New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-15
THE PROGRESS OF THE MOTOR CAR.

The present automobile exhibition does not
mark an epoch in the history of that interest
ing modern improvement" II does NOT ma
terially differ from former SHOWS, except III
being larger and finer. But In spite oI-perhaps
hecause of-that very fact II Will Suggest 10
many observers some reflection upon the prog
ress which has been made In the motor Cur
industry and upon the very important pace
which those vehicles, for both business and
pleosure have come to fill In the economy OF
daily life. Our British brethren have just been
celebrating with a great exhibition the tenth
anniversary Of motoring In that country. But
Great Britain was conservative in that as well
as in other things. France and America both
took I'D the horseless vehicle with earnestness
and with enthusiasm at date considerably
more than ten years ago. In the summer OF
1894 there was a great road race IN FRANCE
with more than one hundred entries ana IN the
fall Of 1895 there was a vigorously contested
road race or trial in this country. In fact lhere
was q road trial in England In 1875, too' though
the real beginning OF automobiling IS cohsioereu
to have occurred year later.
1t should not be forgotten, however. that the
automobile is far older than these citations in
dictate. 1t long antedates the railroad. 1t was
suggested by Sir Isaac Newton in 1880 and
In ITO one was built and practically used with
much success by Colonel Cugnot, Of the French
army Cugnots automobile still in existence
in a museum bears about the same relation TO
one of to-day as Franklin's old printing press.
preserved in Boston, bears TO the mighty engines
on which the modern newspaper is printed
In the first half OF the last century the motor
car for pleasure. for travel and for the con-
yeyapce of merchandise, became a reality ami
n considerable factor In the work Of transporta-
ton I'm England dozens OF the machines being
in regular and profitable use, including motor
omnibus lines running on regular schedules on
fixed routes. But what was for a time prom
Using and indeed a fourishing industry was
wholly ruined partly by the preference for rail-
roads on fixed tracks and partly by the organ
lied opposition and enmity Of makers of and
dealers in carriages and the breeders and sell
ers of horses who feared their occupations
would be destroyed by the success of the motor
car.
This latter fact suggests a curious contrast
between the former and these later automo-
billing DAYS Eighty years ago the motor car
was feared and opposed by the horse and car
rage interests. although its promoters insisted
that il would not inJure them. In our day the
early promoters Of the motor car boosted that
the horse and horse carriages would soon be
driven out Of Use altogether, and the imme-
diate future was anticipated as the "horse-
less age" vet scarcely anybody interested in
felt any fear Nor, as we can now see, was
there any ground for fear. The motor vehicle
has taken the place of the horse and horse We
hicle to large extent. and yet the latter are
being used more than before, and probably not
even the most enthusiastic motorist imagines
that we shall ever see anything like "horse
less age" Interesting and valuable as the
motor vehicle is, and preferable as 1t is for
many purposes to the horse and horse vehicle
the horse still remains the most interesting and
valuable Of animals. and for many purposes is
and is likely to remain Indispensable.
There Is strong reminder, too. Of the vanity
of the contra predictions of few years ago.
that the automobile would in time either be
prohibited as nuisance or would run its course
and be abandoned like other fads. There can
now be no doubt that, as judcious observers
at the outset, the automobile has come TO
stay" 1t is not yet perfected, and the cond-
tons OF It's use the common roads are not
yet adequately prescribed. But that device
of so great efficiency for either the giving of
pleasure or the doing of work will be voun-
tarily discarded. or that no way can be found
for satisfactorily harm0nizing its use with other
occupation OF the public roads, is unthinkable
while, with due regard for the inventive in
genuty Of the twentieth century and strong
confidence in the continued progress OF the arts,
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