The Washington times., 1908-05-13
Makes Return Trip From
Baltimore on Its Own
Power.
COMPLETES ITS RUN
WITHOUT AN ESCORT
Achievement Sets New Mark in
Electric Vehicle Records-De-
tails of Trial.

Forty-seven miles over one of the
most difficult roads IN this section on
its own power was the record set by the
Detroit Electric car on the second day
Of its test yesterday.
Mondays remarkable run, in which
the car ran 10 Baltimore over the long
road and made a three-mlle detour. was
described in yesterdays Times in an
article IN which the Detroit was,
through an error. referred TO as the
/ Thomas Electric" The machine Is
catalogued as a Detroit Electric Vic
toria," and is manufactured by the An
Mich.
That there might be no doubt about
the car making the entire run without
assistance yesterday, no escort accom-
panied Il. Otto jacob was at the wheel,
Scott Hamel rode in the car as wit
ness, and the driver has the signatures
OF a number Of autolsts encountered
along the route that he was making the
trip on his own power.
Little Trouble Experienced.
The only trouble experienced yester-
day was in a Slight Overheating OF the
battery box after climbing the long
series Of hills near ClaTksville. The car
pulled out Of Rice's Garage, IN BaIur
more. at 1890 o'clock and arrived at the
Dupont. 2030 NJ street, in this city, at B
o'clock. Several long stops We're made
which materially reduced the running
AS on the first day, no attempt was
made 10 tighten the weight by remoV-
ing tenders or any other portion OF JAe
equipment. In endurance runs II is con-
sldered legitimate 10 make the most OF
these advantages, but the purpose OF
the test in this case was 10 snow thaL
the car can, under normal cohdllIols'
negotiate a distance considerably great
OF over country roads than is claimed py
most models for asphalt streets. On
both days the car carried two passen-
gers and even the top was not re-
moved. ON the first day the electric was
additionally handicapped by having
driver who had never been over the
road, which resulted not only In a loss
OF three miles by wandering from the
prescribed course. but entaued a great
loss Of power on account of the mud
and ruts encountered on the side road.
Regulation Stock Model.
II is also claimed that the battery,
being a new one, has not yet attained
its proper efficiency, and that after two
weeks use IL viii be good for between
five and ten miles in addition 10 the
showing made yesterday. The car was
shipped To this city without the usual
test runs in order 10 make the trial trip
TO Baltimore. while W. G. Anderson,
president of the Anderson Carriage Com
pany, was In the East 1t IS a stock
model in every respect The entire ma
chine weighs $500 pounds. and is equip
ped with twentyfour cell II 81. v.
exide battery.
Otto jacob, in speaking OF tile per
Torrance yesterday, said. Il confess
that when / suggested this test II was
mainly TO call Mr. Anderson's bluff and
on the first day we were careful 10 fol-
low UP the electric with a Columbia,
with which 1 confidently expected 70
tow the little stranger back to Wash
ingtou at about the third hill. But the
Detroit put up a most surprising eX-
hibition, lha fun significance of which
it is hard 10 impress on an one who IS
not thoroughly acquainted with that
Baltimore road. Everything was against
It. Not only did 1t carry about 200
pounds more weight than was necessary,
but those water breaks efIeCJuaIly can
celed any advantage which might have
been had by coasting. while they ate up
| % per cent more power than would
otherwise have been necessary on the
/ up-grades. 7 am thoroughly converted,
and / am willing 10 show anyone at
any time that this car can. with its fun
| equipment and two passengers, run 70
Baltimore over either route on its own
power