The Washington times., 1908-05-12
The Thomas Car Covers
Run on It's Own
Power.
WILL RETURN TO-DAY
BY THE SAME ROUTE
Factory Representatives and Disin-
terested Witnesses Watch the
Test From Columbia Auto.

Following upon the heels of the COM
pletlon OF the trclleL line to Baltimore
came another marked stride IN electric
vehicle construction when It was proved
yesterday that it is possible to make
the run from Washington to the Mouu-
mental City in an electric automobile.
The achievement was a result or a test
proposed by the Dupont Garage Com
pany, and successfully carried through
by Thomas electric recently shipped to
this city from the factory at Detroit
Mich.
The car was driven by George Bacon
chief engineer Of the Anderson Car
riags Company, the manufacturers OF
the electric tried out yesterday. Those
who followed the Thomas in a Columbia
driven b. Otto Jacob, Of the Dupont
Garage. Tor the purpose Of watching the
performance, and TO testify that th5
electric made the run on its own power
were ". G. Anderson. Of Detroit. the
president OF the Anderson Company; r
Driscon. OF Harrisburg, sales manager
OF the Thomas electrics. scott HameI
Of the Dupont Garage. and Abe Cohen
and Times representative
Heavily Handicapped.
The record was all the more remark
able in view Of the fact that the litue
car was handicapped al every turn. j,
was decided 10 take the longer road
20 Baltimore, by way Of Ashton, Clarks-
vile, and ElhcOtt CITY. Neither bacon
nor DriscoH. who rode in the electric
were acquainted with the road. a faci
which not only prevented them from
rHa q H...r.. Il
tage. but also caused them 70 lose their
wa and cents for extra t9ll.' accord.
ing 20 Mr. DriscoII. The total distance
was forty-sevcn miles. but the odOmeteI
showed a fraction over fifty on arriving
at Rice's Garage. In Baltimore. Thi;
little side trip was responsible for the
one flaw tn the ru1. IN order TO make
sure OF pulling into Baltimore on its
own power IT. was assisted I'D a sharT
bill after leaving Elicott City, although
The amount Of voltage in reserve aftel
reaching Baltimore showed even this
/ unnecessary.
Both the representatives OF the manu-
faCJurers and OF the Dupont for which
the test was being made are more thar
result Of the showing the Dupont vii
assume the local agency for the new
| car.
Furnished Real Test.
/ In speaking OF the run Presiden
Anderson said; with all the confidence
I have in the little machine fear
should have lost my nerve had I know
| the conditions we were up against. 4
/ lill s. "a curiosity out around Detroi
and while I expected a few urdulation
/ here Mr.. Jacob was most reassUriu,
and comforriug-bcfo the run. a few
knoIls, one or two stretches of bad road
and here and the- a water break wa
| his description Of the route. His prom
/ ises all along the line that We were nov
on the last Hill were equally amusing
They grew worse toward the end Of IN,
Tuu and as a prophet he is very much Z,
/ the weather But / am simply delighted
/ with the outcome. II took a strange
10 show us what we really could do"
When IL IS considered that the aver
age eleCJrCs claim only between thiFr,
and forty miles on level streets the ruI
" hich constituted q part Of The Time
ETuellinE Sealed Bonnet Contest. and al
I long and tedious hills. is little short o
wonderful Owing 10 the frequent waite
breaks on the down grades the drive
was unable 10 take advantage OF IN,
slope for cOasting These water break
ere great power consumers. and IL b
estimated that they necessitated an ex
penditure OF energy equivalent TO owe
I i've miles on level macadam.
Today under the supervision OF OFT
jacob the car viii eHdeayOr TO max
the return run 10 Washington on III
/ own power. From the showing yester
day there is little doubt that il will ma k
/ the run easily.