The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-07-29
THE AUTOS AID TO VERMONT.
1t Is Assisting in Building Permanent
Roads of Gravel.

The automobile, like most innovations,
| il regarded from manifold points OF
view. varying from irreconcilable antag-
onism and hostility. TO mild liberation
| and so on to enthusiastic championship
and slavish misuse. In this connection
as in so many directions people occa-
lsionally go to extremes and are unable
| to see there is more than one side TO this
modern agency of rapid locomotion. 1t
is either all good or all bad in such in
stances, and those who think differently
are numbskulls or Williams OF the deep
est dye.
| III we pause moment and consider
this new factor in civilization from a
sociological point Of view, we shall dis
cover, in the first place, that the in
luenee of the automobile so far as its
champions are concerned is producing in
| Vermont and elsewhere two kinds OF
people. One of these is the road hog,
and you never fail to recognize him, for
he is sure TO make his existence mani
| fest in one or more of many ways. lie
wants most of the road, and takes 1t by
mere weight ard size of car, if no other
means il his. If he collides with another
and smaller car or smashes a team, he
opens his throttle and dashes away,
either in cowardice or british inditfer-
ence, or both, and leaves his victims to
their fate. He usually combines the BIZ
| cycle face with the automobile cycle
hump and the prize fighters mug even
though he may wear a diamond pin with
other togs under his buster to match and
have proxy at the wheel. He is a
reckless scorcher usually and leaves a
trail of dust like a comet. Mark him
well, for he is a disappearing gun in
more senses than one, and both law and
society viii soon eliminate him forever
as public nuisance.
The other class in process of develop
ment by the auto are known for their
genuine spirit OF cameraderie, and are
linked by invisible bonds of common in
terest and sympathy, which level all
ranks of wealth and society and make
for genuine democracy. The gentleness
and thoughtfulness of the nursery in
case of unavoidable accident are COM
bined with good breeding and manners
BETTING the drawing room. Moreover
the auto owner or driver who asks the
stranger in trouble is there anything
can do for youl" answers the question,
"Who is my neighbour" and shows that
after all the whole world is kin.
The more material effects of the adj
vent of the auto are to he found in Wis
ible evidences not only but also in con-
siderations that must be given thought
in order to be appreciated. For example,
when the auto first appeared il was all
the farm wife's life was worth almost 10
start out for a ride with a green horse
and run the risk of meeting a red auto
with green driver Now all hands are
getting accustomed to each other. and it
Is now recognized by most farmers that
the auto was friend in disguise.
Ii required the auto to show the tax
pavers of Vermont they were wasting
money in trying 10 build artificial roads
of crushed stone in host of communi-
ties having an abundance OF good road
gravel which is now recognized as
making the best country roads in the
world u was disco,naging for a time
10 see autos draw the binder from beau
tiful. smooth crushed stone roads, but
we are building highways differently
now ana ohiNE lttHA 1A 1AhtA " A7E AANaN
ing them in a way TO make them resist
both wear aud moisture, the latter the
deadlier of the two.
II i only q few years since some Of ms
were seriously considering the project Of
issuing state bonds for the construction
OF trunk lines Of crushed stone highway
on both sides Of the Green mountains.
I To-day autos arc paying taxes in Yer
mont sggregating $4,000 year, all Of
which IS devoted to the experimenting
Of other and regular highway taxes for
I the improvement Of our roads.
To put the matter in more direct light
light. Nermont's autos to-day are paying
Z rs this si50000 in taxes annually the
E interest that would b. payable on the
enormous Loan Of S3.75000 IN state
bonds bcaring interest Ht z Per CENT.
This revenue viii b increased next year