The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1909-08-05
GREATER /: MISSISSIPPI
III. E. BLAKESLEE.
Autos on the Public Roads.

article calling for regulations con-
corning the speed of automobiles in
the city and the reckless disregard
of the drivers for the rights and
lives of others who have occasion to
use the streets and thoroughfares.
Jackson is fast becoming an auto
mobile center as we'll as many 9TH
er Mississippi towns, and the speed
attained by many of the cars of
twenty to forty horse power makes
it unsafe to use the streets for driv-
ing or for pedestrians in crossing. A
strict and rigidly enforced regula-
ton is absolutely necessary if the
rights of others is to be respected.
This mania for speed is said to be
disease that grows on the driver
of an auto, the careful and consid-
crate owner in the beginning devel-
oping into a maniac in the desire to
eat up space for his machine as he
grows older in the business 1t has
been combatted by the authorities
various ways and with very poor sue
cess. Men trained for the purpose
of overhauling "speeders" and
mounted on the fastest motorcycles
being one of the most effective
means of catching and Furnishing vi
olators The towns and cities have
been trying years to devise means
of handling the problem that will
eventually be worked out.
There is another phase of this
problem here in Mississippi that re-
quires consideration at this time.
That is, regulation of the auto on
the public roads and conserving the
rights of persons driving or
foot AS the machines become more
numerous in the cities and towns
they will gradually invade the coun-
try round about, especially in those
counties where good roads are be-
ing built. Too many auto drivers
have no respect whatever for the
rights of others upon the roads or
streets, never checking their ma
chimes when they see an animal be-
coming frightened or turning to one
should. The ordinary country horse
seems to have a mortal fear of these
machines and will climb a bank,
tree, telephone pole or anything else
that happens to be handy upon the
approach of one, jeopardizing the
life of anyone that happens to be in
the vehicle.
All automobile owners are not of
this reckless class by any means, but
it is a fact that many are, and for
their benefit, laws Of stringent ma
ture are necessary. The auto has as
much right upon the public high
way as has the surrey with the fam
lily according to our laws, but no
more. The right Of the man behind
the horse must be protected. He was
on the ground first and has a right
to stay there. The auto is here to
stay and the horse must be allowed
to stay also. The law should be just
and equitable to both.
One state has a law against the
use of a machine that has a possible
speed of more than twenty miles
per hour and it does seem that this
is not an unjust law If it were i'm
possible to drive a machine at rate
faster than this there would not be
one-fourth the number of accidents
to others who use the highways or to
occupants of the machines them
selves. A good horse over our roads
rarely ever makes more than ten or
twelve miles per hour and why not
restrict the owner of an automobile
to the rate of the best horse? The
machines are subject to confiscation
and sale for payment of penalties il
found capable of greater speed.
Mounted police are used in many
states to apprehend violators of the
| speed limit, but if on the other hand
test of the machine was required
and a tag issued when it was found
that it could not make more than
the limit, this enormous expense
would he done away with.
A law requiring the owner and
driver of an auto to turn aside and
stop his "buzz-wagon" if it was
seen that horse driven by ladies or
infirm persons was becoming scared,
would be good at least until the
horses over the country had be-
come accustomed to the machines.
There would be a trouble in enforc-
ing such a law because the testfmo-
ny of the occupants Of the auto
would be pitted against the occu-
pants OF the other vehicle and the
] tries would have to determine.
which was worthy of consideration.
Also, it might be necessary to re-
quire the auto to give half the road.
which too many drivers do not want
to do, especially If it be In rough
place.
This is a matter of Importance
for the Mississippi lawmakers to
consider. Some measure was draft
ed at the last session but never In
| troduced. 1t Is to be hoped that a
just and equitable law can be en-
acted that will guarantee to all par
ties concerned their rights on the