Orange County observer., 1909-01-07

Tho Auto on Onr Highways.

In an address on Federal Appro-
priations for Road Improvement.
Hon. N ). Bachelder, Master of the
National Grange, at the Good Roads
Convention, Buffalo, n Y, had the
following to say regarding the auto
mobile question:
II 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 and 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 speed dangerous
to all others using these roads. It is
only natural that the farmers. on
whom in most sections of the coun-
try the chief burden of constructing
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
offending parties. For myself may
say that I 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. It Is doubtless
true, as Is often asserted. that
the speed maniacs' constitute q
very small percentage of the total
number of automobile users. am
pleased to know that the abuses COM
planned OF in the earlier years OF the
automobile have to large extent dis
appeared, and trust that through the
influence OF the automobile clubs and
associations there may be brought
about 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.
realize that the motor vehicle
is here to stay, and that it Is factor
that must be taken into consideration
In discussing the Improvement OF our
roads. The question as to how IL
creates new problems OF road main.
tenance and repair must leave to the
expert road makers, and would only
suggest that it Is important that all
the facts relating to the effects Of
automobile traffic on improved roads
should be ascertained before raising
needless alarm over the alleged de-
structive tendencies OF the inflated
rubber tire.
One phase Of the development OF |
the motor vehicle that is of special
interest to the farmers, is the possi-
bilities OF the commercial truck. or
power-operated farm wagon. It |
would seem that here is very large |
held for an industry that will be |
profitable to both the farmers and |
the manufacturers of such vehicles. |
With improved roads the use OF |
motor trucks for the conveyance OF |
farm products to market should be-
come general to all sections of the
country, thus enabling the farmer to
market his crops more quickly and |
1T less expense. I believe that no in
Jury is caused to macadam roads by
these commercial vehicles but on the
contrary their solid rubber tires op-
crate practically as rollers and serve
TO keep such roads in good condi-
ton"