Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-14
HOW ABOUT AUTOS FOR Farm!
Are They Practical for Man Who
Tills the SOil3
DEPENDS ON HIS CIRCUMSTANCES
II He Lives where There Are Good
Road Then Autos UtIIity May
Become vital PROPOSE
tiOn to Him.

Having purchased an auto and run It
over 5000 miles, I can say have had some
experiences, at least. Now as to whether
it is a practical proposition for a farmer
to own an automobile depends so much
on circumstance that 1t is a hard ques-
ton to answer in an offhand way.
one might answer as easily whether IL
is practical for a farmer to put 5000 into
a house to live in when he could get along
with one that cost $1,000 and put the other
$1,000 away, or is it practical for a farmer
to own a nice horse and carriage to drive
when he could get along with the draft
horses and wagon. The $1,000 house has
many advantages and conveniences over
the $1,000 house that make life worth liv-
ing. so has the driving horse and carriage
over the lumber wagon and work team.
And while 1 do not wish to deteriorate
against the usefulness of the horse, for
they rave always been my best crop on
the farm, 1 must say the automobile has a
great many advantages over the horse, in
a country that is suitable for an auto
mobile to run. l should say to the farmer
that lives where most of his driving would
be in a hilly, sandy country, he had better
leave them alone, at least until the road
system has been perfected or the auto i'm
proved more.
To be sure, automobiles will go through
some very bad roads and climb hills that
will surprise one, but it is a hard strain
on them, and It Gosts much more to run
them. Besides, there is no pleasure in
riding when you must be using all your
power to get through. They would wear
- - 81 - - -
so l don't think 1t would be practical for
an ordinary farmer. to own one under
those circumstances
On the other hand, the farmer that lives
where there are reasonably good roads,
even though it be moderately hilly, pro-
viding the hills are hard, then there is a
great deal of enjoyment and satisfaction
in having an automobile, If not economy.
In regard to the cost of running and
upkeep of an auto it depends largely upon
the roads and the man that runs II. Some
men wear out a grain binder in five years;
others make it last ten. In a hilly
country three horses are used on a binder.
but in a level country two horses often do
the same work.
1t is the same with an auto. One man
will run it for all there is in it and an
other will be careful and make it last twice
as long. On the level, hard road It will fly
along at a great speed with one-half the
gasoline that is required on a heavy, hilly
road. My experience was this: Living in
Huron county on a main Travelled road
that goes up through the center of the
thumb to Port Austin and Port Aux
Barques, summer resorts where one
can see autos of all descriptions going by
most any hour of the day, 1 easily caught
the auto fever and purchased a two
cylinder, ten-horsepower runabout, after
a careful study of the different kinds, anG
began operations. Never having had any
experience with gasoline engines. 1 had Il
all to learn, and, like all beginners, had
some reverses. until 1 understood my ma.
chine, but had less trouble than 1 ex.
pected. and 1 can say this much for the
reliability of my auto, that 1 have Away
went where I started for and came bach
again on my own power. I got into a mut
hole once and was about half an hour get
ting out, but would have gone through Il
I had had chains on my wheels. There
have been times after a heavy rain thai
1 use a horse to drive with instead of tax.
ing the auto. 1t is possible, but not always
practical, to run when the roads are slip
perry, especially on clay roads. 1 hav'
never yet known anything about tire
trouble, never had a puncture, although
have made trips as far as 800 miles and
went through four counties, and in on'
place had to run over about ten rods o.
crushed stone that had been drawn into
the road and had not been rolled down. Il
was very sharp, cut the tires some, but