The Newtown bee., 1905-01-06
Mass, passed New Years in town with his brother, Ezra Golden.
THE AUTOMOBILE QUESTION

THE AUTOMOBILE QUESTION.
 Nr Editor: As the subject of auto mobiles being allowed on the public highways is now being discussed sug gestions and facts from various ones may be of use in forming some sort of legislation that will prevent or great ly curtail this nuisance and danger. It is claimed that the public highways are for the use of any and every one and that automobiles cannot be ex- cluded therefrom. The public high ways are for the proper use of all but not for the abuse of any one. If any thing is nuisance or obstruction it must be removed as speedily as possi- ble and if anything is menace and danger both law and justice demand that it be prohibited. A very great majority of the teams in use on the public highways are not driven to ex- ceed speed of more than five miles an hour, many of them less. Eight miles an hour is fast driving yet auto- mobiles are allowed speed of 15 or 20 miles an hour. Suppose some one should attach powerful team of horses to large and unusual vehicle with from two to six persons seated therein and should drive over the country roads at speed of even ten miles an hour, just for pleasure, caring but little for the convenience or safety of any one else and turning aside or not as their own convenience dictated. Does any one suppose thing of this kind would be tolerated. This would not be as great a menace and danger to public safety as are automobiles for the reason that thiS'cOnveyance would in no wise be as liable to frighten other teams as are these automobiles. If any one will drive over portion of the roads in this or any other town for the purpose of taking observations they will find many places some times miles where it is very difficult for con- mon teams to pass each other. Now if people must meet automobiles in these places what can they do. Here is a highly painted and decorated object that is puffing, smoking and emitting unusual and nauSeOuS gases that would frighten any horse at close quarters beyond control. The auto must have the road; it cannot be got out of the way. And what are they for more than pleasure. If the public highways are for all uses for everybody then rail roads and trolley cars have the right more right than automobiles for they are public carriers and are constructed and run for the benefit of all the people. The railroads not only have tracks of their own but are trying to eliminate all dangerous crossings in the country and going overhead in the cities and giving warning of their ap- proach. Trolleys are allowed in the streets of cities as there is no other place to go, but no trolley tracks are laid without charter and the consent of the people and wherever tracks are laid there must be sufficient room for other vehicles to pass and repaSS. Is not this sufficient evidence that the public highways are not for all uSes There is no question but what a law could and should be made to exclude automobiles from narrow country roads and also to limit them to speed of six miles an hour. There is but small chance for persons with teams to pro- tect themselves on common country roads with their many sudden turns, intervening hills, high banks, brush and forests to obscure the view and an hour you are in contact with it be- AO1N JOu oiC o" Ol . Ol lO' U oCCLuo be the height of satisfaction for these automObilists to rush through the country at high rate of speed. If this was stopped it would be very great factor in preventing this danger and nuisance. The law requires these automobiles to be numbered that they may be known but how is it compiled with. Usually with small figures in obscure places. They should be made to displaylarge, plain figures on both sides and ends.-[ Pro bono Publico
 Closing out sale of Christmas candy at c. I. Leach's.
 Charles I. Leach passed Sunday in Sherman.
 A special sale on corn beef at the market of c. l. Leach.
 English walnuts, two pounds for 25c, at the store of c. I. Leach.
 MT and Mrs James Whaley and | daughter spent New Years with MT and Mrs w. WhitlOck.
 Charles B. Warner spent Tuesday night in Bridgeport, the guest of H. H. Palmer.
 H. A. Palmer spent New Years at his home here.
 Mrs Asa Chapin and children spent | New Years with MT and Mrs G. M. | Proctor in Woodbury:
 Miss Mary K. Warehouse passed the | in New Haven and Bridge port.
 Miss Lottie Robertson of Bridgeport