The Bennington Evening Banner

NEW FORD AUTO SOON READY TO END TROLLEYS

Plans to Produce Alcohol from Straw and Vegetables Because Gasoline Supply Is Decreasing.

Detroit, Jan. 27 -- Henry Ford announces his new gasoline driven street car is almost ready, and he is so proud of the contraption that he will let it compete with the Wolverine, the fast train on the Michigan Central Railroad, in a run to Chicago, provided the Michigan Central officials are willing.

The car is now being assembled and will be ready for a demonstration which Mr. Ford plans to make on the Detroit street railway system.

One of the interesting features of the new car is that apparently the motors are to be fitted for operation with alcohol as fuel. This was indicated by Mr. Ford's reply to a question about the statement of Henry L. Doherty that gasoline driven cars could not supplant electric ones, because the world's supply of oil would be exhausted in thirty years.

"I am now making the best fuel my tractors can use out of straw," said Mr. Ford. "I've got an inexhaustible supply of fuel on my farm, over there across the road. I believe the day is coming when we will extract the alcohol out of fruit for fuel and use the rest as food. I'm putting up a $35,000 plant now to manufacture alcohol from straw alone just to show people."

Mr. Ford explained his car, showing a four-cylinder double opposed horizontal motor. The motor will give 75 horsepower and will obviate wasteful pounding of rails. It's mounted on ball bearings throughout.

It's light and compact -- just as compact, in fact, as the present electric motor on street cars and about the same size.

There is a second motor, which will develop 150 horsepower. This is the one which Mr. Ford expects to use in the Michigan Central test. It has an electric starter and an air compressor.

Gasoline or kerosene can be used in both motors.

Leaf springs are used on the trucks which are of the double type. They are so designed as to receive the motor which will be affixed under the floor of the car and controlled from a vestibule in front of the car as electric cars are controlled by motormen now.

The wheels are fitted with ball bearings and roll along with a touch.

Rails and Replace Electric Cars