Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-09-25
Autom obiIes.


ing to automobiles. For never have the
sacred rights of the people of the whole
State, or for that matter, of any State or
Country that has permitted their use, been
more ruthlessly invaded than by these
vehicles using the public highways. We
do not believe, and have not believed,
that any law passed by any Legislature
giving such permission is constitutional,
or would be so considered by the Supreme
Court of any State. We have noticed
in one or two State papers the remark
that the Register would Danish every
automobile from the State. This has not
urged that automobiles be banished from
the public highways. But it has also
advocated that automobiles be per-
mitted to build their own roads the
same as railroads. This is and has been
our position, and we believe is almost the
universal feeling of the citizens of Yer
mont. Very few, if any, will object to
their building their own roads, if they
want to. And there might be a few
localities where necessity required their
using the public highway for certain
distance, which might be allowed under
careful restrictions; and so in villages OF
cities they might be permitted to use
certain streets and not others. This as
we understand, is the system adopted
at Montreal, and we were recently told
that regulations of this kind had been
adopted by mutual agreement on certain
roads in Boston.
A correct and stringent regulation of
automobiles is unquestionably one of
the things that this Legislature should
attend to. 1t should be on the lines sug-
gested above, and should be absolutely
in the interests, both as to safety and
comfort, of the large majority of the peo-
pie of Vermont; the common people, if
you please, those whose comfort and
pleasure, as well as safety, largely
depend upon their highways. 1t isn't
with them the mere question whether
any particular horse might or might
not be frightened in meeting an au-
tomobile. 1t is well known that
many horses might be frightened at
one time, and not at another, whether
the difference consisted in the differ
ent surroundings, as is undoubtedly
the horse. But for the safety and COM
fort of the people, it is essential that the
highways should be entirely free from
any engine or vehicle which does not be-
long upon them, and cannot possibly be
used upon them without constant serious
accidents and great discomfort.
To show how people in general regard
the use of our highways by automobiles,
we quote from a letter written by a
Cornwall lady to friend and not intend
ed for publication -
cat the time of that auto accident near
Arthur Fields Sam Sheldon and Cush-
ing Hill left the women by the road
and took the man whose leg was broken
to DR.. Porter's. Mrs. Porter and the
Doctors sister, Miss Porter, had just got
into the house from Middlebury, very
much excited, as few feet from home
Miss Porter heard a noise and looking
around, saw an auto coming rapidly be-
hind them. 1t gave no signal, the road
was narrow and great ditch by the side
of the road. Mrs. Porter pulled out her
horse quickly as far as she could, and
not get into the ditch, and the auto
grazed the wheel. and if Miss Porter had
not looked around, they would have been
run over.
Mrs. Porter told Mr.. Sheldon that DR..
Porter was not at home and she did not
know when he would come. Mr.. Hill
suggested that it was the thing for them
TO do to leave the man injured there till
the Doctor came. Mrs. Porter told them
that they had no business to go out on a
pleasure trip and meet all those teams
Fair time. They had no more business
to go on the road than steam engine"
We add a letter from lady in Rutland
county, which accurately portrays the
existing conditions throughout the State.
| Rutland, June 3rd, 1908.
Mr.. Battell:
Dear Sir:-The enclosed clipping is my
excuse for writing you. 1t seems to me
that the people of Vermont must do
| oohiCthihB W supp Vie duUOfuODlieb from
invading our country roads. The great
part of our roads land especially the
State roads) are narrow and high and il
a horse SHES you have no chance only to
be tipped out. And then we all know
what the result is to the horse. l don't
believe many people realize there is any
law unless they have read it in the Stat
utes. Seeing machines go by at so miles
an hour or better would give one an idea
if there was any law it certainly hash t
been enforced.
Now, our farmers wives of Vermont
are kept from attending church, making
social calls, calling on the sick or going
out to do necessary shopping. hear SC
many complaining, saying they hardly
knew what it was to go to a store having
to order their goods from the mail order
houses. Is it just that thousands of us
should be kept in for the pleasure of the
few?
Why are the people of Vermont raising