Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-11-08
An AutomohiIe Reseript.


given on another page of this issue.
II means much, and should arouse in
The minds of drivers of motor cars
the necessity for still greater eau
ton, however careful they may be.
The public glamour is wearing away
from the handsome, dashing vehicles
that now dominate our city streets
and country highways. III time the
verdict of the common sense of the
great majority is likely to be pro-
nounced against the whole automobile
army, because of the recklessness, or
rarelessness, or pigheaded needless
ness, or pure cussedness of the few
drivers who are now standing men-
ace TO life and limbs of humanity and
dumb beasts.
I, Already in this, as well as in other
states. the common people, who are
the long suffering court of last re-
sort, are awakening to the fact that
they have been allowing. powerful en-
giues of destruction. operated by
children, fools, incompetents and In
toxicated persons, FREE USE OF
ykE BROAD HIGHWAY. The mar
vel Is that the casualty list is so
small. The restraints have been SO
few and the requirements so Slip
sliDd thai almost anything, man or
monkey, with two dollars could Sc
care permit to open career of ear
mage and destruction. the Lord trusted
to- cate for the rest Of His children.
s1cyefy day. We see high power cars
.,fs tremendous weight and killing abil-
its. go tearing through our business
streets, regardless of laws and or
dtnarccs, at 15st to 80 miles an hour,
rambling on the possibility of hurl-
ine9 some one into Kingdom Come,
Dosscssed of the one fiickering spark
Of Intelligence in the soap grease they
cali .byain. that they must get some
where just a second or two quicker
&i,au some one else could do it. or than
Il. could be safely. sanely, or deeentis
accomplished.
within ten days, while Water
street was under the doctors care,
half its body paralyzed and the other
half undergoing the pains OF congest-
cd traffic, one Of those motor drivers
with the giant intellect of gnat gave
a demonstration of his spasms, oil the
;mportance of his being at both ends OF
the street md in the middle all at
once, and the awful consequences 10
this old world If he failed to come
within a few seconds of accomplish
ing the feat He drove big touring
car in and out, up and down, past
standing electrics. and electrics tha'
were lust stopping, or just startihs'
and. tore, around corners apparently
Under full conviction that any other
vehicle. or pedestrian would oe 80
impressed with the importance OF rap
ia proeress for the Great l Am, that
they would sink into the pavemeh,
or blow away.
He may have been drunk or nc
may have been just plain naturai
horn idiot. for all we know, but we
watched and gasped with others who
saw. and understood the danger 70
aitaxens who might NC passing or get
ting down from electrics or CROSSING
hEn1f,d cars and carriages, particu-
ts<av nrthose persons should be not
unite up to par. mentaly or pissi-
e.aly,. al the moment. ard should ho'
near or see or jump.
s,Ity is such as these that VIII. eVeheu-
ally, cause the limiting OF speed IN
engines. to rate in .consonance wiz"
the laws against fast driving; SO tia'
hove ,;, much the need, or desire on
.,.ay n.,4 of the driver, he viii DE
,,naple 10 get more than1th res'fie'-
cd maximum opt of his car. ina.
a
.:,,,a he a calamity, wouldn't ns
nut il is bound to come, unless soihe
means is found of suppressihs 'he
element of drivers who now oisereo''
the whole brotherhood OF motor Coz
levers. y :,
either limited speed in all makes oi
cars with higher grade ana raw
cor officers of the law, or some Sas'-
- more rigid and exacting reauie,
,n.n,s for those licensed and aio~eo
- operate engines Of death IN 'h'
highway. aa sensi.
, ,,,s.ss..ar owners and automoplio ass'
s.a,,on. arise to the occasion ana TAM
10 sx,,s,nma BY the horns. inc 'ess, 90,
"a, he the penalty when the peop'
,...ou - fuily aroused.