The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-08-28
The Aueomoblle ouestlon.

A great deal OF pOetical prose has
been written about the pleasures Oi
quiet walks along country roads. Tht
doors Of the woods. the peaceful scenes |
the clean and vigorous air, all combIOe |
20 lead man To higher and better
thoughts. From the eity's noise and
dangers 70 the safety and sweet reposC
Of the country roads-reams have
been written about It, But II will
have to be written all over again. II
IL untrue.
There are no quiet country roads that
are ne to walk ON that the automobiles
has not found. The sweet odors OF the
woods have been gasoliued. The clean
air IL clouded with dust, and the quiet
and repose are rent with the honk
honk OF the horn and the noisy chug
chug or the FhythmIcal whIr OF ma
chinery.
On the country highway between the
man who wake and the man who rides
there Ia little question aE 20 the right
Of way. Might makes right, and the
pedestrian who Is not quick Of ear and
nlmble Of foot had better keep to the
woods.
This brings us seriously to the auto.
mobile qnestion--a question that grows
more important every day, a question
IN which every man. woman and child
who travels In any way Is Interested
Probably II win regulate itself In time
but II must be regulated. Everybody
Il beginning to realize this Just al
present automobiles are possessions
mainly OF the wealthy classes. Auto
MODELLING Is little more than sport
TO own powerful machine and to run
II at top speed are arst considerations.
The danger adds 10 the spice. So long
as this Il 30 the Monday morning pa
pers Of all big cities will continue 70
be iillcd with accounts of people main
ed and killed; 40 long Will parties be
held up by narrow minded officials
who are learning TO regard all drivers
OF machines as natural enemies TO be
ponnced ON and fined and annoyed
whenever possible.
Public highways are maintained by
public taxation for ordinary traffic
Automobiles that so at the rate of
from thirty 10 sixty miles an hour not
only are a menace 10 other vehicles,
but do great damage TO ordinary roads,
People responsible for the maintenance
Of the roads have reasonable griev'
ance against the use to which this
class Of antomblllsts put them,
What shall the remedy bef Separate
roads for automobiles maintained by
the automobiles themselves and upon
which there are no limits as to speed
would relieve the public highways and
no doubt KIN OF great many Of tbs
speed iiends, killing Is not to be light
~ advocated but In this case the kin
ing would be- confined TO one class and
would doubtless add hest to the sport
The most, reasonable hope. however
IL that the automobile win cease 20 b
the mere playthlng Of the rich aud be
come sensible aud safe means Of 10
comotian Tor the many. When thu
mannf 4cturrrs REALLY begin to regar,
economy and safety instead Of specs
aud elegance us first consideration
perhaps something may ensue aloni
this line. While they can dispose o
cars for vast sums and while thos'
who have the erase viii tolerate moth
Ing but the fastest aud the best. Their
Il little chance that the manufacturer
win depart from their present prac
tlcss What few straws there arS
however. Indicate that the AUTOMOBILE
question wtll bc settled practically a
the klcyvle question was The automo
bile win cease to i've a fad aud becom
utility Then matters viii adjus
themselves aud life win be worth NOR
to the average person whether he walk
or rides
These girls who are establishing tins
t,y,Aes,f.snf ~ Kissing THAR r,szrtter,s m,