Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1908-02-01
The Automobile Question.

A great deal of poetlcal prose has
been written about the pleasures of
quiet walks along country roads. The
doors Of the woods, the peaceful scenes,
the clean and vigorous air, all combine
to lead man to higher and better
thoughts. From the city's noise and
dangers to the safety and sweet repose
Of the country roads-reams have
been written about it. But it will
have to be written all over again. 1t
is untrue.
There are no quiet country roads that
are fit to walk on that the automobiles
has not found. The sweet odors of the
woods have been gasollned The clean
air is clouded with dust, and the quiet
and repose are rent with the honk-
honk of the horn and the noisy chug-
thug or the rhythmlcal whir of ma
chlnery.
On the country highway between the
there is little question as to the right
of way. Might makes right, and the
pedestrian who is not quick of ear and
nimbe of foot had better keep to the
woods
This brings us seriously to the auto
mobile question: question that grows
more important every day, question
In which every man, woman and child
who travels in any way is interested.
Probably it will regulate itself in time
but it must be regulated. Everybody
is beginning to realize this. Just at
present automobiles are possessions
mainly of the wealthy classes. Auto
MODELLING is little more than a sport
To own powerful machine and to run
it at top speed are first considerations.
The danger adds to the spice. SO long
as this is so the Monday morning pa
pers of all big cities will continue to
be filled with accounts of people MAIN
ed and killed; so long will parties be
held up by narrow minded officials
who are learning to regard all drivers
of machines as natural enemies to be
pounced on and fined and annoyed
whenever possible.
Public highways are maintained by
public taxation for ordinary traffic.
Automobiles that go at the rate OF
from thirty to sixty miles an hour not
only are menace to other vehicles,
but do great damage to ordinary roads.
People responsible for the maintenance
of the roads have a reasonable griev-
ance against the use to which this
class of autombillsts put them
What shall the remedy be? Separate
roads for automobiles maintained by
the automobiliSts themselves and upon
which there are no limits as to speed
would relieve the public highways and
no doubt kill off great many of the
speed fiends. killing is not to be light
ly advocated, but In this case the kill
ing would be confined to one class and
would doubtless add zest to the sport.
The most reasonable hope, however,
is that the automobile will cease to be
the mere playthng of the rich and be-
come a sensible and safe means of To-
comoton for the many. When the
manufacturers really begin to regard
economy and safety instead Of speed
and elegance as first considerations
perhaps something may ensue along
thiS line. While they can dispose of
ears for vast sums and while those
who have the craze will tolerate moth
ing but the fastest and the best, there
is little chance that the manufacturers
will depart from their present prac.
tees. What few straws there are,
however, indicate that the automobile
question will be settled practically as
the bicycle question was. The automo-
| bile will cease to be fad and become
a utility. Then matters will adjust
| themselves and life will be worth more
to the average person whether he walks
or rides.