Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-01-11
FRIDAY, JANUARY IL, 1907.

1t will be seen by the following ar
ticle from the Boston Journal of Janu-
airy 2, 1907, as has been suggested re-
peatedly by articles in The Register,
that the occupation of the highways by
automobiles is equally as much nui-
sance in the city as in the country, al
though, of course, not as dangerous
where roads are wide and smooth as
where they are narrow and more or
less turnpiked We understand that
very recently there has been introduced
into the Chamber of Deputies of France
a very drastic measure for the regulation
of automobiles upon the highways of
that country, among other things limit
ing their speed to ~ miles an hour on
country roads, and to eight miles an hour
in villages and cities, with very severe
punishment including for first offence
both fine and imprisonment and still Sc
verer penalties for a second offense.
Hitherto, as is well known, France
has been the favorite resort of auto
mobilists; but it is evident from the
introduction of this measure that
from experience they find that they
cannot be permitted to use the highways
at all, except under the most stringent
regulations. Every country is finding
out, or will find out. that this is true.
1t is but one step further to the only
possible solution of the question, that
the automobiles must have their own
roads,
TO BAR AUTOMOBILES FROM COMMON
WEALTH AVENUE.
A social split between the people who
reside on the sunny side and the shady
side of Common wealth avenue is swiftly
rounding into shape over petition
which Is being circulated among the
residents of the north side of the street.
known as the fashionable side, which is
to be presented to the Boston Park Com
missioners, asking them to consider the
ACCESSIBILITY of excluding automobiles
from using the south side of the street
as an auto thoroughfare.
Not long ago similar petition was
sent to the commissioners, asking them
to exclude autos from using the street
at all. This request was refused, and
now the residents wish to prevent autos
from running over the sunny side of the
street j. Murray Forbes is leading The
fight for the sunny side" people, and
Lewis H. Speare is captain general of the
other side.
The people on the so-caled fashion.
able side of the street have several
reasons why they would like to have
automobiles run only on the other side
The main reason given by the leaders
In the search for signers to the petition
is that when out driving the footing OF
auto horns brighten many horses, caus
ing them to run away. They also OBJ
Ject to the trail of gasoline which is
left behind as the automobiles dash by
their carriages.
Those who stay at home object to the
clouds of dust that are thrown up by the
cars, and which during the dry time.
blow into the houses. The people who
wish to walk along the avenue also come
IN with an objection, theirs being thai
the passing cars are a source of fright
and danger. The mothers of children
claim that their offspring cannot play in
the streets without being constantly il
danger.
For hundreds Of other minor reason,
the automobile is not favorite will
many of the society people. Many PEG
pie on the opposite side of the street have
the same objections, and they intend t.
stand up and fight for their rights.
Not long ago the police began to enforce
an eight miles an hour speed limit, but i
Is now claimed that this is not enforced
as 1t should be all the time. A larg,
number of the people would like to ex
clude the automobile from the avenu,