Hvvievy of Rericws, 1112111 



LEADING ARTICLES. 



979 



In exploration its uses are even greater. 

 A recent Arctic expedition has taken alon^ 

 two flying- boats, and these are also beinj^^ 

 considered for the expedition now bein^' 

 fitted up to explore the northern parts of 

 Canada. . . . The Hudson's Bay Com- 

 pany is now negotiating: for flying boats to 

 carry on mail service to distant points in the 

 Hudson Bay district — so far distant that the 

 Christmas mail now reaches them in Marcli 

 of the following year. By this method the 

 time would be reduced to a few days. 



As for life-saving from wrecks, or for 

 service in time of flood or disaster, the 

 peculiar fitness of the machine but needs 



one spectacular demonstration to endear 

 it to the public heart. For the attitude 

 of the public to the aeroplane has al- 

 ways been less one of liking than of a 

 certain fearful fascination, turning 

 sometimes to actual fear as the instru- 

 ment for the death of so many pioneers 

 of progress. But when the same inven- 

 tion shall begin to save lives — as it soon 

 will do — then the public, that has so 

 long given it the tribute of admiration, 

 will award it the meed of affection. 



A WALKING MOTOR-CAR. 



In the " World's Work " James Arm- 

 strong gives particulars of the latest 

 development of motor traction. Since 

 the invention of the Pedrail some ten 

 years ago the design has been modified 

 eight times, so that the latest model 

 represents a very material advance on 

 the original vehicle. The article is illus- 

 trated by photographs showing the vari- 

 ous stages of the invention, and we ex- 

 tract the following description as to its 

 working : — 



Each pedrail places two and three feet on 

 the ground alternately, and the force exerted 

 by the compressed springs is adjusted so 

 that any two feet together can carry the 

 load for which they are designed, while one 

 foot alone would be unable to do so. Conse- 

 quently, when any abnormal load is thrown 

 upon a single foot it merely rises, and the 

 obstruction is passed over without any jolt 

 whatever. When three feet come into play the 

 load still is supported only, without any lift- 

 ing effect whatever, because the springs are 

 incapable of more than a certain definite 

 extension. As a result, road obstacles are 

 absoibed readily, and this constitutes the 

 secret why pedrail motion is accompanied 

 by such an easy gliding motion free from 

 vibration. 



In the forward motion the main slipper 

 travels on the anti-friction roller chain, while 

 at the end where the foot-carrier turns, the 

 latter is lifted bodily by means of a pair of 

 specially designed sprocket-wheels. At the 



other extremity of the machine is a similar 

 pair of sprocket-wheels driven by the motor 

 which impart through the foot-carriers the 

 whole of the driving force to another speci- 

 ally designed chain. Thus the roller chains 

 take no part whatever \n the strains thus set 

 up, their function being exclusively of an 

 anti-friction medium. 



The distribution of the weight in this 

 vehicle constitutes a remarkable feature. 

 Although the tractor weighs ten tons 

 the weight per square inch upon the 

 ground amounts to only 14 lbs., with 

 a load and 7 lbs. m the empty condi- 

 tion. In the case of an ordinary wheeled 

 vehicle of the same weight with eight- 

 inch tyres, with one inch of the peri- 

 phery of each wheel in contact with the 

 ground, the weight per square inch is 

 700 lbs. 



From the operation point of view the 

 economical advantage is completely in 

 favour of the pedrail. The power re- 

 quired to work a pedrail train on the level 

 or over moderate gradients is 60 per 

 cent, less than is necessary to operate an 

 ordinary wheeled train of the same ton- 

 nage. So far as earning capacity is con- 

 cerned the advantage is more pro- 

 nounced, being 1 50 per cent, greater by 

 pedrail than b\ wheel haulage. 



IRELAND AND CIVIL WAR. 



Writing on Home Rule in the " Eng- none in coercing Ulster. Sir Edward 



lish Review," Austin Harrison says: — Carson has made a valiant name for 



There is never any kudos in forcible himself — he is en'Jtled to his reward, 



disciplinary measures ; there will \^ Let him have it, feathers, paint, finery, 



