The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-17
HORSES AND CARRIAGES.
AMONG THE AUTOMOBILISTS.
GERMANS TEST THE CONTROL or
MOTOR VEHICLES.
Horses at a Disadvantage Throughout the
Trials -Accidents DO Not Increase
C~Orrespobdinsiy With Growth Of Motor.
inK-The French Trade Threatened.

FtOTseb ~ u kItbtuNNrJNk HVTOuZuOut tEC
Trials -Accidents DO Not Increase
Co~rrespobdinsiy With Growth OF Motor.
inE-The French Trade Thrcatened.
German automobiles are much aroused
over certain proposed liability laws which
would make the motorist responsible for all
accidents caused either directly or indirectly
by the automobile and have termine TO
fight the measures. As a direct result OF
this a series of tests to determine the relative
perfection Of control Of the horse drawn and
motor vehicle was held at Charlottenburg
recently in an effort to establish the greater
safety in trafnc of the latter. The events
were organized by the Automobile Technical
Society and were attended by a large number
Of interested persons, several members OF
the Imperial Diet being present. The mss
competition was for motor and horse cabs.
in four runs, the speed 10 be set by the latter.
The quickest pull up Of the automobile was
within 10 feet and the longest p feet, while
the horse cabs best was 26H feet and the
worst o. feet. A somewhat surprising result
to the onlookers was that Of the vans, the
motor stopping in 5 feet and the two horse
van in so feet. A motor omnibus was pulled
up short in is feet. its one horse collea que
in something over 40. Then a motor hre
brigade car was run against a one horse
vehicle. and drew up dead in i2H feet TO its
opponents So feet. The tests OF privately
owned cars and carris ges resulted In Herr
Werner's so horsepower Opel making Q
stop in a little over 2 feet. as against 20 feet Z
inches. An electromobile cab stopped in
40 feet, the horse in two times the distance.
Afterward the automobiles were put through
their PAGES atone and at the best speed OBJ
tainable: the fire brigade car held short within
81 feet. a full omnibus in IS. a motor car ut
top speed in 40 feet. and even the doyen OF
commercial vehicles In Berlin, the veteran
brewers van that has been running daily
since 1890 and is shod with iron tires. stopped
dead within an inch of II feet. which was a
much better accomplishment than any horse
drawn vehicle achieved.
With the enormous increase of automobiles
in the past few years there has not been Q
corresponding growth in the number OF acct
dents caused by automobilists. as the num-
Der of motorists who take no chances seems
to be rowing at a greater percentage than
might have been expected. There seems
to be little or no doubt that II pedestrians
had followed the example OF the automobilists
there would be far fewer casualties.
The annual ball OF the Professional Chauf-
feurs' Club of America will be held at Terrace
Garden on Wednesday evening, December
20. Many prominent automobilists have
expressed their intention OF being present.
One of the motorists greatest difficulties
in changing tires when on the road arises
from the inevitable presence of dirt and mud,
Of which a certain am quantity iS seen ,Ss ai nIe
casing unless great pains Is taken to pre-
vent it. lhis, however is not always pos
muddy and the shoe and rim thickly coated.
By the use of a stin brush, however, which
the dirlculty may be obviSted TO a great ex.
tent and the interior OF the shoe thoroughly
cleaned before inserting the tube; Falling
to have a brush intended Tor the purpose, an
ordinary whisk broom will sufhce.
cred in the growing strength Of the American
industry what he termed an American peril.
a ap BY ~ Score Of others. all Of whom aSrcsd
have 70 look I largely .iTn to ms ~ "a, ISSur rHs or s1R'Ss
British show have discovered an even more
across the Channel, and are returning home
with the news that they can build Just as good
nnd, moTeo on that they can build them even
more chesply: Added TO this that an ex-
t ietS Sy dfee allied makers n EnsIsnd and sndet *
Gallo makers have found food for q good
deal Of thought and not a little worriment.
blooms about show time. but which has not
d dSTTlsnf the % em SPs sa1 of the shsse Closing IL If swsise.
month. is the prophecy that automobiles
Tili Be- w %%Sh G aSs 4 .D next here ySsr s. az "a. .As
fondly cling TO this ~favorite delusion and who
will cast an eye over the prices advertised
he must surely undergo 9 change. Of opinion.
Cars are better than ever. but they likewise are
are SIs6 pi far and dD away cheaper than they have
ever been-apparently anita gonistic statemens
that at ttlIrcsI t sight t. seem to E Fsss%irs RRot 4 h;iis
trend Of prices be traced back a few years the
solution will be found easy and the situation
in the automobile ind ustry as it stands to-day
one OF the leading makers in the country
listed his best and only car at 81 200; to-day
that same maker sells bis cans &C a figure IN
advance Of $4,000. Those familiar with the
can recall numerous instances where cars
have Jumped $3.50 or $500 with each new model
that appeared. the advance being even greater
in some instances. so that cars OF that same
make sell for $1,000 10 $500 more to-day
tnan they did but tvo seasons ago. This
year they will und ergo still further advsnces,
prices OF a number OF the 1907 models.
For the reverse OF the picture we must look
at the M manufactures who has been identiied
who has made the car with up to date four
cylinder motor. sliding gear transmission, long
wheel base, large tires and luxurious uph0l-
at the % 900 mark a possibility. Considered
from this side Of the question cars were never
80 cheap as they are to-day: the motorist cf
three years ago hardly dared dream Of the
day when such a vehicle could be purchased
at this figure. Yet these low priced cars are
In every respect as modern as their proto-
types OF double the price; The differences 2 70
experience has tau ght the older makers there
Is a demand for. Consequently. the high
priced machine has ball bearings where the
nickel steel Of the highest grade Is used In
place q a good quality Of machine steel, and
thus the detailed instances In which they
But the use Of specially made costly materials
will be found TO constitute q large part Of the
difference; In this respect the low priced
car OF to-day differs from its predecessors Of
hut N feW wars hack n Oraaf daaI NOR. NAA.