Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-05-08
FEELING AGAINST
AUTOS IS PAST.
Great Change in Sentiment Regarding
Chug Wagons Noted All Over the
Country-Farmers Interested.

Looking backward a few short years
and remembering the hatred that was
manifested against motor cars and their
drivers, one cannot help but marvel
atthe great change that has come over
the general public in regntd to auto
mobiles. The change has been gradual.
but still it is very pronounced.
Three or four years ago the farmers
and villagers used to assume "A most
belligerent attitude toward the auto
mobile and its driver. 1t was not so
mich the man with the hoe as the
man with the pitchfork that we were
In dread of when touring through rural
districts The occasional cross trail
Of broken glass upon the road was not
calculated to inspire us with confidence
In our tires nor We're the shouts and
lmprecatlons that greeted us when we
had to dlsrnount and remove carefully
placed obstacles III the roadway very
pleasing. 5
The stamp OF positive disapproval was
upon the face OF fully 80 per cent of
the people who jeered at us along the
way and am free to admit that at
that time often entertained doubts as
10 whether the rural population would
ever reconcile itself to automobilins
along theaccuntry highways Certainly
Inc hostile demonstrations that We're
frequently made in those days We're
anything but reassuring to the motor
car driver. fi a
But year after year there has been
gradual decrease of what 1 might prop
ery call "motorphobia" and an increas-s
ING interest on the part of the rural
PUBIC in the makes and speeds and
4 other performances OF automobiles.
some farmers have actually ceased to
worry for the safety Of their wandering
4 PCS and poultry and no longer consider
me motor car an "engine of slaugh-
,tr that ought to be blown up or
q burned.
n open hostility has now given way to
a PLAYFUL banter on the part of the coun-
u uS people whenever an accident causes
u breakdown. Good natured chat takes
Z N. me place of the former mutteirngs.
a nAen such halts become necessary now
q eAere Is willingness to assist or rem
q eer aid. and the curious crowds become
n sespiY Interested in the machinery and
n pairs. SO : n,
Il What q contrast between the temper
y y me people then and now! One can
hardly believe it is the same old public
Nat mad hurled all kinds of anthems
s. .afd some even harder nlissiles--at us
II az our speeding wheels converted the
4 aaying or too yenturesome pig into
Il al l,,lmat The farmers used to fire
so,ley after volley of abuse at us-and
owning else they could lay their
"% NY. on at the time
d ,.the rural population of today has
4 b bgssne entirely reconciled to automo-
na a'ld many country people are now
i TTSg ;. and operating them themselves.
q o, as farmers prejudices have heen
n f az. .l and he appreciates at last the
q az. mat the motor car has come to
81 sn,; s, ana that it must necessarily
81 a atiS.seae the horse as means OF
81 os s.,A and easy ansportation. AIare-
81 ~ DE- ne realizes that the popularity
81 .iaa.nnlobiles means the succ S. Of
81 nIe a.sahtic industry which Is giving en-.
81 workers who might otherwise be idle.