The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-07-02

actment OF this ordinance. II was with
great vigilance and difficulty that
pedestrian managed to cross the in
tersection OF Main and Liberty |
streets. but now a crossing can be
made with q feeling Of safety. Hither-
dren down town upon any business
errand. lest they be run down at some |
OF these crossings by . reckless driver |
OF q machine. I would not. II I could. |
place unnecessary and useless restrie- |
tions upon the drivers OF automobiles, |
but do insist that pedestrians and |
others are entitled TO some consider |
alton. az long 90 the citizens general
" are taxedtto keep up the streets. |
them the pedestrians are entitled TO
sone sort OF protection and should
! not be subjected to the humiliation
and indisnity OF performing the aero
battle stunts OF a man charged by an
African Buffalo. while attempting to
cross the chief thoroughfares Of his
tious remark that the automobile has
diverted the world into two classes.
-'the quick and the dead" Let a pc
destrain undertake to cross Main
street late In the afternoon and ne
will readily understand the grim hu-
NOR OF this remark. He will not pro-
coed far. dodging and jumping. until
he will realize that ne belongs to the
class called quick" but his most Sc
rious reflection will be that he may
at any moment be transferred TO the
other class. called dead" The writ
er does not know just what the speed
limit In the city Is. but unless the city
law allows a greater sped limit than
the State law. the city ordinance with
reference to speed is violated every
day. Tho State law. am advised.
allows no greater speed upon the
public highways than Is miles per
hour. The writer frequently sees
negroes driving machines In the city
limits at a much higher speed. Just
why the owner Of a machine will
trust his machine In the hands OF an
ORDINARY negro servant is rather
etrsnge. II viii be 600 late to star
ar agitation after tho commitment %
y0ruagcdy that shocks the entire COM
mmity. rhe time 10 consider the
matter seriously Is before our hearts
are broken at the wild. frantic
shrieks Of Notwithstanding over
the bruised and >'uanagled remains OF
her dead child-murdered by eek
less driver OF an automobile. The
citizens OF Sumter owe a debt Of
gratitude TO the ely fathers for the
protection Afforded our children In
tho enactment OF this ordinance. The
writer only wishes that the provisions
OF this ordinance were extended to
all the chief crossings throughout the
entire city. All this talk about larger
cities placing no such restrictions up
ON the owners OF machines Is empty
twaddle. These larger cities, which
are cited as an example for Sumter,
are frequently disgraced by a slaugh-
ter OF innocent children by reckless
driving. as every reader OF metro
politan journals can readily attest.
The city OF Sumter Is reiigiously try
ing TO avoid such tragedies and for
such efforts her authorities are en-
titled to the grateful appreciation OF
every citizen. The memebrs OF our
city government don't want such
crimes laid at their door and are to
be commended for their humane, pa
triotic motives and efforts.
There seems to be something about
the automobile which make their
drivers inconsiderate OF the rights
and safety Of others. For example
the State law requires machines to
give the entire road upon public high
ways TO buggies and other vehicles
drawn by horses. and yet a toot from
the whistle OF these monsters OF the
highway seems to be a signal for bug
giles and other vehicles TO hunt a safe
retreat IL In not a question OF Civ
Ing half the road. but IL Is simply u
question of getting out OF the way OF
being run down. IL any man thinks |
the foregoing statement an exagger-
ation' let him attempt to drive into |
the city some Sunday afternoon. when |
all the machines are i'm commission |
for pleasure. There was a time when |
the farmers wife would hitch up the |
family horse and drive into town and |
sell her butter. eggs and vegetables, |