Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-11-04

Ss.it'sS aDu Stench nuisance I'll tlie Aut-
onsohiless Other cities suppress Il, but
here, apparently, no effort ismade even
TO mitigate II. Every evening cars run
back aud forth oa our principal resi-
dental steets, emitting volumes a
dense smoke and sickcning stenches
that prevade not only the streets, but
even the residences along their lines Of
progress. In some localities In this
city front porchas are scarcely hahitahle
during certain hours of the evening
because Of this nuisance. Ifthere be no
ordinance on The subject, is there not
abundance of common law ON the sub.
Ject If nuisance To deal with this once
We take It hat no one has right
under the Inv 80 10 use a public high
way. such ~ street, ~ 10 preclude
lnlhers from, The peaceable use and en-
ljoylneut o. IL. Traction engines emit
ting smoke IN dense clouds, though
not otherwise offensive, would not be
permitted to pass at will UP and down
our main thoroughfares; wi y then are
automobile permitted to pervade the
city not only with their smoke nui-
sance, but, in addition to that, with
their smelling fumese
This is simply another OF the many
abuses &C the automohilist that are
ping up the public wrath against
them. Unless they materially and
radically mend Their ways. they can
rely upon 1t that When the legislature
meets the most drastic laws will be
enacted against them, and the innocent
aud those 9ho respect the rights Of the
public apd recognize that the public
has rights which ough, TO be respected
VIII necessarily suffer with the others.
The heavy baud OF penal statutes
will infallibly be invoked aud spilled
TO compel automobiiists to yield some
measure Of respect to and consdera-
ton for the rights, comfor. and safety
Of others.
/ The Chinese, VIC told, call auto
mobiles "devil wagons and at times
it docs seem that some devil of law less
ness dwells in these machines aud
takes possession of their drivers. Even
IN the city, under The very eyes Of the
police, many of these drivers pay but
scant regard 70 law, ordinance, or
regulation IN he country districts
| they practically ray none at all. In
| l,r "a
been rendered wholly unsafe for the
drivers Of other vehicles. Many men
dare not permit their wives or children
to drive on roads frequented by auto
mobiles. Even if the horses do not
take fright, there Is no assurance that
vehicle and occupant will not he run
down by reckless automobiles, who
/ pay no more attention to speed laws,
or the laws Of the road, than to the
phases Of the moon.
This scandal0us and fragrant abuse
o. the public roads by reckless drivers
Of automobiles will necessarily, unless
| it be speedily checked, have serious
effect upon the building Of good roads.
Already we Lave heard residents OF
the country say: "Better had roads
than the curse Of automobiles" This
is a serious matter, aud one that law
abiding automobilists would do we'll
to take under anxious consideration,
and devise some remedy for. The law
less are, Of course, In the minority;
but the public has small opportunity
to discriminate. The bulk Of both
equestrians and edestrians--w neither
il city or couaify-qrc rapidly coming
to look upon the automobile as pub
lie nuisance and public menace.
lnis Is all wrong and necessary.
| The automobiles, as class, should,
as matter Of self-protection, unite 10
| check these abuses aud bling 10 justlc
those guilty Of breaches Of law. The
automobile Is an engine Of immense
utility, as well asan instrument pleas
ure and diversion. II is one of the most
striking and valuable products Of age
singnlariy productive of mechanical
| tlidiNSls. ~ rs sHafHC tiiat tlIb
wonderful product OF genius, aniiH-
strument OF well nigh limitieas pos
siDilities for usefulness. should be per-
vertcd into nuisance and a mau-kill-
err II the au.omobi'isis do not bestir
themselves 10 check these abuses dratic
penal laws Will he enacted that will
necessarily seriously hamper even the
legitimate use of these useful machines.
Richmond News Leader.