Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-05-15
DUMPING THE BUMPS.
Village Regulation Of Automobile
Speed Which Regulates.

Speed Which Regulates.
The little town of Chatham, N. j.,
has adopted the bump plan as means
of defense against automaniacs 1t is
q self-evident fact that these reckless
riders are more TO be dreaded in the
small towns than in the large cities.
In the former there are few or no
policemen and an auto can run down
human being and speed out of the
way before an effective means can be
used to stop him.
Finding that ordinances and warn
ings were of no effect Chatham has
resorted to the plan of constructing
series of bumps" Or ridges across
the main streets along which the autos
must travel. Going at a safe and mod
crate speed the auto, or an ordinary
vehicle, will go over these ridges with
out inconvenience or harm to vehicle
or passengers, but it is different with
one going 40 or 80 miles an hour.
What will happen then is thus briefly
described by local observer: "1rhe
car shot up several feet in the air.
Goggles, hats, a monkey wrench, side
combs, hairpins and other articles flew
in all directions, and the crowd gave
a cheer
We don't blame the crowd little
bit Such an object lesson must have
t;ef1-
to the spectators. They had either
: witnessed or read of the many social
ed accidents caused by reckless speed
= erS and We're delighted to see one of
l them "hoist with his own petard,'
as i, were. In this instance the driver
{ of the machine was going at a rate of
;, speed that he must have known was
y dangerous to those who might be in
the street, but with the usual indif-
a ference of his class he cared nothing
g for the danger to others. If he saw
l. the bump in time to have slowed up
t he probably thought it Of no conse-
9 quence. He is wiser now, though he
g may not be quite as handsome. OF
I. this plan Of defense, the New York
|. Mail remarks:
|. 1t is better than a mere ordinance
I for ordinances do not enforce them
T. selves; it is more humane than Wha
t is called 1.-The Patchogue PLAN" which
a automatic. 1t stops the Scorching au
e to car and smashes it up a bit. L
II makes the punishment fit the crime.
u 1t prevents injustice to law abiding au
d haughtiness and maddening immunity
II of the privileged law-breaker it rem
ders him "a source of innocent merri
t. ment." 1t should make "the merry
t. villager' of light opera "A deadly real
l. ity for he has much to be merry about
II We might indulge in a prediction
l. it would be that this will prove the
k most effective plan that can be adopted
!. to abate a great and growing evil
g The automobile has come to stay
e Their numbers are rapidly increasing
f and as the prices decrease they will
become an almost universal method Of
travel. No one should object to this
or envy those who are able to own
1 them. any more than we should fee
aggrieved at the man who is able tC
q own fine carriage and horses. 1t is q
legitimate use of money and none
|, should srudge the satisfaction the own
: ers derive from it.
Il But while this is true it is also true
> that in too many instances the owner;
of these machines lose sight of every
thing but their own pleasure and con
j venlence. They apparently feel tina
-. they have absolute right of way arr
a that everything and everybody mus
stand aside for them. Especially i
this true in the north and east. whenc
the papers are almost daily bringin
:, accounts of people being injured o
reckless auto speeding. The sma
towns are the greatest sufferers. 10
reasons that We have given. 1t is we
;, il they t9Ee found a way to / ole,
themselves and to punish those wi.
threaten them. Let all own and rid
in autos who can, but let them b
taught respect for the rights and safet
~ of others The hmm is tha thine =