threw it out of the race. At that moment, in spite of losses of time, occasioned by the cleaning of gratings and the defective organisation of relays, where water and coke had to be taken on, this vehicle was a score of minutes ahead of M. Levassor's carriage. The first steam road-carriage of M. de Dion was probably, until quite recently, the most rapid in existence. After having undergone some modifications and improvements, it was purchased by M. Michelin, a large manufacturer of pneumatics, and it continued for some time one of the swiftest and most stable in the maintenance of velocity. It weighs a little less than two tons, and with its twelve to fifteen horse-power easily and without strain makes thirty to thirty-eight miles an hour on the level.
Other carriages of Panhard and Levassor and of Peugeot likewise made good records.
The characteristic feature of the race of 1895 is the triumph of petroleum over steam. I gave the signal for departure at Versailles to fifteen petroleum and to six steam vehicles; we noted the return to Paris of eight petroleum vehicles and of one solitary steam carriage. This latter was the heavy omnibus by Bolleé, constructed and run by those able engineers of Mans, who covered the course in spite of numerous break-downs, thanks to extraordinary physical endurance, and to a mechanical skill worthy of their excellent reputation.
The only electric vehicle entered in this race was constructed by M. Jeantaud, the eminent builder, who has since then made a speciality of electric carriages. It was a remarkable piece of machinery, especially for that epoch. But owing to the warping of the axle of one of the front wheels, due to a shock, he could not cover the route swiftly enough to utilise the relays of storage batteries which he held in readiness along the line.
After having distributed the prizes, and made its report as a whole, the committee of the Paris-Bordeaux race, on my proposition, declared itself a permanent organisation, designed to give to the automobile industry a rallying centre and
