The sun., 1909-06-27
AUTOS KEEP PFARHERSAVAKE'
so INDIANA RURAL ROADS ARE
BESET WITH TRAPS.

Motoring Made More Dangerous by Means
OF BarbedWire. Deep Ruts and weak.
ened BridgesLThe Honk-Honk Of the
Machines Causes Much Complaint.
INpIANAPoIIs. June 2e.--Automobilinp
In Indiana Is becoming Increasingly dan
gerous. pleasure riding Is on the decrease
and dealers are beginning to complain Of
the effect on the trade.
When autos were new on the country
roads and farmers horses were easily
frightened by them II was supposed that
the prejudice Of the farmers against the
machines would disappear when their
horses became accustomed to the sight;
but the reverse Of this appears to be true.
and drivers OF machines are having more
trouble In the rural districts.
Many automobile parties once drove
out to towns and cities forty or fifty miles
away. got dinner and returned by moon
light, but such excursions have been al
most entirely abandoned through fear Of
accidents caused by bridges purposeiy
weakened, deep ruts In the roads made to
give the drivers trouble and other means
Of annoyance which the farmers have
invented to prevent the use OF the roads
both by night and ~ day. Il many
cases machines have been wrecked and
hundreds Of minor accidents have 90
CURED through what the autoists call
the unreasonable prejudice Of the farm
ing communities.
In one case for more than mile on one
Of the highways pieces Of barbed wire
two or three feet long we're laid at dis
tance Of few fest apart and for more
were stopped BY punctured tires. One
auto picked up four pieces OF wire In
few hundred yards and each made q
puncture In . different wheel.
The most dangerous devices which the
auto owners have had to contend with
are large poles laid aoross the roads.
usually at q sharp turn. and plsnls re-
moved from small bridges or culverts
which bring the machines to q sudden
halt with jar that sometimes throws
the occupants out on the road. Men have
driven over q road In the afternoon and
after nightfall have run into
deep ruts that were not In the road whom
they passed over 1t a few hours before.
They think that the person who thus
tried to wreck their machines saw them
pass nd soon after nightfan purpoeely
made the ruts to wreck their machines.
In many cases farmers living near the
scene OF mishaps have refused to lend
assistance TO peo pie in disabled autos,
even decl lining to let out their horses 10
pull the machines. though asked to name
their own price.
The farmers say that there are two sides
10 the question. They complain that
many OF the automobile parties visit
roadh ouses and are in q hilarious mood
when tn ey return, making the might
with their mirth and the honk.
honk OF their machines. ..-
They say that they work hard during
the day. getting up at A. NJ. and 70
firing by p, NJ. and that they have
earned night Of quiet and rest. Instead
Of getting this they are kept awake. II
they live near public road. by the oease-
less passing OF machines whose occupants
seem TO have no consideration for any
thing except their own pleasure. The
farmers do not admit that they have
tried to harass the autoists, but they do
say that they have no sympathy With than
and II they get into into trouble tney mas
The trouble with the farmers has led
10 tie partial organization Of q company
here whose purpose il to build roads
specially for the use Of automobiles.
The first road to be built will connect
this city and Chicago and agents OF The
are now at work to get right
Of way.
II the scheme is carried out the auto
mobile road will parallel the highway,
but will be far enough away to avoid
the frightening Of horses. The pro-
|ectors believe that such .. road would
pay we'll as autoists would rather pay .
small fee for driving over q road built
specially for machines than to take the
,hanoes OF accidents on roads where
The farmers demand legislation that
win do away with some Of the evils that
affeot them and the next Legislature Win
De asked to enact q law that will dx the
ate Of speed on public highways and
llso regulate the blowing Of horns. eape-
,ially at night. The farmers want
,orn within certain distances Of farm
houses unless in case Of neceesity. They
,ay that although the machines carry
headlights that can be seen . mile away,
when two Of them are approaching each
,ther they begin to sound their horns
md keep II up till they have passed each
,ther ON the road:
cams Is minor consideration With them;
hey want sleep after . hard dAy'a work
md they must have 1t. Unfortunately.
hey charge, the autoist seeks his REQ
cation on the summer nights wh0u the
armer's day is the longest and he must
'leep With doors and windows open.