Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-19

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over the boulevard. To the owner OF q
car this may not seem important. but tc
these persons who never at aiE other
time enjoy such an outing. II is a red let
ter event. IL is a question who enjoys the
trip more, the riders or the drivers.
Although II may not be generally known
motor clubs impress upon their members
the dangers TO themselves and to pedes.
TRANS from reckless driving. In some sec
tons signs are erected to remind the en-
thusiastic driver that he doesn't own the
road
Many Of the lines OF work carried on by
motor clubs belong properly to the COM
munity to perform. But the community
being indifferent or impoverished, the clubs
have taken the initiative and sometimes
have assumed the entire financial burden.
For instance, there Is no more reason why
motor clubs should erect signs on the
country roads than in the city streets, ex-
cept that county commissioners have never
done such a revolutionary thing, while
city councils always attempt 1t and always
fail. 1t might be well II. in addition TO
marking country roads, motor clubs should
turn their attention to signs for city
streets. The first American city that shall
mark every street on every corner will
be the best advertised municipality In the
land, and every stranger within its gates
will sing its praises for evermore. II would
not be necessary nor just for a few indi-
viduals to pay the cost of such a better
ment, but they could inaugurate the plan
push it through the council and. If a suf-
ficient appropriation is not made, the bal
ance could be collected by private sub
scription Here is an Improvement that
would affect every man, woman and child
resident and nonresident.
Advice on Signs.
In passing, just a word about signs They
should be substantial. II possible, COM
crete post should be used, which is prac-
tically imperishable The signs themselves
should be weather-proof and in plain,
large type. so that he who runs may
read"
What has been said Of signs applies also
to pavements and roads. The authority
should provide them. but since they do
not, little urging and cooperation by
motor clubs will be helpful. The good
roads question. while a most important
one, is subject in itself, and as II is
receiving so much attention nowadays and
Is so popular cause, no argument is
necessary to demonstrate its Importance
to motorists. After a man buys a car
and starts for a country run, he is liable
to receive a shook. While his swift flying
car will assure him he is living in the
twentieth century, he may, for a few min
utes' wonder whether It is not the elgh-
teenth or the early part of the nine
teenth century. He is halted by a man
VINO shouts after him, as though in dis
tress As the stranger doesn't look like
d brlsand or a 'hold-up" man, the tourist
stops, but has difficulty in making ont
what the man wants He repeats some
thing about toll" Now the driver has
read in the books Of long ago about toll
roads and toll gates. but surely the man
cannot refer to them! Wen. after many
questionings, to which only one answer Is
given, pay up" the tourist throws nm
his hands, somewhat cheerfully the first
time, as 1t is new experience But when
he learns that this toll gate is only one of
many and that they are still building them.
his surprise changes to indignation. and
ne 1ongs Tor an opportunity to get even.
Here 1t is; Join motor club and go after
the robbers. OF all the monopolies from
"hich we suffer, there is none other so
Ora]eh ana inexcusable as the tolltaker
Against Toll Roads.
writer In recent magazine article
emitted troubles OF the Automobile
Owner'' wrote ''CoiEeident with the ef-
Tort TO improve the roads is the effort to
aoolsh toll roads. The toll gate is relic
Oh teudalism or something worse Auto
mobile owners are not alone in their onno-
sition to the continuance of this svste,,,
and II more is heard about It now. II is
because the automobile has brought about
such an increase In road traffic. In other
words II is the volume and not the ZONE
that has been changed A very deter
mined effort is TO be made to get rid Of
toll roads everywhere. II Is not only that
the charges are excessive and that only
Tor short distances, near the centers Of
the large population, are they kept I'm any
sort OF repair, but II is also that the
numerous toll gates are Inconvenience
hut more potent than ali is the natural
oisihclnation to pay tribute. There NAV
nave been a time in the past when the
toll road was justified, but II ia d,ffic,,It
to give the imagination latitude epo,,si,
TO conjecture 1t, and It Is more than
likely their existence is due to negligence
OF past governments. II this be true their
perpetuance makes the matter even
worse"
better enoSre poor roads and go without
bridges than submit to petty Iarcen, ;,
But by united efforts car owners can "a
cure improvements from constituted
authorities more readily than they wouId
II governed by private monopolies.
80 every automobile owner ought 10 ioin
motor club and lend his influence m
numbering the interests OF his FELLOW,
members which are identical with his
Saving Money with a Farm Tractor.
Asht motor tractors for all sorts OF farm
work. from blowing In the field to haul
ing load OF hay to market are among
the novel developments in power vehicles
tor Industrial purposes. A net saving OF
more than Si0O month with one OF these
tractors is reported by Andy Clarity OF
indianapolis, who did the same amount ~
work with q three-ton fa-r, ..