Evening star., 1909-09-12
TKEDEFT AUToNfTHD ,5uPT Or f1AcHnrRYAr1H 1HELHEEL

municipal service has been much slower
in the United States than abroad. In
not few American cities the council
men and other dignitaries who have hold
upon the municipal purse strings We're
al the outset somewhat Skeptical about
the new-fangied mode of locomotion.
whereas In other communities there was
insistence that all experimental of
motor cars in municipal work should be
made simply with the regulation form
of runabouts and touring cars-that is,
machines that could readily be disposed of
in the open market if they did not meet
expectations. Gradually, however, as the
novelties have been tried out and proven
entirely successful, there has been
growth of confidence. and now most of
our progressive cities are making appro-
priationS for work vehicles of special
types adapted to their individual needs.
The officials of the District of Columbia,
while keeping closely in touch with prog
ress in this field very wisely waited I'M
til the experimental stage had been pass
ed before approving the motor vehicles
for municipal service. Now, thoroughly
convinced, however, by tests and expert
ments both in Washington and elsewhere.
there has been inaugurated a permanent
and definite policy that looks to the ulti-
mate displacement Of horse-drarwn vehicles
by motor cars in all branches of the
District government, where speed or
transit is an important consideration.
There is now ready for service In WASH
ington d motor patrol wagon that will
doubtless be the forerunner of others.
The water department Of the District is
using a motor repair truck that Is CIV
ing a good account of itself in responding
to emergency calls.
+ \
The federal government is giving in this
city an object lesson as to the advan-
tages of automobile ambulances that will
doubtless be taken to heart by the man
ayers Of the local hospitals The auto
mail collection car has become fixture
in Washington, and now comes the an
nouncement of the introduction OF the
propelled fire-fghting apparatus.
Certainly there Is no city in the country
that would seem to offer more nearly
ideal conditions for such vehicles. The
asphalt-paved streets alone are a potent
factor for motor efficiency and equally
favorable is the circumstance that Wash
ington is a comparatively level city, with
relatively few heavy grades.
or all the divisions of the municipal
motor world above enumerated unques-
tionably the most interesting and pic
turesque Is that upon which attention
Is now focused in Washington-namely
that which embraces the different types
of autos specially designed for freight
Ing service. In the eyes of up-to-date
fremen the motor-propelled apparatus
fills long-felt want. The majority of
areas, and not few of them are so hilly
as to test the endurance of the best of
horsefesh; and while these conditions
have heretofore been less apparent in
Washington than in most other communi-
ties the recent growth Of the city in va
riCs1s directions, the current development
of suburban life in the territory adjacent
to Washington and the possible exten-
sion of the District to it's old limits. taxi
ing in Alexandria and adjacent settle
ments, make 1t evident that the time is
at hand when the Capital city needs
fire-hghting apparatus with a greater ra-
dius of action.
All forms of power have been drawn
upon to provide motive force for self-pro-
PEELED fire-fghting apparatus, and today
find in American cities gasoline. elec-
trio and steam motor cars in this serv-
ice, whereas the forms of apparatus en-