Great interest is taken here in the autocar, or horseless carriage, race from Paris to Marseilles and back, a distance of 1,080 miles, which began yesterday. Forty vehicles of various kinds were entered, among them being two large brakes with seats for six persons. The majority, however, are light carriages of the phaeton type, with seats for 2 or 4 persons. Five tricycles are also taking part in the race. It is noticeable that out of the 40 carriages entered, only 4 are driven by steam. The remaining 36 are all propelled by naphtha or petroleum, as are the five tricycles. "Hlectvicity asa. motive power is entirely. absent. The total distance is divided into ten stages, five on the outward and five on the homeward journey. Each vehicle on arriving-at. the appointed station: is placed in an enclosure where it remains untouched till the following morning. The time occupied-en route is carefully recorded and the rizes are awarded accordingly. Yesterday 7 carriages and 6 tricycles started on the race, and the first to arrive at Auxerre (111 miles), the first halt, was a small petroleum-motor carriage built by M.
lee, This vehicle accomplished the distances in a little over five hours, the average speed being about 21 miles an hour, Twenty-three other competitors arrived at Auxerre during the evening, the others (including all the steam carriages) having "hopelessly broken down on the way. At this rate there will not be many survivors by the time Paris is reached.
25th September.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.