MOTOR CARS IN PARIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2231, 3 December 1896, Page 49

MOTOR CARS IN PARIS.

Since the Paris-Rouen race In 1891, tho motor car has become an institution on the French roads ; and, above all, in the streets and avenues of the capital. When the tourist remains in the central part of the city or betakes himself to the suburban roads where bicyclists most do congregate, he will hardly pass the day in Paris without hearing the peculiar whirr which announces the approach of the " automobile." The horseless vehicle has decidedly " caught on," and the " Automobile Club " (just opposite Cook's, on tbe Place de l'Opera) bears on its books the names of some of the noblest and richest of the French aristocracy. But though the mass of proprietors of these cars are people of means, their popularisation will quickly follow. Already the big shops — like the Loavre — are testing a few as parcel delivery vans, and two or three firms could be named who have had cars running for years. The most ancient (most striking, perhaps) bears a huge representation of a black cat, and has delivered boots for a shop on the Grand Boulevard ever since Oarnot'e time. Of the cars in France— there are nearly a thousand of them in use now — those driven by gasoline form the immense majority. The steam vehicles built up to. the present are very heavy affairs, though of immense force, and electricity is still in its infancy as a motor power for road carriages. Some sensible and well-drawn-up police regulations authorise the circulation of motor cars in Paris, and up to the present few accidents or complaints have been heard of. Now and then one sees a car proprietor fined for "scorobing" overmuch, or damaging a horsed vehicle by careless or reckless driving, but the absence of anything serious up-to the present has doubtless muoh to do with the popularity of the new means of locomotion. A recent police notioe authorises gasoline

cars to stand on the cab ranks of the French capital; but so far this permission has not been taken advantage of ; though a company for constructing oabs issued prospectuses some months ago, with elaborate figures, to establish that the profit on the new vehicles would be nearly double what could be gained by cab-proprietors using horses. A steam omnibus servioe will probably shortly be established in certain country places where railways do not exist. It is a remarkable faot that some of the leading members of the Automobile Club are great lovers of horses, and have splendid stables; while the Parisian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals subscribes towards the yearly prize f and. As the railway relieved the horse of much heavy work, it is probable that tbe motor car will lessen the number of over-driven cab and omnibus horses, and considerably alleviate the lot of " tbe noblest conquest of man." Daring a recent visit to Paris I looked in on one of the largest makers of the vehicles, who (scenting a passible customer) was anxious to show me their capabilities. Nothing loth (for it was a sunny, breezy day), I passed behind the workshop and mounted on the box-seat of a waggonette, on whioh an old gentleman and lady were already seated. A cbeerf al-looking young fellow, wearing the , blue linen jacket and peaked cap of the French mechanic, jumped up to tbe driver's seat, and lighted the wicks of the burners by elect rioity. A violent throbbing was soon noticeably and the carriage fairly danced on its springs under tbe influence of the fierce little motor. " That will leave off when we stait," said the driver, "en route. " He had turned a steel ' handle, and now palled back a lever. " This regulates tbe Bpeed," said he, and we went quietly along till we came to a wide boulevard. A couple of jerks to the lever, and we flow along at 12 miles an hour. I shouldn't have minded had there been a horse in front, bat the sensation of " being run away with " (the motor was behind the vehicle) was peculiar, and I inquired about the brake. " Oh, we keep to the regulations about that. I can pull you up inside a yard, if you like," said the smiling youth. " You'd ratb.Gr not try while we are going at this speed ? Well, I will take you into a more crowded street, and yon will see how easy it is to guide and stop." In five minutes we were dashing down the ; Rue de Rjme at some strictly illegal speed (seven mites an hour is the police limit inside Paris), and threading our way through the mass of cabs and vehicles that crowd the streets round the Gare St. Laz*re, without anything more startling than a little bard swearing. I acknowledge that the brake power and speed regulation were simply marvellous, but the public evidently have not yet realised this. After a few minutes I could hardly repress a smile to see tbe frantic manner in which pedestrians boited "when they saw our vehicle approaching; whilst they would stroll coolly in front of a huge three-horse omnibus going down bill, full inside and out, which could not possibly have pulled up inside four yards. Cab horses reared sometimes as the uncanny machine passed close in front of their noses ; but it was evident that both drivers and horses are getting used to these cars, just ac they have become used to bicycles. Horses in motion take little notice of tbe gasoline carriage ; but standing by the carb on a cab rank, they sometimes become frightened when they see the new vehicle coming down, apparently straight upon them. We pulled up and turned, wonderfully easily in Eueh a gradient, and entered the Rue de Rocher. " Quite a mountain slope," said the old gentleman.. It was, in fact, about l^in rise in the foot, and though I noticed tbe driver pushed the speed lever to the furthest ratchet, we only ran about five miles an hour. Once up the hill back came the lever again, and we ran slowly over some stone pavement. Regaining the macadam, our speed increased considerably. " I did not see you touoh the lever," said I. , " No," he explained ; " but the roads'make a great difference to us ; we have pneumatic tyres, as you see, and you know, on a bicycle, what a difference the road makes. We were, I suppose, going at 10 miles an hour, when a cab suddenly shot out of a side street (on 'the wrong side of the road, of course ; tbe Paris cabby is incorrigible to rules and regulations) and crossed our path. It waß an awkward shave, but a Bharp jerk of the brake pulled us up inside two yards, and the cab d'lappeared — after the usaal profanity bad been indulged in on both sides. Making all due allowance for perfect machinery, a cool eye and a quick hand are necessary in crowded streets. But the maker assures me " it's no worse than riding a tricycle, once one has tbe confidence of complete control." And I daresay he is right.