Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-12-02
Autom obiIes and Country Roads

anu
(From Free Press)
"Your recent articles on Automobiles and
Country Roads discusses vexatious and inn
portant matter, something that affects the
country towns much more than is generally
supposed. The average automobile driver,
with his ideas of highway rights is practically
debarring nne-tenths of our people from
reasonably safe use of the country roads. If
his contention is correct and the common
highways are to be employed by steam en-
gines, what is to be done by the great multi
tude who are obliged to do their business or
pleasuring with horses? We are faced by a
condition, not theory.
Unwrtten if not statute law has established
certain regulations that every one must recog-
nize or take the penal consequences. In this
country, teams turn to the right in meeting or
passing; under orderinary circumstances each
team is entitled to half of the the roadways;
recklessly fast driving is liable to punishment.
Scary objects left by the driveway are at the
peril of the leaver. Why all this? That the
general public way be reasonable safe in the
use of the highways.
1t is rare thing for an automobile driver
on country roads to pay the least attention to
giving half the road to horse users Many of
them do not cheek their speed at all. 1t is
for the horseman to go into the ditch or fence
corners. II the automan were compelled by
statute law, backed up by proper penalties, to
give half the road, he would be obliged to
slow down on most country roads or tip over
into the ditch. 1t is the reckless disregard of
courtesies that horse owners almost invariably
show to each other that has aided in bringing
the automobile in country places into such
disrepute. 1t would seem that some day the
question must be settled in the courts, whether
steam engines have equal rights to the common
country highways.
You speak of automobiles or 'horseless
vehicles This is misleading. With quite as
much proprety, five hundred horse power
passenger engine on the Rutland railroad can
be termed a 'horseless vehicle, and why
should it not have the same highway rights as
70 or 90 horse power automobile! The
contention is not against the automobile or its
uses, but where and how it shall be used.
Why are railroads granted certain lines of
travel held to put up signs to ring bells and
blow whistles at crossings? because steam
engines dangerous vehicles even if they
are 'horseless; because the public good and
public safety demands it. Is it proper for me
to exercise my personal likes or whims in the
matter of using the public highways, provided
such likes and whims interfere with the proper
use of others in the same highways? Can
60 into the highway and practice on an airship.
Suppose ! 60 driving with a horse whose
locomoton is stimulated and encouraged by
torpedoes that are constantly thrown in his
rear. Suppose | attach continuance to my
vehicle that let them off at regular intervals
and we go popping through the streets, max
ing less noise by far than 'horseless' vehi-
cle,' but creating an equal panic with every
team | met. How long would | be allowed
to enjoy such an outing undisturbed?
You say in considering this question all
classes can afford to deal fairly and honestly
with the position in which residents along
country roads find themselves Exactly fair
play is what the country residents want and
that is what we have not had thus far, as a
rule. Our contention is this: If the common
highways are to be thrown open tc unusual,
extraordinary uses then the country residents
are entitled to unusual and extraordinary
precautions on the part of the new methods.
Is this asking too much? The new, however
desirable, has no inherent right to deprive the
old OF its proper and safe usages. The burden
of unusual care and precaution rests on the
inventor.
II steam engines are to run at will on the
common highways revolutionizing the usages
and customs OF centuries then the highway
laws must be revolutonized to meet the new
conditions. Courts must make new rulings to
meet them.
Let US bear in mind that the horses OF
country residents are compelled to face not
'horseless vehicles but steam engines"
w. w. HIGBEE
Charlotte, VT. Nov. Fl.
In his letter Mr.. Higbee has very well
outlined the true conditions of this ques-
ton. These conditions are new and it
takes little time to fully comprehend
and understand them. The people of
the country have built system of roads
for horses, or vehicles drawn by horses.
This has been done at great expense and
these roads are kept in condition for use
by large annual outlay, and so far as