The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-21

Two international exhibitions of the
very first rank have just been ended of
HE latest evolution of the motor both as
applied to automobiles and to autoboats.
While the future of the immensely swift
small vessels propelled by gasoline or
electric motors is conceded 10 be very
brilliant, yet from the standpoint of ac-
tual practical results 1t is in the auto
mobile vehicle, whether it be a carriage,
omnibus, war engine or simply pleasure
vehicle, so commonly known as autos,
that the present situation Is most inter
ested. The international exhibition of
automobiles at the Madison Square Gar
den showed that this country had made
Immense strides In the production of auto
vehicles. The similar international ex-
hibition at Olympia Hail. in London, has
proved that even greater progress has
been made abroad in this direction.
Both exhibitions showed a decided tend
ency toward standard types. In other
words. the constant experimenting with
motors for autos has now progressed to
a point where certain types and kinds of
motor engines have been enabled to prove
o decided superiority over the dozens of
experimental motors which have been
placed from time to time on the market.
Experience has finally shown what may
be considered the essential feature of
motor-car construction, and within the
last three years there have been very
few changes from main standard types.
Practically all of the finer automobiles of
today have either chain driven cars or
live axle cars.
To-. 4bn inf of of hn IN nv
reader, who may find this a trife tech
meal, 1t would be best to state that
chain-driven cars are those In which the
propelling power is placed on a line
throughout the whole machine. The
power for the tremendous speed Is sent
to the driving wheels by means of chain
at either side. In the live axle car, which
simply means that the actual power is
placed on the axle which connects the
two driving wheels, the power is given
through u propeller shaft, which works
directly onto cogged gearing, which is
fixed on the axle of the wheels, which
actually do the work in hurting the auto
mobile through space. Again, aside from
these two distinct and important devel-
opments In the way in which the speed is
obtained the chief feature of the cars ex-
has been the tendency away from The sim
pie open cars. In fact. the automobile
of today is in reality an autocarriage. AS
result the latest development of the
automobile closely resembles the swell
yfctorias and closed carriages which were
formerly drawn by the family team. But
perhaps the most important development
of the automobile of today is entirely
af
and the study of engineers employed by
the great automobile factories is now in
tently directed towards creating auto
vehicles which will have a decided com
mcrclal value In this respect Europe is
five or six years ahead of this country
In England and France The old horse
drawn omnibuses and wagons used by
business houses, such as drays and de-
livery wagons, are now being entirely re-
placed by autowagons.
Business Autos Are Coming Fast.
In London and Paris and Berlin the
great bulk of the delivery work is done
by auto machines, and all the good hotels
meet their guests with enormous auto
omnIbuses, Holding from Is to 30 passen-
gers. But undoubtedly the most remark
able advance in auto machinery has been
accomplished under the patronage of the
railroads in England. The Great Western
Railroad and the Southwestern Railway
Company have built enormous and ex-
pensive autos, built to closely resemble
railroad coaches. Motor propulsion is
being very extensively used by the Great
Western Railroad Company In many eoun-
try districts where the construction OF a