Newspapers / Asheville Citizen (Asheville, N.C.) / Aug. 16, 1903, edition 1 / Page 1
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4 II -f $ 4 i ,.. t X SIXTEEN PAGES. X PART TWO. nn m A Mi 4 i r SIXTEEN PAGES. PAGES 9r1Kv SiBLBViLLtE GIT ZEN vol. xix no. 60 - -y , - , - rii i WiXT.i.-.i ii ' 1 ' 1 . a To break the record is the mad desire of humankind, and this has .been the greatest record-breakiug year in the world's history. Leading the race is the automo bile. A raeer over a perfect stretch of road in England reached 66 miles per hour, and, even more remarkable than that, Barney Old field, the American eipert, drove a macwne around an oval tracK a mile in several seconds less than a minute.- Already the automobile has over taken the locomotive. ' The road enginens even with the rail engine. And its speed is only in its be ginning, for automobiling looks forward to a 100 Iniles an hour a9 n easy certainty. . That is Mr. Oldfield's prediction, and he does not set his limit at a century mark. We shall soon have prophets who will want the automobile to make a mile in 30 seconds. In tin TnoainwViilo autnmnhileg lyre increasing by the thousands. The factories are turning out new machines daily, and new factories are being built and old factories are being enlarged. There never was anything like it. The bicycle craze swept the coun try, but the automobile craze is far more intense and far more sure of being permanent. Nothing but the flviiiK machine can displace or dis courage it. For those who have machines or who intend getting machines this universality means that they must be allowed to do ab6ut as they please on the roadways, and that those who do not have machines or who do not intend to get machines roust get out of the way. But 'there are two sides to this question. Let us go back a little. Roads are for all the people. When they were first established there were no favorites. Every body walked on equal terms and with equal safety. The few did not have the rights. The roads were ASHEVILLE, N. C, fast AitomoMfliiiK. s The Sport Carried for the many. But as civilization brought its inventions and-ts newmodesof transportation conditions changed. Then the many had to fight to keep the few from monopolizing the advantages. t That fight has come through the centuries, and it will go on through all time. y .We had trouble keeping the bi cycles where they should be they even wanted to crowd the pave ments and the footpaths. Special laws protecting the footpaths had to be passed. Trolley lines came and tried to grab the highways. They sought the property of the people without paying for it, and most people wish they had kept them off the roads even when they do pay for their franchises. Now the automobile is the worst grabber of all. There is no con cealment of its intention. Read the papers devoted to the machines aud you will find articles every SUNDAY CORNING, AUGUST week advising all automobilints to get on the right side of the politi cians so as to obtain more liberal laws in the matter of velocity. They want to run without regard to safety. In their enthusiasm they call those who oppose them as mossbacks and dullards; say they are opposed to progress, and that, as the automobile las come to stay, it is no use to try to keep it within hounds. Those who do not own automo biles and who object to flying en gines on the roads, which belong to all, also feel strongly upon the mat ter. Some of them are aroused to the fighting point. For instance, the other day the farmers in a sec tion near Chicago held a meeting after a particularly disastrous acci dent from a break-neck perform ance of an automobile, and decided to carry shotguns in their wagons and to shoot if the automobilists persisted in their speed madness and in frightening horses and in juring women and 'children; 16, 1903. Tog Tar. Impartial judges from the bench have condemned tho racers on tho public . roads as being little les3 than niuderers. In cities the problem comes up daily in the police courts and in the hospitals. Women, children, old people all kinds and classes suffer. There is a new fearthe fear of the fool in the racing engino let loose on the public thoroughfares. No wonder there is an acute feel ing of resentment against the auto mobile. Its racing fools are re sponsible. The roads still belong to the peo ple, and, so long as they value the safety of their families, they are going to fight for the few privileges they have left. It is not a fight against prog ress it is a plain, sensible, neces sary measure of protection. , At the same time we must fully and fairly recognize the fact that the automobile, is, a permanent thing., . It is a wonderfu addition to tho comfort, convenience and propur u of the world. It gives health and it saves time, and it is one of the best agents that man has ever devised for pleasure and business. To attempt to confine it by pet ty laws is the height of folly. At first some of the cities tried to keep it out of the parks, which 'soon failed; Some peoplo would restrain its use from certain streets; that, too, will be unavailing. - Common sense must decide, as it always has to decide in matters of this kind. For a while the laws will vary and conflict, but in the end there will be a compromise which will yield the largest good to the majority. Fifty thousand automobiles are now in use in the United States. Fifteen hundred are being added to this number every month. They are carrying people, delivering goods, performing the missions of recreation and business. ,They take owners to their officesj ana theyhaTe crOesed. thjs continent PRICE FIVE CENTS v (3 8' (Copyrighted, 1903, by Wm. R, Miller-J An automobile trip to the NortH 1'ole has been seriously suggested." The practical point isthat tha machines may become cheaper after the present demands are filled. Once the bicycle sold for $150. To day it figures in bargain ulta. It may be that way with the horseless, carriage. When the average wage-earner can afford his automobile he will gei more out ot ltle. Just now n feels bitterly against the machin because the few reckless driver! have made it unpopular, but, if he looks ahead a bit, he will appreciate, the wisdom of giving it fair treat ment in the making of road laws, for the time will come when these laws will affect his own interests. Entering into this spirit of fair, ness, the automobilist should not ask more than is required for the safety of the Toad.f More than that is not only a general danger, but an injustice that cuts deeply into the sentiment which has fought for the freedom of the highways ever cine , ci vuuajion pegan. -,-
Asheville Citizen (Asheville, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 16, 1903, edition 1
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