davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
DRIVERS SHOULD BE CAREFUL.
safety of the Public Ought Always
to be Considered.

~ ne SbHSiNcFcus
Automobile Editor The Washington Herald:
The speed limit is a question of much
interest 20 the drivers of automobiles,
and 1 am glad The Washington Herald
has taken occasion to furnish some of The
automobile dealers opinions on the mat
ter.
1 believe reckless driving to be directly
responsible for many of the auto acct
dents. and 1 think a car could be driven
safely through some of our streets at the
rate of twenty miles an hour. while on
other streets FIVE or six miles an hour
would be dangerous speed.
Therefore, / really cannot see the ne
cessity Of a speed law, but rather a reck-
less driving law For instance. if a man
should attempt to run a car through a
street crowded with pedestrians and other
vehicles at rate of twelve miles, / be-
lieve he should be held for reckless driv-
ing and fined for the offense.
A person driving an automobile should
at all times be careful at street cross
ings where the traffic is crossing from
one side of the street to the other.
Another thing that should be observed
more strictly by drivers is TO use a low
speed in passing standing cars which are
taking on or letting OF passengers.
l believe in doing everything to pro-
mote the safety Of the public, and if
the auto or wagon driver would in many
cases use a little more judgment or the
pedestrian a little more care, accidents
would be few and a speed limit unneces-
Miller Brothers, Sales Agents for the Fond Car.
sary. C. L MILLER.
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
PUNISH RECKLESS DRIVING.
The Question of Speed Not as Inn
portant as Carefulness.

Automobile Editor The Washington Herald.
AS the laws regarding the driving of
automobiles are at present, it is impos-
sible to enforce them rigidly without in
justice to many motorists. The reason
for this is the varying conditions which
one experiences in driving in different
parts of the city For instance, a speed
Of twenty miles an hour may be perfectly
safe in the residential section. AT the
same time twelve miles an hour may be
unsafe and even dangerous in the busi-
ness streets during the daytime; also
high-powered cars with heavy bodies find
il not only difficult but often impossible
to throttle down to twelve miles an hour
While on high gear. on a street ike Six
teenth street, for instance, il is mani
testify foolish to nave 10 drive such a car
on second speed TO stay within the speed
limit. This IS not only unnecessary. but
is also detrimental TO the mechanism Of
the car. Also, in ascending hills Ike Six
teenth street or Capitol Hill to maintain
speed of twelve miles an hour or less
IS impossible, unless the car is driven on
a low or intermediate gear. I have no
uced cars ascending both of these hills.
and in practically no case has any car
teAiid4A4fu WITHIN the speed limit
The only remedy / see for these condi-
tons is to allow both the driver of the
automobile and the officer on duty a Ger
tain latitude of discretion. Where the
streets are wide and traffic very light a
speed of fifteen to eighteen miles an hour
may be maintained with perfect safety
while. on the other hand. where traffic is
congested II would be necessary to drive
as slow as six to eight miles an hour
even though the law permits twelve. NV
experience has been that the traffic Off
GERS are reasonable human beings, and
their judgment can, as a rule, be relied
on TO distinguish between reckless and
careful driving. And they should be
forced TO warn or arrest any one driving
IN reckless or dangerous manner, no
matter what his speed may be. On the
other hand. II conditions are favorable
they should permit higher rate of speed
than the present ordinance allows.
In this connection, / might state that
the foolish and reckless driver will drive
foolishly and reckiessly. no matter what
the laws may be, while, on the other
hand, the careful man viii maintain a
safe speed, even though there should be
no speed limit
The thing that annoys me most is the
necessity of seeing the traffic ordinances
violated by horse-drawn vehicles, espe-
eially delivery wagons. The drivers of
these vehicles quite frequently drive
faster than twelve miles an hour, and in
a careless and reckless manner. They
do not observe the regulations about
keeping on the right side of the street;
neither are they careful 10 see that their
horses are safely hitehed before leaving
them. ]. r. THOMAS,
United Motor Washington Company.
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
SHOULD AUTO LAW BE AMENDED !?
TWENTY MILES AN HOUR:
VAR. Hendrick Thinks Autos Can Be
Safely Run az This speed.

Automobile Editor The Washington Herald
on making a close examination of the
record of accidents IN which automobiles
have figured in this city during the past
year, / think you will find that In the
majority of cases where persons have
been injured il was not due to fast driv-
ing, but TO carelegsness. l an of the
opinion that there should be a speed law
IN every city, and the limit should not
be IN excess OF twenty miles an hour. l
think that automobile drivers should be
punished for reckless driving where hu-
man life is in peril.
In certain sections Of the business cen
ter a driver OF Il car or other vehicle
cannot exercise too much care 10 pro-
mote the safety OF pedestrians. although
in many accidents the injured ones are
themselves to blame.
After o'clock az night twenty-five
miles an hour would be a safe rate Of
speed on many of our deserted streets
for caSoful and experienced motorists;
but / do not advocate this speed on thor
oughfares where there are many inter
secting streets After all. / think the
matter OF speed is a question that should
appeal to a drivers common-sense tudg-
ment. and not left entirely to persons
who know absolutely nothing about an
automobile or It's operation.
DAVID HENDRICK.
Washington AEtnt for The Thomas F1yez.
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
other Offenders who Ought 20 Have
Police Supervision.


Automobile Editor The Washington Herald.
In reference to the laws OF the District
Of Columbia governing the speed Of auto
mobiles. think that something should be
done to give the local autoists more priv
ileges in driving cars within the limits
of the District than they have at pres
emit An automobile 1 consider to be one
Of the safest conveyanees that has ever
been invented. and laws governing their
operation should not be as strict as those
for horse-darwn vehicles. as an automo-
bile operated at twelve miles an hour
can be stopped much quicker than a
horse driven az the same speed | think
that twenty miles an hour would be a
very safe speed for the operation OF
autos within the city limits, and the
other limits OF speed should be raised In
proportion.
In view of the fact that We have such
wide and weil-paved streets. ] really
think this is a very sensible speed and
do not believe that II the limit we're
raised 10 twenty miles an hour there
would be a greater list OF accidents than
at present / believe a large majority
of the accidents which occur in Wash
ington are due to the negligence Of pedes-
TRANS and the drivers Of other vehicles,
and not 90 the operators Of automobiles.
who are always blamed for all accidents
in which their machines figure. / have
always noticed that the police department
pays little or no attention To the drivers
Of horse-drawn vehicles and TO bicycllsts
who are allowed a great many more priv
iieges on the streets than the operators
of motor cars.
In view of the fact that there are al
ways a large number OF heavily loaded
wagons and other sIo1-moving vehicles on
the principal streets during business
hours, I think IL would be advisable 90
have some law which would compel the
drivers OF this class to keep in closer 10
the curhs than they do at present
have noticed that this class Of drivers
pay little or no attention OF any OF the
traffic laws, and they are very seldom
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
VIEWS OF 81 SKINGGINS.
Wants Abolition of Cold Storage as
National Safeguard.

Auinmoegle Editor The Washington Herald.
My dawter Jennevive bought one OF
them patent washing macheens tother
day. It's one Of them contrivanees that
you kin tern inter a ice cream freezer er
a churn when you amt using It fer eny-
thing else. So when washin' day arroVe
she begun ter wash. and arter terning IL
fer a couple OF hours she opened il up
ter see how white and nice them clothes
were. and when she iookt in she disixiv-
cred about two gallons OF fine vaniller
cream Them new tangled patents dew
beet all IL sum of them canderdates IN
the resent elecshun had had something
of thet mater possibly they would have
maid considerable OF q showing. But
S pose, according TO the Scriptures, We
orter let the ded bury the dead. I'm
willin.
Kongress IN all It's glory. inclOodin
kid gloves and frock Keats, is now
setting on some of the momentus
questions OF the day, an II we look back
inter the past. ] pose thay will be set
tin on 'em fer sum time ter cum, an II
they can't hatch EN- out that way, they'll
send EN- ter cold storage fer indefinite
Incarceration. which win cause the price
Of hot air ter go up beyond reach, Win
all the other things ter eat that the cold
storage grab trust has took away from
the people.
II Congress only parst one law this ses-
sion it wood mean the freedom of the
Amerikin people; and that law should be
the aberlishun OF the cold storage and
the Imprisonment OF every cuss thet runs
one. He Is the sucker thet makes the
cost OF living so high. lie corners evry
thing and won't let il ont till he's good
and reddy. He orter be maid ter eat sum
Of the stuff he's had stored away fer the
larst ten yeres until ne eoodn't look a
chunk or ice in the face Taikin about
the tariff doin' it, Why the tariff is an
inherent of the enormous prices as a
newborn baby is of raisin the price OF
hides So let Congress git bizzy and lay
aside all their differences and cum ter the
aid OF the people who sent 'em thar and
Kin the incubus with one fell swoop. Let
, 'em knock it In the he'd, and while it's
about il, knock in the beds OF the fellers
thet runs 'em
While we live, let us live.
81 sKTNGGINS
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
TRAFFIC SQUAD WANTED.
JOok After Horse-dravn Vehicles ~
Well a1 the Automobiles.

LOok After Horse-drawn Vehicles ss
Well as the Automobiles.
An,osnoblle Editor ms Washington Herald
The traffic regulations IN this city are
enforced 10 a greater extent than IN
any other city / have ever been In so
far as the law pertaining 10 automo-
biles is concerned, and II they were like
wise enforced in cases Of bicyelists and
horse-drawn vehicles there would be few
er accidents and less people injured.
! believe that there should be a speed
business hours OF the day. and do not
think that twenty miles an hour too
great a speed on wide streets. where the
traffic is light In .the more congested
districts a driver should use his own
judgment as To speed. never taking any
chances that would cause accident or inn-
peril life
II occurx To me that so important a city
as Washington should have a traffic
squad OF police such as has Philadelphia
and New York These men are prac-
ticaIly guardians OF those IN vehicles and
those walking. They regulate the traffic
generally and are usually men Of good
judgment and as result they prevent
many accidents.
Automobile building has become such a
scientific process OF motor development
that the machines Of the present day are
perfect IN their mechanism and can be
stopped within q remarkably short dis
lance when going at high rate OF speed.
and considering THIS and other facts.
believe the speed limit should and viii
be increased 70 eighteen OF twenty miles
per hour in the near future
7. 5. JOHNSTON.
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
HoRsE-DRAwN VEHICLES.
Enforce the Traffic Regulations in
Regard 10 Them.


Regard 10 Them.
Automobile Editor The Washington Herald.
think the speed limitation within the
city limits should be increased 70 fifteen
miles an hour and that twenty miles an
hour Is a safe rate of speed in the out
lying districts. although l would favor IT
being twenty-five or thirty miles IL it
became an issue.
AS regards taking of the speed limit
entirely and holding the driver response
Bile I would not be in favor of any such
law, For careful drivers accidents un-
der such a law would be no more fire.
quent, by the Joy rider and reckless
drivers would be constantly in the tolls
OF the law and the safety Of pedestrians
in peril.
After all, no matter what the speed
limit. il is, or ought to be, the aim OF
every one running an automobile to ex-
ercise the best judgment in the crowded
or eongested sections OF the city at all
times. In conclusion. I would also say
that II the traffic laws pertaining TO
horse-drawn vehicles We're more rigidiy
enforced or enforced with the same Sc
verify as are the auto laws, 1 believe
accidents would be fewer.
r. B. SPENCE.
The Popa Auto Company.
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
NOT DUE TO FAST DRIVING.
Manager smith Analyses Character
of Accidents.


Automobile Editor The Washington Herald
In my opinion the present automobile
speed limit should be increased to at least
eighteen or twenty miles an hour.
When / make this statement I do so
after giving the matter great considera-
ton When l say eighteen OF twenty
miles do not mean that a driver should
be permitted to go through the business
section at that rate, for even the present
speed limitation Is too great to be safe
on a crowded thoroughfare
In Washington there are many streets
where it would be perfectly safe for an
experienced auto driver to go at the rate
OF twenty miles at any hour OF the day
or night
About Is per cent of the accidents that
occur are not the result of excessive
speed. but reckless or careless driving.
] think there should be speed limit with
a reckless driving clause, and that a per-
son should use the greatest care when
driving a car through the shopping and
eongested streets, and those who violate
this section of the law should be heav-
lily fined or otherwise punished l also
believe that great many accidents could
be avoided il the police would enforce
the traffic regulation as regards horse
drawn vehicles. K. C. SMITH,
Manager the Overland Washington Company.
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
SPEED LINT FAST ENOUGH.
Sensible Changes Night, However
BE Made sn the Law.

1sE AlAOc 81 asA% -
Autoeaohaie Editor The Washington Herald
In my opinion, the present speed limit
of twelve miles an hour within the city
limits is plenty fast enough during the
business hours on some Of our crowded
thoroughfares. although ] see no reason
why this speed should not be exceeded
on streets where there is little or no
traffic. or why a driver should not use
his own judgment as to his speed after
s or Q o'clock at night.
II occurs TO me that carelessness on
the part of drivers OF carriages and
other horse-drawn vehicles Is directly re-
g9onsible for many of the accidents that
happen daily In Washington for which
autoists are arrested and fned.
I think that II the traffic regulations
were enforced in Washington 10 the same
extent that they are in New York City,
the auto accidents would be few and Tar
between, and that a motor car could be
safely driven on many OF our streets at
the rate of fifteen or twenty miles an
hour. using of course. a sensible speed
IN the shopping districts.
CLARENCE BARNARD.
President the Barnard Motor Car Company.
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11

class of car and being only exceeded BY
NazZaro's European record. The Lozier
grand average for the S54 miles was 723o
miles per hour
Only three times before in the history
OF worlds racing had races ever been
won at better than 20 miles per hour.
once by NaZZaro AZ an average of 742 in
the .Florio Cup event and again by Raz-
FARO in the French grand prize race Of
1857, the last and greatest automobile
race held in Europe. when, with Fiat
racer, he averaged 7061 miles per hour
Recently Bruce Brown, in the Savannah
grand prize. with a I2o-horsepower Benz
racing ear. made an average OF a5
miles per hour
James F. Oyster has purchased Buick
delivery truck from the Buick Motor
Car Company.
After many delays. the Emerson &.
orme Company expect to occupy their
handsome new salesrooms the latter part
Of the coming week. The new location
is 1407 II street
Frank Bowerman. the veteran backstop.
has just returned from a l.i0O-rniie motor
trip to Sidnaw, in the upper peninsula
He pulled up in front of his own door at
Romeo. near Detroit, with the tonneau
OF the car occupied by six dead deer
Five were bucks. and the array OF horns
vas simply bewiidering.
c. II. Raymond, road agent Of the
Chalmers, is in town for few days.
A. L. Westgard. who holds a commits
sion from the Bureau of Publics Roads,
in the Department of Agriculture; Ray
F. Mcnamara, who is driving the tour
Ing car; Mrs. Westgard. and H. c. Drum.
a newspaper representative. reached San
Jose, Cal, yesterday The tourists are
now on the last lap OF their long 1900
mile journey and but a short ride from
their terminus at San Francisco. For
nearly two months they have been map
ping the most feasible route from the
Atlantic 20 the Pacific, have crossed
twelve States. and reached Los Angeles
on November %. They are at present
running from the Southern California
city to the metropolis.
F. c. sibbald. manager Of the Zeu Mo-
tor Car Company who has just returned
TO the city from the convention of Chal-
nlers dealers. which was held in Detroit
says that he is convinced that the busi-
ness prospects for next year are most
excellent 7 believe" he says, that the
business in 1911 cars will be fully equal
to, if not greater than, the business for
l9i0.H
Last Wednesday was the seventy-sixth
anniversary of the birth OF s. T. Fries.
of Altoona, Pa, who lays claim to
being the oldest active motorist in the
State Of Pennsylvania lie Is not only a
motorist. but is skilled In automobile
mechanics The car which he uses is
not a recent model, and when Mr.. Fries
purchased IL five years ago he found that
few repairs were needed lie accord
ingiy dismantled 1t. went over every part
and left each one in proper condition.
Among other things he Strengthened the
crank shaft after falling 10 find any one
to do it for him and. to-day" he said.
my machine, so far as working order Is
concerned. is practically as good as new >
Mr.. Fries had long thought he was one
OF very few aged motorists, bat made
no Investigation and said nothing about
Il until he read in a motor magazine that
c. c. Vandenberg. of Lafayette n. y
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
Views of WeII-knOwn Automobiles Regarding Com
misSiOners' Recommendation.

The automobile law present act OF Congress
formerly police regulation promulgated by the District Commissioners
the jurisdiction transferred back them, and have
recommended in their annual report.
VIII Congress act favoraby on the recommendation?
This question which interesting the automobile public
the present time
There considerable speculation whether Congress will
undertake give careful consideration the ampoant matter of
regulating automobile traffic The present law years
ago. automobile legislation had been perfected experience
that many changes could be advanageous made THE
Caan York State for instance embodes ideas which
untought of few years ago and regarded many respects
model
speed limit but reckless driving severely punished Many people
believe that this is the proper way handle the automobile problem
although sentiment by universal among
bliSs.
The Washington Herald presents this morning the views of we'll
Automobiles relative desired changes in the law Their
opinions viii be read with interest by every of car
well by the general public.
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11
FIFTEEN MILES AN HOUR.
Mr.. GarIock's View of the Speed
Limit for City Streets.

Limit for City Streets.
Automobile Editor The Washington Herald
Fifteen miles an hour is my opinion Of
what the speed limit should be in the
city limits. SO far as taking Off the
speed Limitation at night is concerned, I
really think II would be the cause of
numerous accidents. particularly on dark
streets or on thoroughfares with inter-
secting streets. The great trouble I find
with the present automobile law is the
manner in which it is enforced or, In
other words, / think some persons are
permitted 10 drive their ears faster than
others because they are owned by men
OF influence. This is d fact well known.
and cannot be denied
If a new Jaw compelling all vehicles
to carry lights at night should go into
effect, it would be the means OF pre-
venting a number OF accidents. for on
several occasions I have nearly run into
hoTse-drawn vehicles in streets that are
poorly lighted. Twenty-Five miles an
hour is. TO my way of thinking, safe
rate for the suburban districts.
T. A. GARLOCK
President Imperial Motor Cofnnany,
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11

moIested by the local police officers
While the speed laws IN many of the
larger cities are just about the same AS
those IN washington, they are never en-
forced as they are here, and the drivers
of motor vehicles have many more priv
iieges in larger cities, and in the cities
where the traffic is much more congested.
and where the streets are much narrower
than il Washington.
THDO. BARNES. JE.
Pullman Motor Chr Company.
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11

Fesa he baltimore EVENING sun.
Why Is a DIVORCE always described as
"a beautiful society matron?"
Why Is the absconding cashier a man
81 eAitherte unblemished character"
WAY IL The preacher who receives an
either eall IAN ornament to the pulpit ?''
My Is politician caught In the act
"a man whose personality has won a
host Of ffiends?'
Why is the anonymous man in the
interview invariably zone of the city's
must responsible business men?''
The Washington herald., 1910-12-11

help spread the cheer. The wives and
children OF the employees have joined in
the eheer-giving movement. and have
ns,ded the Offices OF the vice president,
VIII II. Brown, with toys and dolls.
The employees OF the Zell Motor Car
Washington Company held a business
meeting at Eeksteins cafe last Thursday
evonsng, A. :. zeli and +. c. Sibbaid,
executive members OF the firm, were
present and talked on the automobile
situation and prospect for 1911, after
which a collation. was served.