The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-08-04
REPLY TO "HAYSEED'.
"A City Subscriber" Has Something
to Say in Regard to Automobiling.

liable journal, / would like to reply to
"Hayeeed's' article in yonr issue of yes
terday Speeding Of Hobbies"
1t is true that there are some very
careless drivers of automobiles in this
city, but all are not so, as "Hayseed"
would have the public infer Out of
probably twenty-five drivers in this
city there are at the most three
or four who can be called
reckless and who pay no heed to
teams that take fright nor to the pro-
visions of the laws regulating the driy-
ing of automobiles in this state. These
few are making a bad reputation
for themselves and they are fast becom-
ing known as reckless drivers among
| nearly all vehicle owners. They are a
detriment >to the popularity of the auto
mobile and to those drivers who use
care and consideration for the rights of
others when meeting them on the road
The writer is aware that there is a
great number of horses afraid of the
machines but the same was true only
few years ago with the bicycle
Today where is the horse that SHES at
a bicycle? 1t will only be a ma tier of
a few years and they will also become
accustomed to the auto
But | would say TO the antomobilists
to use every caution when on the road.
be considerable of the rights of others
and the machines will be more popular,
there will be fewer accidents to both ma
chimes and teams, and a better feeling
will result therefrom. Do not drive
your machines faster than the state law
permits. When signalled to stop it is
only the work of moment to not only
stop your machine but also your engine,
thus making the machine entirely noise
less and starting again after such a
team has passed. The writer in ride
of some thirty five or forty miles in the
country recently with one of the chef
feurs who is careful counted seven stops
which the latter made for teams which
either showed fright or whose drivers
had signalled him, not only stopping the
car but shutting off the engine, and in
four of these cases he dismounted and
led the frightened steeds around the ma
chine. These stops did not in the least
spoil the enjoyment of the trip; on
the contrary it made him happy to
think that he could be of assistance to
easily averted. And as he received the
kind thank you from every driver he
had shut down for it made him doubly
happy, knowing that his act was APP
preciated. If there was more of this
done the auto would soon meet with
more favor.
Now wish to say word for the
benefit of the farmer and Others who
drive teams and meet. automobiles on
the road. An automobile has the
same rights and is protected and gov
erned by law while on the public high
ways the same as any other vehicle,
Notwithstanding "Hayseed's" "brainy"
remark to pen them back of
the city hail." etc. In great
many cases the autoiSts are not
so much to blame as are the drivers
of the teams. 1t is the latter, and in
many cases the latter only, who know
what the horses are going to do. They
know whether their teams are afraid of
the auto OF not. The driver of the ma
chine many times has no way of know
ing whether horse is going to take
fright if he is not signalled by the per
son in the other vehicle. The writer
has met many teams on the road that
showed not the slightest sign of fear
until they were directly opposite the ma
chine, then suddenly take fright and
either take to the run, side jump, back
up or have reared straight in the afr In
a case like this the driver of the horse
alone is to blame if he has not sig
nailed the autoist to stop or that his
horse is apt to take fright. If the dIiv
er has given such signal in time for
the auto to stop and the, latter has re
fused to do so (which the few above re-
ferred TO are known to do) there is a
law governing such cases.
As to the farmers refusal to fix up
the roads because of the autos use
thereof and also his cutting Mankato
as his marketing place, as 'Hayseed"
infers, they used the same argument !
ten years ago because city folks rode
bicycles, and now nearly as many bicy- |
cles are to be found in the country as
in the cities, population considered.
There is another phase of the ques-
ton | would like to touch upon slightly: |
Some of the farmers and drivers met
on the road are very consderate and !
courteous. Some are the contrary and
when meeting buggies or vehicles lighter