Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-11-25
THE AUTO HERE To STAY.
Opposition to It Rapidly Disappear
ing-Some of the Benefits.
lLe,ciston Jouruat.l

few years ago when the first of the whiz
cars made its appearance on the highways
OF the State, it was thought to be a pas
sing fad. ssIt's like the bicycle" was the
general cry. AL thought it would last a
few years and then wane and die. But the
conditions to-day rather seem to disprove
this. Since that day the fad or craze OF
anything you may wish to call it has con-
etantly grown, and more machines than
ever are now owned here in Maine.
In many portions of the State there are
those who still find fault with the buzz
wagon. They would like to have it banished
from all roads. These people are not IN a
fair-sized minority. 1t is true many horses
are vet afraid of the machines. The same
is true of the locomotive and electric car,
yet no one would think of having the
steam railroads or the electric cars abol-
ished in the State. Because few motor
lists ignore the rights OF others on the
road land streets, is no reason for con-
demning all who have autos.
There are men owning horses, who en-
danger the lives of pedestrians by care
less driving and who give no thought to
the comfort OF others who may be upon
the highways at the same time as they.
These horsemen are in the same class with
the motorist who puts on the high speed
and drives his machine pell-men along
the road regardless of the fact that others
have rights there.
No one, because of these needless horse
men, suggests driving the pleasure rig
from the highway. The time undoubted-
" has come when the auto must be &C.
cepted as having come to stay. 1t is diff
ferent from the bicycle. 1t has useful
place in the world. Things can be done
with it, and every day demonstrates its
utility in some way or other. 1t is good
thing. Like all such it has its disadyant-
ages.
Here in Maine the first records relative
to automobiles were made in 1905. Prior
to that time no special law regulated their
use upon the highways of the State. But
that year, or, more properly speaking,
during 1904, it became apparent that the
automobile had arrived for all time. Other
states had taken steps towards regulating
the use of the machine, and there were
laws to keep the would be scorcher down
TO a moderate rate of speed.
When the legislature of 1905 convened,
an act was introduced providing for the
registration OF autos. This did not have
plain sailing. In both branches Of the
legislature were men who owned machines.
Some of these felt the law was stab at
their rights. In committee the bill was
opposed, and when it got back to the
Senate and House there was a vigorous
protest and number of speeches were
made against the bill, but in the end the
measure became law.
That year, for the first time, automobile
owners were obliged to register their ow-
nership with the secretary of State and
secure license, also number for their
machine, which must be conspicuousIy
displayed. The idea of the number was,
of course, that il they did any damage
there would be means of identifying
them.
In 1905, under the new registration law,
736 licenses were issued. This was in
creased in 1905 by $40, which was eighty
seven less than the preceding year, max
ing total Of ass machines owned in the
State at that time. When the registra-
tion for 1907 was over it was found to be
big year. During the period S53 machines
had been registered, bringing the grand
total up to 2,23S in Maine. But it re-
NAMED for 1908 to be the banner year OF
all. Up to the first of November $50
,rrachipor bod booy rao;storod urhiob rvora
. total registration of 3,198 in the State.
It is very proba BILE that before the end of
the year this number will be slightly in
creased. In addition to this registration
OF private machines, eighty-one dealers
have taken out licenses, making 3,743
licenses issued to operators.
The State receives fee of p for each au-
tomobile license issued and SO for each
dealers license granted. Operators pay q
for their license. In addition to this the
State charges registration fee of = to all
owners OF motor cycles, and $50 OF them
are recorded at the secretary OF States Of
fee, SO that it can be seen there is q con-
siderable revenue to the State from the
automobiles.
ject to the auto because it frightens their
horses do not know of the value the same
despised whix car has been to them in
making it easier to get their crops to
market. That they have is true, never
tAeless. The auto has been one Of the big
factors in the movement for good roads.
The fact that many Of the members Of
the legislature owned and operated ma
chimes influenced them when the meas
ures for Improvement Of highways came
mp, just as it did when the registration
law was before the States Lawmakers.
These men, in their rachines, had come
TO understand the poor condition of
Maine roads. They saw that to make
thsir machines practical, road construc-
tion must change in the State and that
Al work Of the kind must be OF per-
vn~~nnk pa<rvo Thou xuo~a f<,~ %ns Nil