The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-16
Recent Automobile Accidents.

TilE FREQUENCY with which automobile &C.
cidcnts OF fatal or very serious thilactof
are happening Is not to bc attributed 10 introis'
ing carclcssnc,s among automobilists. but rather
10 the fact that the pnstiinc is growing in iNor
and that with a ripid Increase in the number of
automobiles, we must look. as in the ease Of
the bicycle, for an increasing chapter OF acoi.
denis. without implying that what follows has
any special application to the recent nccidcn's
near Tuxedo or on Long Island, we wish to draw
attention to the tact that mere acquaintance
with the management an1 control of an auto.
mobile under normal conditions docs not a,iail;
the owner as an expert under all'round condi'
tions. The mechanical manipulation OF an auto
mobile may he learned by any Intelligent person.
but there are to be considered a thousand and
one contingencies arising from tue accidents OF
wind and weather, the conditions of the road
IA regards its cladcs. surface. curvature, etc.
and also and most important OF all. there arc the
risks which arise from other traffic in city or
country. All these external conditions OF auto.
mobng can only be tariy mastered rs the
result Of lengthy experience. THUS. there is 'hc
most important question Of the condition OF ;hc
road surface as affecting the steering qualities Of
the machine. Unless he has been warned 10
guard against it, or has the good fortune 10 he
an old bicycle rider, the inexperienced artomo.
biiiSt will get into trouble should lie ondcdlor
to make moderately sharp turns on wet asphalt,
or on a hard road covered with mud oil Il thor
Ouehly greasy consistency. III any good make of
autumobilo the question OF the strength OF tic
pats las been 80 thoroughly worked o'.t that
it is probably rare occurrence that accidents
are attributable 20 structural weakness In most
eases they arc probably due to The craze for ~
trcricy high speed which has taken possession rs
il wl< bound TO do, OF the automobile world.
America has crt"'od into the lists OF Coinpeti.
ton for the worlds record in speed, and al
ready We understand that a rIcin. machine ~
the enormous capacity OF i2j horse power AM
a guaranteed speed OF seveuty.tivc miles an hor
j., about to be built. The question arises Whit
i'll the world is 'lc owner going 10 do with this
machine when he gets it. There are no roads
in this country. not even on Long Island, where
such Il speed could be attained. except al cnor.
| inou> risk, and we very much question whether
the tires OF this heavy machine could stand The
side strc-sc, involved in swinging around tho
ends OF a milo trotting track at gait with is
only occasionally reached by the fastest express
his machine o,cr . wide variety of roads. and
| under many conditions # trittr, he should hn
content with a speed Of twelve TO eighteen miles
an hour. and then as he becomes a more peri act
iI,la" oi speed and distance it will be time
enough Tor him to open the Throttle. As mat
tcrs arc now going We arc likely TO have The
same experience with the aut.mohilc as with the
bicycle Unless the restrictions as TO speed arc
imposed accidents will become more frequent rs
the number Of owners increases. Restrictions
hv law arc frequently iIhsomc, and are apt at
times to be unreasonable; hence il is 10 the in.
trrc-t OF auomoliIi>ts Is a body to Noiun-
fairly keep down speed both in town and country
to safe lint.