The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1907-07-25
Manchester, Depot, Vt.
July 20, 1907

ef OF july lo MI. y. HapSood let
ter to Hon. Joseph Battell of
Middlebury, VT, and your COM
ments thereon, in regard to the use
of our highways by owners of auto
mobiles, and it strikes me that both
of you are somewhat 'soff your bas e !"
My position on the question is that
the automobile has come to stay,
and we must make our calculations
accordingly. The autom obilist has
the right to use the highway, SO has
the borseman; but neither have the
right to go at snch speed as to en-
danger the lives of others using the
highway and having the same
rights. Now, man who would
drive horse on the dead run alon g
the highway around sharp turns in
the road, through our villages when
the streets are sometimes filed with
teams and foot passengers should be
arrested and taught lesson that he
would not forget right away. A
person or owner who runs an auto
mobile IN the same reckless way, en-
dangering others in the same de-
gree should have the same medi-
cine. AS Mr.. Hapgood says, ''the
would be powers ought to have
backbone enough to check such nui-
sances.'' Quite large per cent. of
our horses in the country are get
ting used to automobiles in way
just as many horses have been
trained to care little for railroad
trains. And I think the trouble
will grow less and less.
AS to excluding automobiles from
our highways in part, that would be
too arbitrary. We must concede to
our citizens the right to to travel ali
of our public ways. They certainly
have the legal right to own automo-
biles. Our highways should be
widened in many places, the brush
and weeds cut, q would have all
trees that would be desirable as
shade trees, trimmed and left to
beautify) many short curves
Strengthened, in fact use just the
same precautions to avoid collisions
as railroad companies do on their
lines, so that people can see ahead
far enough to be able to make pass
with safety Mr.. Hapgood hints at
remedy which the common people
might apply. True, but Mr. Hap
good knows that instead of reducing
the number of enactments of law
we are prone to add a mountain of
new ones, and L might say useless
ones.
I think. Mr. Editor, you are uu-
just in your surmises that Mr. H%p.
good is ''playing to the galleries
again. / think his stock of public
spirit is above the average among
your people You may find in the
Troy Times the head lines, "Autos
in Crash. One driver is impaled |
on wheel spokes. His death fol-
lows" Hardly a week passes but
we see accounts of death by acct
dents by running automobiles too
fast. The law against speeding au-
tos is violated in this town more
than fifty times day, [ do believe;
but there is another phase to the
question. Mr.. Hapgood is an en-
thusiast on the matter of summer
The larger number of
those who own and run autos are
people who come to our
country towns and villages to take
their outing, and it is for our inter
ests to have them come. 1t seems
to me that they enjoy riding over
our country roads. I think but few
would object. only for the reckless
way some of the drivers run, inso
emily laughing at people who are
INJURED or have horse run away
the rig, etc. Such are not
Welcome. But have noticed many
n coming to the village would
act like gentlemen and show
some consideration for others
':ghts. At the conner of Center
md Elm streets a few evenings
since a reckless driver came along
1t railroad speed, frightened horse
which injured the gentleman who
vas trying to hold it so that he
started Immediately for the hospital
It Boston. I understand the driv-
II had made a bet that the authori-
les would not fine him.
Vermont will welcome all civil and
visitors and we will try to
make it pleasant and desirable for
hem to come annually and share
With us the good things which we
nave in abundance, but those who
nave not good breeding may not ex-
oect very cordial greeting.
Yours truly
Eber l.. Taylor.
Stimulation without Irritation.
That is the watchword. That is what
)rino Laxative Fruit Syrup does.