Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-17


RecOrd-Herald.
ST. LOUIS, March 10, 1905.
The journey of the "Ogerita," the auto
mobile of the Strang Electric Car Company.
which Is now crossing the continent on
railroad tracks at an average speed of
thirty miles an hour, reminds me that O
steam motor wagon attempted a similar
trip In June, 1862, and got as far as Ne
braska City. where combination of cir
cumstances compelled 1t to stop; and the
machine was stored for a generation in the
stables at ArbOr Lodge, the stately horae of
the late J. Sterling Morton, where 1t was
an object OF great curiosity until 1t was
finally dismantled and the engine was utiL
ICED in the local gas works 1t was in
tended TO cross the continent from New
York to San Francisco, ami Nebraska City
was reached all right, but the roads were
so bad and the mud so deep beyoni that
point that the machine broke down, and
before II was mended the owner died, and
what was then as great a feat IS crossing
the ocean in balloon would be today was
abandoned
Brevet Maj. Gen Joseph r. Brown. who.
when lieutenant, assisted Caot Zachary
Ieylor, u. 5. A, efterward President of
the United States, to build a military post
at Fort Smelling, on the ban5s OF the
Mississippi river between Mime apolIs and
St Paul, was the author OF the auhacious
enterprise. and the first man who ever
operated a horseless vehicle In the west
Upon leaving the army in the early flfties
ten Brown was appointed agent of the
Indians at New Ulm Mimi, AMI was after
ward elected delegate from that territory
TO Congress
Gen. Brown conceived the idea of buili-
ing a self-propelling wagon with an
osctllating engine to haul Indian supplies
from the Mississippi river to the agency
and. while in Congress, secured an appro-
p9an9n Tor that purpose, which to avoid
rldlcuie and opposition, was skillfully con-
cealed in a paragraph providing fo:' schoo.
houses. churches, agricultural implements
farm wagons and live stock for the IN
ulans. This wagon was built by ]. i. Reed
superintendent Of the Novelty iron works
In New York city, where Robert Fulton s
first steamer and Ericsson's monitor. were
both built. Mr.. Reed had charge Of tie
construction of the latter. The steam wagon
was shipped west by train to Rock Island
and up the Mississippi to Red Wing Iv
boat. II made several trips across the
prairie TO Mankato and New Ulrn with SUD-
pies and was reasonably successful out
after Gen. Browns death, Ii was aban .ioned
and the engine was utilized at ghe Ne,y
Tim agency for grist mill.
IN 1860, Gen. Brown, who had retired
rom Congress. went to New York and con-
tracted with Mr.. Reed to build an improved
steam wagon to be called '"rhe Prairie
Motor, at a cost OF $500 Reed was
given eighteen months time to perfect the
machine and on June = 1862 ii starteI from
H.
ter mechanic of Reeds machine shop Mr.
Osborn IS still living and recently prepared
N account Of his experience which was
published In the Nebraska Daily Tribune
The wagon was such huge affair and so
unsightly in appearance that 1t frightened
all the horses. and Fernando Wood thea
mayor OF New York, issued an order pro-
htbitinS Reed and Osborn from experiment.
Ing with 1t In the streets. Therefore when
Osborn started west he had to leave the
city in the night.
Tne driving wheels were ten feet in diam
eter and the tire was two feet wide; the
forward wheels were six feet IN diameter
and the tires were eighteen inches wide. 1t
was driven by four ten horse duplex oscil-
lating engines, so constructed that one
would turn each wheel. The boiler was up
right eighty-siX inches long, connected with
water tank ten feet long and thirty inches
In diameter. There was a cab on top of
the tank behind the boiler and a platform
tender with fuel opposite the fire box,
similar to the arrangement of the ordinary
locomotive. Tie whole weight of the wagon
was twelve tons.
The journey was made from Hoboken to
Harrisburg, to Pittsburg. to Chicago, to
Quincy, to st. Joe. and to Nebraska City
arriving at the latter place July IA. 1862
after having been thirty-seven days on the
way.
The people OF Nebraska City received Mr..
Osborn and his machine with great en-
thusiasm and entertained him at a ban
quet at the Seymour House, at which the
late J. Sterling Morton, then mayor Of that
city, presided. After dinner, the machine