Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-12-03

spraying macadam roads the utmost
thought and care. Spraying highways
with such materials after science has
been called to tho aid OF the highway
builder. has . tendency to preserve the
solidity Of the roads and prevent the
formation OF dust; and England has
made such progress In this branch Of
road. study that many miles OF subur-
breeding dust nuisance as the best kept
streets Of the principal cities OF the
world.
so nrfn are the highway scientists In
the demand that these conditions not
first night against the horse has been
taken up by the automobilsts.
FIGHT AGAINST MOTOR CARS =,
When the motor car began to come
into use. the teanling interests OF the
world we're strong. They berated the
automobile IN unmeasurcd terms: said
that 1t wns a menace 20 the public and
to the horse: that It endangered life and
limb; In fact advanced every argument
against 1t that from time immemorial
has been advanced against the advent
Of every great invention OF civilizirg In
huence.
IN the early days Of the American re
public, the pack saddle men fought Bit
terly against the advent OF the wagon.
They declared IT would make possible the
carrying Of heavier loads and the conse-
a,Ent running Of tho packsnddle In
dustry; the wagon men fought the stage
coach on tho theory that II would facili-
hoe nj
work: the stage coach men battled a.
gainst the railroads on the theory that
the running Of steam cars would drive
out the stage coach driver: and each in
turn was forced TO make way.
The fight OF the horse-car men against
the trolley car is remembered by all.
The claim was then made that 20O0. 600
horses would be thrown out of work and
that horse breeders would starve. The
trolley IS well-nigh universal, and yet
more horses arc raised each year than
the year before and they bring better
prices
The horse interests have ever fought
the automobile. There have been thou
sands OF columns Of argument published
against II. ana short-sighted men have
advocated such heavy taxation against
It, that n great and an ever growing In
dustry would have been sadly hampered,
had half the unwise legislation planned
been put into execution.
FIGHTING THE HORSE.
Nov highway experts aided by the
motor car interests and by powerful
association OF London and It's suburbs
have turned Ike the trodden worm and
& a Cd n
The claim they advance is that the
done not by automobilsts but by horses
that II no horses were allowed to drop
organic matter on public thoroughfares,
the dust nuisance would soon be naught
but an unpleasant. memory. They nd
vance tho logical statement that the
nuisance created by hundreds OF thou
sands Of horses is detrimental to public
health and n menace to the pavements,
! and they charge that the continual
| cleansing Of tho streets because OF this
traffic imposes vast and an unjust tax
| upon the citizens.
WHERE AMERICA LEADS.
| II was a source OF great qualification
to the American chairman 10 be frankly
told In both France and England that
this nation has stepped ahead Of botA
those nations in tho testing OF materials
for building macadam roads. Various
experiments conducted by the office o.
public roads have developed the fac
that II "a possible IN road building t,
obtain better bonded surface by mix
ing rocks. such as limestone. with sill
cious rocks. such MS granite or sandstone
IN
tons sent out through the United State
department Of agriculture-had been a
dopted by some Of the British higfwa,
engineers. and whilo IN England Mr.
Page was driven over number OF
Sstretches Of splendid highway built b,
the blending OF such material and wa
commended by those who built them.
! In conjunction with that phase OF high
way construction. Mr.. Page was asket
il II would be possible for his office {,
receive about 100 samples OF the char
acteristic road building rocks OF Grea
Britain and mako laboratory tests o
| them.
CONGRESS DID NOT AGREE.
II was specifically stated IN the officia
invitation sent from France many months
age that the congress at Paris was callet
for the purpose OF discussing the effec
OF automobile traffic upon public high
ways and II deemed detrimental TO de
wise means OF overcoming the effect
Asked what conclusion was reached b,
the congress. Mr.. Page said that auto
mobile traffic and its effect was yer!
thoroughly discussed and that man!
brilliant papers We're presented. ever.
phase OF the question being treated OF
As 1t was impossible 10 arrive at
Unanimous conclusion, the question o
damage done was left for a later deter
mination. IT was the consensus OF epin
ion, however. that automobiles driven q
ordinary rates Of speed are not especial.
harmful TO good highways.
MI Page was especially impressed b,
the laws regulating automobile traffic II
practically all portions Of France AM
England. Unlike tho laws prevailing 1,
nearly every section OF this country
the motor car restrictions of those coun
tries are framed for the purpose OF stop
ping reckless driving and the officer
responsible for their enforcement are no
restricted as are American officials. N
speed limit provisions are incorporate
in the laws OF France or England.
In the Judgment OF an officer. a motto
car driver Is reckless even II proceed!n
at less than eight miles an hour he 1
subject 70 arrest. II on the other ham
he Is proceeding at express speed on
broad thoroughfare free from othe
traffic, and is not endangerins the live
or the property OF others. he Is wei