The Cordova daily times., 1916-08-18
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 MOTOR

After driving dog teams since 1887
 and mushing over Alaskan trails be-
 hind the best huskies in the territory
 from 1897 to the present time, A. A. Allen, known from one end of Alaska
 to the other as "Scotty," will startle
 the denizens of the Arctic circle this
 winter by buzzing around in his new
 Allen Eight" a motor driven sled of
 his own idea, which, carefully crated,
 Is now on it's way to Nome. "Scotty"
 Allen had the power sled bug for
 many years, and in 1902 aroused the
 mirth of his companion by fitting up
 bicycle rigged sled that would travel over smooth ice if conditions were right. He used propeller to drive it, but could not get enough power from one pair of legs.
 Then Scotty was selected by the French government to bring over some 1 trained sled dogs to use in the noun tain warfare and while in that coun- try studied the war aeroplanes close ly, finding that they had power to i spare. He then conceived the plan of using one of these modern gas engines in specially built sleigh. and after his return to America went at once to 1 the aeroblane plant of Silas Christof- 1 ferson at Oakland and set to work to build his idea in wood and steel and brass.
 Scottv Allen arrived recently from stay of few days in Portland. and is | now in Seattle anxiously waiting until he can get to Nome and unpack his new gas sled and do some speeding as soon as the snow falls and ice forms. Although a dog man noted the country over, Scotty is enthusias- tice over his invention, and expects to set a few records when conditions are right.
 He tried out his sled on bare earth at Oakland and found that it worked and worked well. It will, of course, do far better on a slippery surface, such as ice or snow.
 While motor sleds are not new, Al len has embodied many new ideas in it's construction, including the plac- ing of the propeller forward. and the use Of ailerons and outriggers at each side to preserve the balance It is fitted to be used as a tractor and should it prove successful can be used to transport freight by means of tow at ordinary sleds behind A speed of sixty miles an hour is expected on snow. and any number of miles per hour on ice. providing he can get a propeller with enough pitch.
 But for all that, on my trial trip I am going to take my best dog team as passengers" he said last night at the Frye "It has happened that even an automobile has had to be hauled | out with horses, and l will take no chances. If the gsled does not prove success I will be disappointed. and if cannot make the run from Valdez to Nome it is failure"
 Mir. Allen does not think that auto sleds will ever eclipse dogs, but pro i bably will take the same place as automobiles with horses He himself is not taking in the sled with any idea of burning up the country with speed on mail contracts, but rather as means of enjoying himself, He pro | bably will enter the all-Alaska sweep stakes with the dog team which he owns in partnership with Mrs. E. B, Darling.
 Scotty was somewhat disappointed as to the sight of Europe during war or submarine he saw on the entire trip was when he got back to New York and saw them in the American harbor
 'I heard more shooting at Quebec when we were waiting to sail for 1 France than did over there" he said They were trying out shells and ] there was plenty of noise"