attached himself to the
government staff as mascot. AS soon as
! the mail wagon reaches the end of the
Union station car shed on Central, Mr..
| Dog becomes pace maker, barking and
swapping at the hard subber tires and
jumping at the drivers feet. Sometimes
he acts as escort as far as st. Anthony
Falls station. At other times he drops
| off at the Commercial hotel
! Away out on Central avenue, near the
New Boston fire station, graye-appear-
| ing, handy legged Dachshund appears reg
ularly in the street and when the automo-
bile comes within a few PAGES, retreats
rapidly to the sidewalk to stand gazing
| at the wonder with his serious, abnor-
| malIy grave and massive countenance.
| A ride on the front seat Of one of these
government automobiles gives one queer
feeling Aside from the curious land.
devouring proclivities which one riding
on a machine without dashboard must
become accustomed to, it leaves the rider
with feeling when he lands on the
ground that he is apart from himself and
walking in spiritual body. He COM
bines the ordinary sensations of walking
with the vivid Impressions Of his au-
tomobile ride.
/ The routing of the new mail carrying
machine is grIually adjusting itself
EConstant trials Enable Mr.s.Wanvig to de-
termine just what they can do in stated
time, and when the five autos are finished
Everything will be in readiness for col