Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-04

country resident WOulu nave no more
thought or driving to the city with
old Dobbin and the democrat wagon
than coming to town on foot thirteen
years ago.
In 1917. sometime after DR.. c. -.
Cottle imported the hrst one
lunser," there was little sentiment
among country folk against the ana
bolical gas wagons. vi hen old Doll
and Dobin beard the roar and saw a
streak of blue smoke approaching
they often leaped from the harness
and never stopped until they were
in some distant county where the
devil had not as yet got in his work
thru the introduction of the agenc!
OF the automobile.
Fostsred the "Bolshsviki."
The fearless city guy. who cared
nothing for life or limb of himself or
the traveller on the highway. sped
along unmindiul Of the farmer driv-
ing a "skit,ish" mare to town, and
before the smoke had lifted from the
road old Doll had left path OF
broken hen fruit and q trail OF
white where the contents of the milk
cans had been spartered as they
stuck fence posts and burrows. This
sort of thing not only caused thu
abused farmer to sour on the, world
generally and city folk In particular,
but made OF the abutting property
owner, Who spent some of his. time
repairing fences and strengthening
his corn ruws. the then equivalent o.
The modern bolsheviKi.
But New, Ny, Oh, Ny.
That was ir,een years ago. To-
day the same Henry j. Farmer and
his wife, who tumbled out of the
shay whenever dust cloud appeared
in the distant landscape, burn up
their roads in their high powered
motor busses. without a thought Of
old Neighbor Smiths Doll or Dobpin
climbing telephone pole at the
roadside. because DOH and Dobbin
are not on the road today and neigh
Dor Smith just vent by In a new
super Somethingorother, enroute to
Palm ach or Hollywood for thu
week end
Doll and Dobbia We're Clipped beet
half dozen years ago and an iron
horse. driven by young Bill FARMER.
is doing their former work in the
field and not shy ing at every passing
vehicle which is not dependent Oh
genuine horse power for its loco
motion.
But just the same. thirteen year
ago, the d;re de-. auto bug, II ~
had any consideration for other
travellers. pulled his machine to the
side OF the road, alishted and LED
pranciug Doh or Dobbin past the gas
bus and waited until the fractiou,
beasts we're out of hearing distunc
before he started the chug wagon
again. 1t should be kept in MINI
however. that the primitive speed
boat was noisy AFFAIR at bes. ana
Jared on the nerves of spirited ami
mails.
Demanded Freedom Of Highway.
The TWO dozen automobiles o.
Marshall county IN 1907 caused a
feeling of abject terror to appear
turnout the countryside. No one
could tell when one would appear
and their approach was % unexpect-'
ed that escape Was we'll nign I'M
possible. IA
Many women drove to town III
those days and they were in con-
slant fear of meeting one of the de,i!
wagons on the narrowest bit Of high
way. The situation became SO ter
rifying that the country folk arose to
demand the freedom OF the highway.
Seventy five men and women ia all
parts OF the county, ADDRESSED "a
petition to the mayor of the city and
business mems association Of Mar
shalltown. This bid for recognition
of rights read as follows:
I'VE, the undersigned members OF
the farming community of Marshall
county, most respectively petition the
mayor and the Business Mems As
ISOLATION of Marshalltown, to make
ali earnest effort TO nave the autu-
mobiles of the county kept of the
outlying roads and the city streets
on Saturday Of each week between
the hours of a. m. and s p, m.
Dated April /. 1907"
Attached were the names OF the
petitioners. And this was some
thirteen years ago. Today among
these same seventy Ave are owners |
Of automobiles having valuation, at
the least calculation. OF $4,000.
Wouldn't Trade Hsps.
The petition was duly delivered TO
Mayor o. l.. Ingledue and the cont
mittee plainly told his honor that un-
less something Was DONE to prevent
the autos from spreading dsstructtoiS
up and down the highways on Sat
urdays Marshalltovn would dc boy
cotted by the trainers and trade
would be diverted to the smaller
towns.
Horse. we're frightened by the cars.
# was unsafe for women 10 drive to
town, they argued, Mayor InSledue
told the incensed visitors hS would
call the auto owners together and
get them TO stay on the country
roads on Saturdays. The petition
was not submitted to tho council nor
business mems association. a. neither |
body would have any jurisdiction
over country roads and very little.
II any. influence on the men who had
Just gone motor crazy. \. h
y Instead Of finding relts K! the ccl. ~
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