Two Thousand Miles on an Automobile; Being a Desultory Narrative of a Trip Through New England, New York, Canada, and the West

On an AutomobileThe hoodlum A problem.Then, too, no one has ever exhausted the limitless resources of a farmer s wagon-shed.In it you find the accumulations of generations, bits of every conceivable thing, all rusty, of course, and seemingly worthless, but sure to serve your purpose on a pinch, and so acces sible, never locked; just go in and help yourself.Nowadays farmers use and abuse so much complicated machinery, that it is more than likely one could con struct entire an automobile from the odds and ends of a half-dozen farm-yards.All boys and most girls under twelve say, " Tires So far as resiliency is concerned, there is no com parison between the French double-tube tire and the heavy American single tube, the former is far ahead, and is, of course, easily repaired on the road, but it does not seem to stand the severe wear of American roads, and it is very easily punctured.Our highways both in and out of cities are filled with things that cut, and bristle with wire-nails.The heavy American single-tube tire holds out quite well; it gets many deep cuts and takes nails like a pin-cushion, but com paratively few go through.The weight of the tire makes it rather hard riding, very hard, indeed, as compared with a fine Michelin. LuggageThere are many devices for carrying luggage, but for getting a good deal into a small compass there is nothing equal to a big Scotch hold-all.It is water proof to begin with, and holds more than a small steamer-trunk.It can be strapped in or under the machine anywhere.Trunks and hat-boxes may remain with the express companies, always within a few hours call.clothes What to wear is something of a problem.In late autumn and winter fur is absolutely essential to com fort.Even at fifteen or twentv miles an hour the wind On an Automobile TO Hammond it does not matter which route is taken to the Park, the good roads end there.We missed our way, and went eighteen miles to Hammond, over miles of poor pavement and unfinished roads.That was a pull which tried nerves and temper, to find at the end there was another route which involved but a short distance of poor going.It is all being improved, and soon there will be a good road to Hammond.Through Indiana from Hammond to Hobart the road is macadamized and in perfect condition ; we reached Hobart at half-past nine ; no stop was made.At Crocker two pails of water were added to the cool ing tank.At Porter the road was lost for a second time, exasperating.At Chesterton four gallons of gasoline were taken and a quick run made to Burdick. Roads are fairThe roads are now not so good, not bad, but just good country roads, some stretches of gravel, but gen erally clay, with some sand here and there.The coun try is rolling, but no steep hills.A uttie rusty up to this time the machine had required no atten tion, but just beyond Otis, while stopping to inquire the way, we discovered a rusty round nail embedded to the head in the right rear tire.The tire showed no signs of deflation, but on drawing the nail the air followed, showing a puncture.As the nail was scarcely three-quarters of an inch long, not long enough to go clear through and injure the inner coating on the opposite side, it was entirely practical to reinsert and run until it worked out.A very fair On an Automobile must be constructed so as to travel thereon, else it is not adapted to that section of the country.It may be discouraging to the driver for pleasure to find in rainy weather almost bottomless muck and mud on portions of the main travelled highway between New York and Buffalo, but that, for the present, is normal.The manufacturer may regret the condition and wish for better, but he cannot be heard to com plain, and if the machine, with reasonably careful driving, gives out, it is the fault of the maker and not the roads.It follows, therefore, that few troubles can be rightfully attributed to defects in the road, since what are commonly called defects are conditions quite nor mal to the country.

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