LAWS.

There is no license required for automobiles used here, except if used for hire or to transport passengers (as cabs or landaus about the city).

I can find no other laws which apply to automobiles in this colony. It is possible that some cities have enacted ordinances on this subject, but I do not know of any. All vehicles here are obliged to carry side lights after nightfall.

I am largely indebted for my information to Mr. H. L. Jenkins, an enterprising American, who is now in the United States buying a stock of automobiles. His firm has introduced nearly all of these goods that have been landed in Cape Town.

AUTOMOBILES IN THE CANARY ISLANDS.

Consul S. Berliner, of Teneriffe, says:

A company is about to be formed here, styled the "Teneriffe Motor Car Company," the object being to introduce a number of motor cars to ply between the different towns in the island. A car to seat 15 passengers will run between Laguna and Orotava, a distance of 20 miles, and a supplementary car will run between Orotava and Icod, a distance of about 15 miles. The time of both will be so arranged as to connect with the electric tramway now running between Santa Cruz and Laguna.

It is hoped that during the summer another car will be included in the service, to run between Santa Cruz and Guimar, a distance of 20 miles.

The roads are adapted for motor cars; they are well and solidly built.

The motor cars will be furnished by the well-known firm of Paris, MM. Panhard & Levassor, the horsepower varying from 7 to 15 and the cost from $2,500 to $3,000.

In my opinion, these cars are heavy and clumsy looking, and I believe an opportunity is here presented for enterprising American firms, for I think there can be little doubt that the service will prove remunerative and will be further extended.

AUTOMOBILE REGULATIONS IN EUROPE.*

AUSTRIA.

Consul-General C. B. Hurst, of Vienna, reports:

The regulations in force at Vienna for the operation of automobiles or motor wheels are very stringent. Only such automobiles or motor wheels may be driven in the public streets as have been officially inspected and approved as to their motor system, transmission of power, brakes, steering apparatus, and safety contrivances. Such approbation is obtained either for the various vehicles singly, or by request of the manufacturer, for a certain type or model after which a number of vehicles is to be constructed. This approbation may be withdrawn for important reasons. The inspection is made. by a commission of experts appointed by the local authorities. Application for these certificates of approbation or permits must contain:

1. Name and residence of the applicant.

2. A technical description, in two copies, of the type or model to be inspected and comprising: (a) General description of the vehicle; (b) motor system; (c) source of power for latter; (d) capacity of motor expressed in horsepower; (e) description of transmission and steering apparatus; (ƒ) number and kind of brake devices, as well as gear of same; (g) description of lighting and signal devices; (h) distance between the wheels, weight of carriage, gauge, width of fellies, covering of fellies, greatest length, breadth, and height of wagon; (i) number and adhesion weight of the braked wheels; (4) in explosive motors, description of igniting and cooling contrivances; (/) in electric motors, description of accumulators and dynamos employed.

3. Two copies of diagram of vehicle, one-fifth natural size, showing motor with transmission, steering, and braking apparatus.

4. Name and residence of manufacturer.

It is on the basis of this technical description and a trial trip of the vehicle in question, or model for a certain type, that the inspecting commission passes judgment and declares the automobile fit or not for public traffic. In the former case, the applicant receives an official certificate of approbation which contains the information asked for under 1, 2, and 4, and also a diagram of the vehicle. If the automobile is one of a certain system, the official number given to the same is added. When approbation is refused, the reasons therefor are officially made known.

*Some of the following reports are in reply to a Department instruction sent at the instance of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, to whom ADVANCE SHEETS have been forwarded.

The manufacturer of the system approved, or his representatives in this country, must, on delivery of the automobile, give the purchaser a copy of the official certificate of approbation containing the manufacturer's running number of the vehicle and certification that it corresponds exactly to the approved type.

Before operating his vehicle, every owner of an automobile must have the official certificate of approbation visaed by the police. authorities. On change of ownership, a like visa is obligatory on the new possessor.

Every automobile-the auto bicycle excepted-must be provided with two strong, independently working brakes, one of which acts directly on the driving wheels. This must be so geared as to render it possible for the driver, after setting the brake, to make the wheels glide. One of the two brakes must be worked by the foot. To secure vehicles from rolling back when ascending a hill, they must be provided with a reliable catch pin which can be worked by the driver while under way; further, on level roads, they must have a reversing contrivance, which makes a slow, backward motion possible. The steering apparatus (handle bar, lever, or wheel), the lever for increasing speed, the movement regulator, signal bell, and other safety devices must all be within easy reach of the driver's seat, so that, while under way, he can give his undivided attention to the road in front of him, and can manage all these parts without averting his eyes. Their arrangement must be so contrived that he can easily locate each, even in the dark, so there may be no danger that, by mistaking one for another, he may run into any peril.

The benzine, petroleum, or gas tanks of automobiles with explosive motors must be constructed of strong material, closed hermetically, and so placed in the vehicle that they are totally isolated from the motor and can not be influenced by its heat development, by the heat of the escaping gases, or the rays of the sun. Accumulators, also, must be so securely built into the vehicle as to make any spilling of acids impossible.

Every automobile and motor wheel must be provided with a distinctly audible signal contrivance. The use of such special signals is prohibited to all other street vehicles. Each motor wheel must have at least one, and each automobile at least two, well-burning signal lamps made of colorless glass. In automobiles, these must mark the side boundaries of the wheels and throw their light so far ahead that the road in front of the driver is visible to a distance of at least 22 yards (20 meters). The driver's view in the direction of movement must not be obstructed by any parts of the vehicle or by passengers.

Each automobile must be able to describe a circle having a radius

of 63 yards (6 meters), and each motor wheel one with a radius of 33 yards (3 meters). Each automobile and motor wheel must display, on a conspicuous part, the name of the manufacturing firm, together with the official number of the type or system and the progressive manufacturing number.

The driver must not leave his automobile or motor wheel before he has stopped his machine and set the brake. He must also take heed that his vehicle is not set into motion by unauthorized persons. The rate of speed in inclosed spaces must not be greater than that of a horse at a good trot. In open places, the speed may be moderately accelerated, but only on level, broad, and straight roads, along which there is little traffic. Speed must be decreased and, if necessary, the automobile or motor wheel be altogether stopped if its approach is seen to frighten horses or other animals, thus giving rise to confusion and accidents. In all busy and narrow streets, around sharp curves, over crossings and bridges, and on inclines, the speed must be reduced to the pace of a foot walker, and increased again only when the driver is certain that it may be done in perfect safety. The warning signal must always be given in time.

Racing by automobiles and motor wheels in the public streets is prohibited, as are also trial trips by types of vehicles not yet approved, unless by special consent of the authorities, the conditions. being fixed in each case.

The owner of an automobile or motor wheel is responsible for his vehicle being managed only by persons fully qualified for this task, and he is answerable for any accident or damages resulting from incapacity, oversight, or recklessness of the driver. The driver must always carry with him the certificate of approbation of the vehicle he is in and, on request, be ready to show it to the police. When the latter make objection to anything about an automobile or a motor wheel, the driver is obliged to stop his machine forthwith.

Any violation, under ordinary conditions, of the above regulations which leads to the injury of any person is treated as a transgression, punishable by imprisonment for from one to six months; if death of the injured person ensues, such violation is treated as a crime, punishable by imprisonment for from six months to one year. Under dangerous conditions, the violation of these regulations, when it leads to injury of a person, is treated as a transgression, punishable by imprisonment for from six months to two years; if death of the injured person ensues, it is treated as a crime, punishable by rigid imprisonment up to three years. When, by violation of said regulations, no damages of any kind have resulted, the fact is nevertheless treated as a transgression, punishable by a fine of from $2 to $20 or imprisonment for from three days to three months.

For freight automobiles, there are the additional regulations that when wagon and load exceed a weight of 6,600 pounds (3,000 kilograms), the wheel fellies must be 4 inches broad; when wagon and load exceed a weight of 9,900 pounds (4,500 kilograms), the fellies must be 6 inches broad. Freight automobiles having a total weight of 16,000 pounds (7,300 kilograms) are, as a rule, not allowed to traverse public streets and roads nor the bridges that occur on the way. Driving over bridges is, moreover, limited to the bearing power of the same, usually recorded on the bridges.

BELGIUM.

The following has been received from Consul-General G. F. Lincoln, at Antwerp:

The following regulations concerning the running of automobiles are in force in Antwerp:

ARTICLE I. It is not permitted to drive automobiles or motor cycles on sidewalks, alleys, avenues, or other portions of public promenades exclusively reserved for pedestrians.

ART. 2. Drivers of automobiles or motor cycles are prohibited from running their machines at a greater speed than that of the ordinary trot of a horse, or from running in circles on public thoroughfares.

At points where the circulation of vehicles is active, their speed must not exceed that of a slow trot.

In narrow streets, at corners, crossroads, and elsewhere, where the traffic is intense, drivers must slacken speed, and in such places not proceed more rapidly than foot passengers.

They must give way to pedestrians and to vehicles for children or invalids.

At corners they must keep off from the sidewalks and, as far as possible, keep the middle of the road.

ART. 3. Drivers of automobiles, motor cycles, and other vehicles, as well as cyclists, must keep to the right for the purpose of leaving sufficient space for the passage of other vehicles.

Drivers of automobiles or motor cycles, when desiring to pass another, must do so on the left. This rule applies as well to ordinary vehicles, horses, and bicycles. ART. 4. At nightfall, automobiles and motor cycles must carry in front and behind a lamp fitted with transparent glass, which must show light on three sides, indicating clearly, in red or black letters, the number of the license prescribed by law.

ART. 5. Drivers must not, under any circumstances, leave their automobiles or motor cycles on the public thoroughfares without a skilled attendant.

ART. 6. Infractions of the foregoing regulations will be punished by police penalties.

Executed at Antwerp, Belgium, May 17, 1900. (Signed)

JAN VAN RYSWYCK,

Mayor-President,