THE CONQUEST OF TIME AND SPACE 



When that idea did make its way, it was very soon 

 put into tangible operation, as everybody knows. 

 And the fact that England made no progress what- 

 ever in this line until the repressive laws were repealed 

 in 1896, whereas France, Germany, and America had 

 leaped far ahead in the meantime, is in itself demon- 

 strative. Moreover, as regards the question of a motor 

 for the automobile, it should not be forgotten that the 

 steam-engine is by no means obsolete. The victories 

 of Mr. Ross' machine at Ormonde in 1905, and of the 

 Stanley steamer in 1906 (a mile in 28^ seconds), show 

 that steam is distinctly a factor, notwithstanding the 

 popularity of the gasoHne engine. The steam motor 

 might have served an admirable purpose until such 

 time as a better power had been developed. 



However, it is futile to dwell on might-have-beens. 

 Let us rather consider for a moment the spectacular 

 development of the automobile with particular refer- 

 ence to its striking capacities as an eliminator of space. 



SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS OF AUTOMOBILE RACING 



A mile in 343- seconds. That is the automobile 

 record established at Ormonde Beach in January, 

 1905. The record mile was made by Mr. H. L. 

 Bowden, of Boston, with a machine of peculiar con- 

 struction. It consisted essentially of two four-cylinder 

 motors adjusted to one machine, giving an engine of 

 120 horse-power. The machine weighed 2,650 pounds, 

 exceeding thus by more than four hundred pounds the 

 usually prescribed limits of weight. The record, there- 



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