New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-13
AUTOMOBILES ON HIGHWAYS.
Relief Demanded by Persons Who Have
to Use Horses for Business or Pleasure.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Will you permit plain farmer to thank you
for the frank and powerful words you have printed
edtorlaly well in letters from other citizens
regarding the automobile outrage?
We in the country cannot understand city condi-
tons. and ought not to make suggestions or give
advice concerning them. The automobile may be
'sll right" In the city; we don't know. But with
in the country 1t is to-day the most intolerable
wrong we have to endure. Something mas got to be
dore. and that soon, to relieve I hope and you
hope. that this Something may be In the form
of orderly law but If that relief is not found then
the incapabes who with power to enact sufficient
law refuse fail to do so win be held finally re-
sponsble for the dlsordery and perhaps violent
measures which surely will be resorted to by
outraged, abused endangered public.
Heaven protect us of these quiet, rural districts
from scenes of riot and lynch law. but, while sin
cerely uttering that prayer it is not to be forgot
ten that legislatures and courts remove all
danger Of such an outcome, and that heaven is not
help themselves.
Night before last, on the main State road cross
ing the mountain ridge which divides NewYo"'
from Massachusetts, a neighbor of mine L
after nightfall in lonely part OF the descent
automobile. his horse frightened into madness
by the monsters binding headlights and roaring
engines, himself thrown out and badly hurt his
vehicle and harness wrecked. and he left there by
the creatures driving the automobile. to be found
BY some chance passer or not, as luck should de-
termine
There is hardly mile OF public highway within
my knowledge which has not been the scene of
accident more or less serious, due to these
devil wagons" No man hereabouts stopping for
FIVE minutes at farmhouse cares TO leave
his horse tied united. by the roadside. He must
drive into the barn or to some other place hidden
from the sight and sound OF these locomotives. one
OF which is likely to pass at any moment. From
the first settling OF the roads in spring till
flies In the fall or winter and most OF my neigh
bors keep our road gatea wide open TO afford pos
sibe refuge for driving past, In case they
should automobile approaching in time
take advantage of the chance to turn in. 1 have
had three different parties of women and children
in my lane at time Of a pleasant Sunday after
noon waiting for a trio OF the snorting. whiZzing,
dust enveloped horse scarers to pass. Two Of the
parties. when the danger had beloved It's way out
OF sight in the distance. turned homeward. relin-
gushing any further attempt at driving from the
fear that they might meet similar danger without
Now, we farmers have to use the highways in
our our Some hs eS a ass mot a ia Of On
mobiles when the automobiles are driven slowly
ing But no horse lives that is of any use either
on the ROAD or behind plough which is not afraid
the rate Of thirty Or fOrI miles an hour and es-
lights snErily adame: swerylns Jumping: plqnslns
through The ey ts9Ior upon him as
him as II they veritable demons from the
he Ting & FAST
farmers must give up using the highways either
automobilists must be forbidden using them solely
oonfronts US and no amount OF theorizing 20
possible rnodus vivendi which might be evolved
to meet other conditions is of the slightest pract
cal interest
Sooner or later in the country II must to
this-that the automobiles shall be driven from
the highways that the horse-using residents
shall be driven from the highways.
There is only possible solution to this di-
Iernma-the highways for the OF the
jority not for the pleasure OF the minority.
II the autoinobsts wish TO drive their engines
over the land for the pleasure OF themselves and
their friends let them be required 10 drive them
ss other locomotives driven, over their
rights OF way. on their own roads. Let them buy
their own rights of way, and grade them and fence
them to suit themselves Just as railroad buys
its right of way and builds its own roadbed; let
them have the right and the power to exclude all
others from using their roads. just as a railroad
has the right and the power to keep teams and
pedestrians off track but forbid them the right
10 nse the highways made and built for horses,
tjst as railroad company is forbidden the right
to the highways OF aHe couhtry TOT us t,acks
the country roads than freight or express trains.
TSe,, re- source of real danger to the rghtfuI
1sers Of those roads freight or express trains.
~ - A. p. HITCHCOCK.
,r.v-I ebanon y. Y. Nov. s. 1904.