Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-01-06
$500 gsn as
Hssggsasss sasss;ssssss 80:
Sz ss
INC Auto ON Our Highways.

d.
In an address on Federal Appro'
priations for Road improvement,
Hon. N. J. Bachelor, Master Of the
National Grange, at the Good Roads
Convention, Buffalo, N. Y. had the
following toasay regarding the AUTO
mobile question:
az wish to refer briefly to the
seeming conflict of interests between
the farmers and the owners of motor
vehicles, which has in some districts
given rise to pronounced antagonism
and hostile legislation. That since
the introduction ard general use of
the automobile there have been many
instances of gross disregard by the
drivers of motor vehicles of the pub
lies rights to the use of our high
ways, cannot be denied. The coming
OF the automobile has brought with.
1t the victims Of speed mania, who IN
their mad desire to beat records drive
their high-powered machines along
country roads at a speed dangerous
to all others using these roads. 1t is
only natural that the farmers, on
whom in most sections Of the coun-
try the chief burden Of demonstrating.
and maintaining public roads has
fallen. should resent the violation Of
their rights to use these roads IN
safety, and should have sought to
have severe penalties imposed on the
offer ding parties. For myself I may
say that 1 believe that the attitude
of the farmers toward the automo-
bile was to a large extent justified by
the outrageous conduct of drivers OF
these vehicles. 1t is doubtless
true. as is often asserted, that
the speed maniacs' constitute a
very small percentage Of the total
number Of automobile users. I am
pleased to know that the abuses COM
planned c,f in the earlier years of the
automobile have to a large extent dis
appeared, and trust thatsthrough the
influence of the automobile clubs and
associations there may be brought
about o willingness to respect the
rights of all the people to the use OF
the highways, that will give no oc'
casion for hostility toward the order
ly, reasonable use Of the automobile
'I realize that the motor vehicls
is here to stay, and that it is factor
that must be taken into consideration
in discussing the improvement OF oul
roads. The question as to how il
creates new problems of road main
tenance and repair must leave to tnt
expert road makers, and would onl!
suggest that it is important that al
the facts relating to the effects o
automobile traffic on improved road
should be ascertained before raisin:
needless alarm over the alleged de
structive tendencies Of the inflated
rubber tire.
zone phase of the development o
the motor vehicle that is of specia
interest to the farmers, is the posi-
bilities of the commercial truck, o
power-operated farm wagon. /
would seem that here is q very larg
field for an industry that will b
profitable to both the farmers an
the manufacturers OF such vehicles
With improved roads the use o
motor trucks for the conveyance Q
farm products to market should be
come general to all sections of tn
country, thus enabling the farmer t
market his crops more quickly an
at less expense. I believe that no, il in
jury is caused to macad dan, roads +
these commercial vehicles but on tn
contrary their solid rubber tires OF
crate practically as rollers ant sery
to keep such roads in good condI
tion."