The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-01
STEINMETZ FORESEES
ELECTRIC'S STRENGTH
Future of Autonobling Belongs to This Tyre
Says Noted Engineer

The future Of automoblling belongs tt
che electric and for the following rea
son to-day autoinobiirg Is still essen
tisly "A sport anu for this purpose e
most people the gasolene car appears Il
have the advantage Of being capable OF
higher power Of motor, therefore higher
speeds and to go longer distances acioss
the country without requiring charging
stations. since gasolere Vah be bought
now almost everywhere.
You have heard from Cal. Iiailey's talk
that the electric automobile Is equally
capable of long distance touring and that
even to-day YOU can make shift by get
ting charges. and 1t ~ only question
OF organizing q system OF charging sta
tons all over the country TO make the
electric touring car equally copabl" OF
going over long distances and therefore
more suitable for this purpose.
However. Il il not this in which / be-
lieve the main Use Of the automobile lies.
because IA ! said before. II is stil essen
TALLY sporting proposition. Eishtcen
years ago We all thought the bicycle mad
come To stay as an everyday utility. as
"A business conveyance. still II Is banished
for this purpose. we don't go to work
on the bicycle anymore. but use another
conveyance -
IIu, nevertheless tho bicycle is to-day
used Just MS much as IL ever was used but
You use Il where you want TO cover some
distance most conveniently. Vow II -
my opinion that very much OF the present
use OF the automobile by the lawyer 20
70 to his Office. OF by the engineer TO go
10 the factory and back. Is Of the same
class "a the use OF the bicycle eighteen
years ago. II Is the thing to do-every-
body who can afford IT gets an automobile
and runs an automobile,
Driving an engine through the streets
~ tie city is all right FOR sport but 1t is
rot feasible when tho sporting idea is
mixed with everyday occupation. any
more than you drive your own horse ex-
cept for sport though to-day when you
attend any meeting OF people that own
automobiles and begin TO speak about au'
-or,obiie matters they all can intelli-
gently discuss them and they get very
much interested talking about carburetero
md spark plugs and ignition devices and
40 on. just as eighteen years go the same
class OF people were capable and inter-
ested and could rs diligently, when you
mentioned the subject. talk OF chain drive
aud gear and bicycle tires. single tires
and double tires but that is really out
side OF the natural inclination---is a tenn
Yorary condition OF sport.
Now We see already to-day the auto
mobile beginning 10 recede from the sport
ire attitude We see already many people
FRAT can AFFORD Il not taking pleasure in
driving their own car. but having Il chauf-
four drive IT, But the majority OF pcopls
cannot afford Il chauffeur and they must
either abandon the use OF ;he automobile
aitogethcr or drive their own car.
Now 7 believe that the gasolene engine.
wh,le ~ is very simple and very we'll de-
~e!oped and will still be made more simple
n the future, say that I: Is an ensne
which Is not such that the a"erage bus
LAWYER Al .1rnfs Al
who Is not an engineer can handle, car
take care OF and take pleasure Ia taxing
care Of, wnev. they are not, as Il sporting
matter. interested in II. Naturally. when
one Is interested IL an automobile a. a
means OF diversion and sport he can do
snything. bu, the human race IA Il whole
does not keep No such an interest for a
Ions time
Now what wan. 20 draw our at.en-
ton 10 IL the beginning OF this change OF
Che automobile from a sporting PROPOSE
t.on to ID business proposition. from a
sporting pleasure vehicle to BUSINESS
vehicle, not 'he pleasure ~ COINS Itself
but going for business. going TO some
place with a definite ,Sjcet-;.iat that
has already come.
The only car which Will remain in zen
e-al use Is the car which everybody San
fake care Of because & does not require
any care that means -lrcuic aud the
Suture of the automobile IT,, q business
vehicle, az d carriage, Is the electric ID. =
cause Il does not require any special
knoHledge, any care--auyh,dN. any lady
can run IT, Tn" eiectI!, tgtuinob'o ma,
BE- and is capable OF DOM all tnat th,
gasolene car can do. but. ni'ns and gen
hernen b"lic"e that. just rs c.ritecr
years ago We have seen, on =! pleasant
Sunday or holiday, thousands and thou
sands OF bicycles gong al uN"~ IA. lour %
tr,', from New Yorl: and Boston 10 .t!pan..
touring-all have vanished. l!keu -, Nc
viii sec automobiles yoJy largely vaLisn
from touring. Tho auloroo,.. = al very
we'll. but when you wish 10 - 70" hum
drcds of miles the lu'!maT cai - really
more comfortable.
Now II IL all r.gat wn-n you want I,
enjoy nature. People viii always go out
across the country on bicycles, IN auto
mooIies. On motor cycles in norse car
f!aSeS ana 80 on, but they form "A verv
ANAL minority. The long d!s,anc. tour
Ing car "a a temporary ADVANTAGE but In
The flnal development when the automob!
has come 70 b" an everyday afair. a
business proposition and not a sporting
adea, that VIII be matter of secondary
importance
That means with the automobile vehicle
or automobile carriage DEVELOPMENT an
electric carriage FOR everyday use; Il
means We do not need mileage OF 100
miles or so. The everyday use OF the
average man going around towr 70 BUS.
ness or elfewhcra Is from ter 10 twenty
miles day. ard n radius OF ten 10 twenty
or possibly thirty miles VIII cover any
business proposition probably % per cent.
or more. You sec what that rneans--you
can get very small. Hight battery q light
carriage.
Now there are many expensive gasolene
cars used to-day and viii be, but still
with The majority the simple carriage is
what Is needed. True We have the horse
and buggy, put the average man cannot
afford a horse and buggy because Il re-
'speecG made az the Electric Vehicle
Association meeting held at En- gtneeriny
Docfeties building ,Jauu.rr.