Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-09-27
The Auto Terror.
MI. DESERT, sept. IS, !

80, makes reply necessary to prevent mis-
understanding, for silence under the cir
cumstsnces might give the impression
that the mass of people in the small towns
either favor his view or else are thoroughly
Indifferent about the matter.
He says: AS the owner of an auto |
feel have been bsnefactor to the COM
munity IN getting horses acquainted with
them" And perhaps the kind and cordial
treatment which be has received in these
small towns has led him to think the peo-
pie generally agree with his view.
But judging from what have seen and
heard, I viii say that / think that the
almost universal sentiment is that the
advent of his auto on our roads is any
thing but benefsction. On the contrary,
it is stating the case none too strong TO
say that it Is generally considered as an
unrnitigsted nuisance, because Of the con-
tinual feeling that the dangers Of the road
are greatly increased by it.
This consciousness Of danger is not con-
fined 20 those on the road, but is shared
by their families and friends at home.
know of several examples Of persons at
home who have been anxious and uneasy
for hours in succession, fearing injuries
that might come to an absent member of
their family by meeting an auto. And
there is certainly much cause for such
Hneasiness, for many horses become un-
manageable on meeting one.
1t seems to me that the statement. ssthe
- - ,-ffk 81.
It takes fog granted all that is in dispute.
1t puts its coming as something inevitable,
on q level with tempests, bsd weather or
potato rot, something that canuot be pre-
vented, therefore must be endured. But
IL ia not strange that those who are obliged
TO use these narrow roads do not readily
accept this view Of it. They very natur-
ally ask: 'swhat IL there about its coming
that is SO important or necessary as to
make it inevitabIe2'' -r
The auto Is used by bot few people
comparatively very few. And what claim
have these few on the great public that
they should have the right to bring such
injury. Inconvenience, annoyance and
expense on the whole people OF a COM
naunity?
What do they bring 10 the community
to compensate for sill this damage? The
license fee is a very small Offset, and il is
not strange that people generally, in the
small towns, consider the auto in their
midst as Of no earthly benefit but entirely
against all and every one of their interests.
II is not very comforting 10 them to know
that they are subjected to this affection
simply TO grstify the pleasure OF few
persons who have no special claim on
them. ] say pleasure, because / believe
that is its strongest claim, for do not
think that any one win seriously contend
that its use is a business necessity.
But il is claimed ''that it will be great
factor in bringing about better roads,.
But hows Simply by making wider roads
a necessity. For il the auto is TO frequent
the country roads they must be widened,
and this greater width must be mair-
tanned. And bushes grow into country
roads so rapidly that TO maintain create
width will mean much more tax in com
munities which feel that their taxes are
sufficiently high now; and that such an
increase will be burdensome.
So the claim of helping the public by
bringing about better roads amounts to
about this; The coming of the auto prac-
ticslly obliges communities - already
heavily taxed-to maintain, al their own
expense, roads wider than they need for
any ordinary purpose. But 1t v Ill not be
easy TO convince the Taxpayers OF these
small towns that this is q help to them.
No one doubts that many of the sutoists
viii try to be thoughtful and careful, but
Notwithstanding their best efforts they
win often make trouble for others or
themselves. The conditions are such that
it Is sure TO come, even IL the case Of the
careful. But all viii not have this quality.
For every one who knows anything Of
human nature knows that, as they become
more numerous, they will be in the hands
Of persons who are unthoughtful, selfish,
careless and reckless, driving without any
regard for the safety of themselves or
others.
1t certainly is something fearful to think
what havoc one Of these machines would
make ON country road in the hands Of
some drunken fool. Ii seems to me very
probable that they viii sometimes be in
the hands of just that kind Of persons.
But what is going to be done about it?
II the people of the small towns are deter
mined to keep them out, and unite in
some intelligent course OF action to accom-
plish this end, see no reason why they
may not succeed. But they must under
stand that they have no small task before
them. For the auto people, both owners
and manufacturers, will be before the leg
islative committee with plenty of money
to employ counsel and lobbyists who viii
labor to defeat any and every measure that
will diminish their number or in any way
restrict or eurtsl their freedom Of action.
OF course the tactics Of the autoists viii
be to alIay popular opposition by offering
some law that win put the auto under such
regulations as win seem to render ii safe
and harmless. But this should deceive no