The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-06-22
VOX POPULI.
SPEED, SPEEDING AND sPEEDERs
Editor Pensacola Journal.

Editor Pensacola Journal
"Durn Tor Worse) them there orter-
mobubbles" is the predominating
thought of Iowly pedestrians mesnd-
ering through Pensacola's streets.
Certainly there is ample justification
for indulging in remarks prOfane, for
with the paving of streets, with mar
row ribbons of brick and tar, has
: come a craze to go some" with the
| fanatical fast and furious few who
can afford gasolene juggernauts.
1t is about as much as life is worth
for those of us who must go and
come on Shank's Mare to cross the
ten-acTe lot at the intersection OF Pala-
fox and Garden streets. At this point
there are ten turns or corners and
just forty-two different directions In
which car may go and therefore
Flooding Pete or four-year-old Buster,
/ the halt and lame and the corpulens
gent have just one chance in forty
two of getting across and land right.
side-up -with-care.
This point is bad enough. but It
does seem that the Mecca of all ver-
miCulous drivers of chug-chug get-a-
! bouts is the corner of Ninth avenue
and Gadsden street. Here it is that
the Demon of Speed surcharges the
corpuscles of the manipulation of the
steering wheel and he gives the dih-
bledad an extra twist and an extra
turn to the skoodow, causing the
speedometer to run hot and reason
to go out of commission.
There are only Al lit may be 147)
children on these four corners who
fit hither and thither like a shuttle
despite the warnings of worried par
ents. If some of these cars were
equipped with seventeen signal horns
the bareheaded galoots running them
would neglect to sound hoo wha-a-
honk.
There is going to be grounds for
a murder trial sooner or later at this
particular corner. 1t will be a big
price to pay for moments exhilerat-
ing pleasure by some autoist when
| he casts gloom and anguish over
some loving home circle by killing it's
toddling ray of sunshine or manning
its bread-winner.
The acquisition of an auto produces
a peculiar sense of right and wrong
in a person, seeming to develop the
bump of arrogance and intolerance OF
those who must have recourse to d
nickle street car ride to crafty the
human desire to move lively at times.
The remedy? Five and ten dollar
fines in the police court will never
cure it-he who is able to sport a
machine will not balk at a fve-dollar
fine. A Jail sentence, regardless Of
WHO the culprit is, Will be effective
in indelibly stamping upon the intel
leCt of some that mortals in the lower
strata have some rights upon the pub
lie streets. The recorders spectacIes
should disclose to his vision that all
are of the same shape, size and color
when the question of exceeding the
speed limit is up. This Is not writ
ten in vindictive nor envious spirit,
but in the interest of five little Ben
netts' 1.-TWO being twins. please) and
every other walking citizen of this
town. This could be prolonged and
the ultimate result of the constant
dread and necessity of being on the
Qui viye be touched upon. This
speeding has its effects in premature
ly aging mothers and fathers by wor-
ry for children. 1t effects the nerves
of children, which must result in evil
consequences in after life. 1t viii pro-
duCe months of suffering for some,
misery and debt through lost time
sorrow and tears and unnecessary
funerals-a big price to pay for a
measly joy ride. Pensacola in acqur-
ing the Atlanta spirit need not exceed
the speed limit in the bubble" line
S. D. BENNETT, JR.