Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-03-26
FRIDAY, MARCH 26. 1909.
HOW THE AUTO is WORKED,
BY FRANK g. BILLINGS, NJ D.


Law at Work" by the ''counsel for the
Massachusetts Automobile Association,
has come to hand. 1t is plea for the
Automobile and Automobiles by a re-
tanned advocate. 1t is one-sided affair,
and fails to tell the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth. One
would think the automobilist the worst
abused of men, whereas the abuse is all
on the other side. The rights of the
public and owners and users of horses |
are not only ignored, but their fears of |
the Auto, are most generally slurred at. |
The general tenor of the article is that
the horse owner is an irrational grumbler
1t is this side of the question which it is
intended to discuss here. The Auto will
be considered not only as general nui-
sance, but as menace to the life, limb
and property of others using the roads of
the State. What the horsepower and
public demand is that the roads shall be
as safe as they were before the advent of
the Auto. Nothing more: Nothing less
ARE THE STRUCTURES ON THE AUTO JUST
The remarks that restrictions to the
General Speed Law were frequently
adopted through the influence of a few
residents who preferred to use horse
drawn vehicles rather than automobiles,
or through the rural element because of
the frightening of their horses, or
through fancied danger by timid men
and women, or by those classes of people
who are the last to recognize the march
of progress" is by no means true or fair
statement of the case.
The dislike of the auto is so general
among horse men, and those using horses,
and the non-automobilized public, that
instead of there being but flew" oppon-
ents the opposition may be said to be
almost general, and increasing in inten-
sity. If there could be referendum"
over the question:
SHALL AUTOS BE BARRED FROM ALL
HIGHWAYS?
there is not particle of doubt that the
automobiles would be completely showed
under by the votes of an indignant and
long. suffering public. Automobiles are
very largely to blame for the antagonism
of horse. owners and USERS as well as the
public, towards II en-. 1t is not only the
reckless driving of autos which Mr.. Hur-
tebis condemns in a very step-mother
fashion, but 1t is general lack of manly
and considerable courtesy and good ''horse
sense" in automobilists in regard to hor-
SEES and the rights of those using them
which causes the trouble. "Rules of the
Road" such as
" Keep to right,
Whoever expects
Securely to travel the road"
which are instructive in every intelligent
horse-man, appear to be almost unknown
to automobilists. No horse-man, with a
grain of common sense would think of
approaching or passing a covered vehicle
from behind, or one driven by woman,
at even the outside limit, fifteen miles
an hour, permitted autos, for fear of
startling the horse, and causing damage
All horse.men of sense turn out long be-
fore they come to an approaching vehi-
Gle. No one but fool, or drunken per-
son, would drive down on an approach
ing team at a 2:20 gait, and then switch
suddenly out under the nose of the horse,
and as suddenly back on passing, often
touching the hind wheel. No real horse.
man acts as if he owned the road, as toe
many automobiles do. 1t is safe to as
sert that but few horse men, or drivers
are without feeling of relief when an
auto has passed them with safety
Maniacs ION the loose used to disturb
the peace of our roads years ago, but
seem to have become an almost extinct
species, so far as the abuse of horses
goes. do not think l have run across
more than one such case during the last
ten years, whereas they were once com
mon, especially on Sundays and holidays
Even speeding horses on the road, except
on speedways, is such a rare sight now
that we can scarcely recall a case MANY
horse-owners have given up their horses
and some have purchased autos, becaus,
of the unpleasantness and danger o.
driving since the auto has become tn,
TERROR OF THE ROAD.
Men have been forced out OF the liver,
stable business, not because their Gus
toners had purchased autos, but becaus'
people who had once hired horses regu
larly, are now afraid to drive, and TIN
stable-man does not dare risk warrant
ing, even apparently the safest horse, a
auto-proof. The auto has ruined all tn
pleasures of driving. 1t is no exaggera
ton to say, that, on the average countr,
road the horse-man is in constant fear o
being either run down or run into