The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-19

ficulties in the way of terminal trac-
ton facilities in cities and towns.
United States Consul Halstead, al
Birmingham, England, writes to the
department of commerce and labor
as follows:
In recent number OF the Car Maya
zine there is an interesting presentation
by Comys Beaumont of the commercial
possibilities in the building of special
tracks or motor ways. Mr.. Beaumont
maintains that this full exploitation OF
mechanical traction would show financial
results sufficient to convince the most
energetic opponents to automobilism that
it is a force destined to have far reachine
results. He proposes for England mum
Der of car ways covering the entire
country.
Motor roads would be expensive to build,
but the outlay, he claims, required by
the most extravagant methods Of building
would not amount to fraction of what
railway costs to lay, leaving the rolling
stock out of the question altogether, be-
cause not only would such roads be in
fnitely cheaper to build per mile than
railroads, but since termini and near APP
proaches to towns or cities are rendered
unnecessary there is no need to expend
vast sums In purchasing property in the
heart Of valuable districts which is al
ways a vast capital outlay necessary in
railway construction.
| a AAAo|oA Se1l Ct1A leave the ROAD at either
terminus and take ordinary roads lead
ing to any point in a city or It's suburbs,
and at almost any point along the way
car can, OF course, turn off and travel on
the regular highways.
Mr.. Beaumont claims the laying of such
ways is not only practical, but should
prove an excellent and paying investment
If adequately capitalized. Nor is the
capital required so great as might be sup
posed. He proposes q. breadth Of twenty
five feet, to permit of four cars abreast.
leaving plenty of room between them. and
ne IS not unwilling to accept the proposals
mace ny otner people. who have argued
that cycle track be laid alongside.
An important question is that of navina.
and there are four sysems which may be
considered, Vlz wood, brick asphaltic
macadam and concrete.
There is something to think about
IN that suggestion. England is less
inclined to innovation than America.
and it is predicted that something ex-
perimental will be done along these
lines in the United States before Eng
land takes it up.
1t is just coming to be realized that
automobilism has developed wonder
full possibilities in this generation of
a cheap and powerful motive force
from the petroleum products. That
is really the most important fact to
be considered. The petroleum motor
is the handmade Of the electric motor,
and they are beginning to work hand
in hand.
Experiments in France.
One of the most significant of recent
innovations is the installation of
automobile" carriages on the French
railroad between Paris and Dion, and
on the Northwestern railway in Eng
land. These are gasolene automobiles
built on the pattern Of a large pas
senger coach, and adapted to run on
rails. They make sixty-two miles an
hour without difficulty, and have been
demonstrated to be practicable in all
respects. One style of 'automobile''
car differs a little from the ordinary
automobile in that the petroleum
motor, instead Of generating and ap-,
plying power direct, first generates
electricity in a motor which it carries.
and then the electric current is com
mun1cated to bogies under the car as
in ordinary municipal traction, cars.
France leads the world in the con-
struction of automobiles, tho the
United States is good second. In
1902 there were in France 9,2O7 auto
mobiles. In 1902 France sold abroad
automobiles to the value of $5,79O.O0O.
The figures for the year just closed,
while not available, are known to ex-
coed these by very large amount.