Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-12-02

the ROADS III the state OF vermont are
concerned, which is the question under
discussion, nine-tenths certainly and
probably ninty-nine one-hundredths Of
the population are interested in their
legitimate use by horses, and have no
interest whatever in their abuse by
automobiles.
The remaining question is whether the
two uses can be harmonized, and it is
this question which raises any doubt as
to the course to be pursued in legislation.
There is no question whatever as to who
built the roads or what they were built
for, and if the use of these roads by both
horses and steam or gasoline engines
cannot be satisfactorily harmonized-or
rather if their use by the automobiles
cannot be made satisfactory to those
who use them for horses, the automo-
belists should not be permitted to use them
at all, but should be compelled, as in the
case of railroads, to build their own
roads. There is neither hardship or
injustice in this. So that the question
isn't whether those who wish to use
automobiles should have roads, but
whether they should attempt or assume
to monopolize the roads built for other
purposes, and practically both built and
sustained by those who have no interest
whatever in automobiles.
The injustice is in the interference
with the vested rights of the great ma
jority by those who have no rights
whatever in the premises.
But we believe it is very evident that
these two different uses of highways do
not, and cannot, be made to harmonic
with each other. For here the question
isn't whether they might both in GER
tain sense use the highways, but
whether those who own them can con-
tinue to use them with safety and
pleasure, if the automobiles are allowed
to enter and occupy them. If then it is
certain that they cannot be thus used
by both interests with safety and COM
fort, the remedy for the Automobiles is
to make their own roads.
The difficulty in such joint use is, first.
in the appearance of the automobile and
the method by which it is propelled.
Second, the speed with which it is liable,
indeed in many cases certain, to be run;
and third, the certainty, because of the
necessity for their own safety, that the
automobile will constantly occupy more
than the half of the road which would
be occupied by any vehicle drawn by
horses.
These are facts and they are facts
that in their nature are lasting and can
not be altered. The two conditions of
travel will not assimilate any more than
oil and water. They are not made to
assimilate, and therefore if the auto
mobilists wish to use automobiles they
should be obliged-certainly in rural
community where but few wish to use
them, and these largely living out of the
State-to make the roads to use them on.
But if those using these vehicles desire
to further test this question of their joint
use, there should be but one possible way
whereby this might be permitted and
that is that those using the automobiles
should be liable for all damage which
happens from their use. If they wish to
use the roads this is certainly entirely
fair the roads, as we have before re.
marked, having practically been built
and kept in repair by those who neither
use nor want to use automobiles. Let
the legislature pass such a law and the
automobile question will take care OF
itself. The Automobiles will be per
mitted to use the roads, on conditions
that are wholly just, and they wont
use them. They will not use them be.
cause they will not be willing to assume
the risk, knowing full well that at any
time accidents of the most serious char
acter, involving loss of limb and loss OF
life, may happen.
Practically such law will settle the
automobile question and we will have
peace. By all means let it be passed.