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Car
Trouble LATEST AUTO SONG.
Run down
by an automobile and nearly killed was the experience of Frank Miller,
of this city, while riding a bicycle on Main Street in Medford last
Saturday evening.
The following verses were
composed by a Central Point lady especially for the Herald. It has a
true ring about it as though written by one who was there.--Ed.
My
husband lies under the auto;
My husband swears under the car; We've sent to the city for someone And asked them to come where we are. We're lonesome, lonesome, Lonesome out here where we are. My husband lies under the auto; My husband swears under the car; He can't get the engine to working, And so we must stay where we are. We're lonesome, hungry and Angry out here where we are. He's sent to the garage for someone To tow us to town before dark; He can't get the spark plug to sparking It simply refuses to spark. The spark plug, the spark plug, It simply refuses to spark. --KWAHAFSRM. Central Point Herald, October 10, 1907, page 3 By Mrs. Frank A. Hawk. KNOCKED DOWN BY AUTOMOBILE The
automobile of C. E. Whisler acted badly yesterday afternoon on Main
Street just east of Central Avenue, and an intoxicated man named F. L.
Follansbee was run down and more or less seriously hurt. Mr. Whisler
did not seem to have control of the machine. Twice it ran clear over
the sidewalk into a throng of people and collided with the Jackson
County Bank building. The second time Follansbee was knocked down and,
after stopping and talking with him, Mr. Whisler again was unable to
control his car, it striking the building, then backed off into the
street and crashed into a wagon that was passing.
Follansbee was standing on the sidewalk and a little too much inebriated to get out of the way. He was knocked down, and the wheel ran over his left leg and up onto his side. He bruised his right arm in falling. His face was cut and bruised. Mr. Whisler tried to induce him to get into the auto and go to a doctor. He refused. That was the subject of their talk before the auto struck the building the second time. The man refused to have a doctor come, and in the midst of an immense crowd he limped his way up the street to the corner of Front, where Chief of Police Hittson took him in charge and forced him to go to Dr. Stearns. The doctor found that no bones were broken, though there may be internal injuries. Follansbee is a laboring man and stated that he lived with S. L. Bennett, Sr., on Riverside Avenue. Medford Sun, April 16, 1911, page 6 FIRST ELECTRICAL AUTO IN MEDFORD R.
H. Parsons of the Hillcrest Orchard has a new Detroit electric
automobile, a beauty, and the first one in Medford. A. B. White of
Seattle is here instructing the owner how to run it.
Medford Sun, April 21, 1911, page 1 AUTO USED FOR NEARLY EVERYTHING
Some men do not have to live in the midst of a great population to
attract attention to their peculiar abilities and become local
celebrities. W. J. Hills, for several years clerk of the federal court
at Juneau, Alaska, would be a great man alone in the heart of a desert.
When a couple of months ago he gave up his extensive real estate
business at Seattle to isolate himself on a twenty-acre orchard a
couple of miles northwest of Medford, his friends may have thought that
that would have been the last heard of Mr. Hills. No so, however. Mr.
Hills sports a little red auto, and he has conceived the idea that he
can utilize it as a mowing machine, header, self-binder, hay rake and
any old thing. It is a little early yet to put it to the real test in
haying season, but Mr. Hills could not wait, so within the past few
days he has been out in his orchard tract cutting and slashing the
foxtail, wild grass and weeds. Hitching a hay rake behind his machine,
he has opened the eyes of the neighborhood.
People in the vicinity who thought they were going to lead a dull and prosaic summer were astonished to learn the amount of excitement in store for them, and the past few days they have turned out en masse to witness the performance of the auto hay rake with Mr. Hills in charge of the steering gear. They have cheered him to the echo. The demonstration has been a complete success both as to raking hay and furnishing entertainment for the natives, so much so, in fact, that he will have too little to do on his ranch and will keep up the good work by mowing and raking all the hay for his neighbors far and near. When that is accomplished he will convert the little red auto into a lawn mower, bring it to Medford and mow the lawns of all the people. Medford Sun, April 29, 1911, page 3 Medford, the Premier Auto City
Albany Herald For
some years Medford has led the world in number of automobiles per
capita of population. As the years go by, the number of autos increases
faster than the population, so the city maintains its lead as the
greatest motor car city of its size anywhere.
At least fifty automobiles have already been purchased in Medford this spring. It was estimated, at the close of last season, that there were 400 autos in and around Medford. As a few of these have been shipped away, it is probable that the total number of motor cars here is between 425 and 450, or an average of one to every twenty-five inhabitants. Conditions are peculiarly favorable for autos in the Rogue River Valley. For nine months in every year, motoring offers an alluring attraction. The country is always beautiful. Streams, woods and mountains call constantly to the love of nature. Fishing and hunting add their attractions. The gold of the summer's sun and the silver of midnight moonlight furnish a delight all their own. Hence everyone who can owns an auto of some kind. The auto has become a business and social necessity. Each year sees its use increase as each season sees its efficiency increased and its price lowered. The number of factories increased in the past ten years from fifty-seven to 316, the product from $4,748,000 to $194,722,600, the number of autos made from 3723 to 127,289 a year. The United States government census lists most [illegible] motor cars as "pleasure or family vehicles." Of those made in 1909, only 3288 were listed as "business vehicles" and comprised auto trucks almost exclusively. As yet there are but few of these in the Rogue River Valley, but as the paved area in Medford is extended, the use of these auto trucks will be increased. Medford Sun, May 6, 1911, page 3 NARROW ESCAPE FRANK MILLER Run Down by Careless Driver, Local Man Has Close Call.  The scene of the crime, May 1909, looking east. The corner of the exhibit building is visible in left foreground. Miller was taken to a physician's office in Medford and later was brought to his home here. He will be confined to his bed for some time, but it is thought he will recover unless unforeseen complications from internal injuries should develop. Waterman has a bad record as a car driver. Only a short time ago Wayne Leever, of this city, had his car wrecked by being run into by Waterman, who was driving recklessly on the wrong side of the street. It is also alleged that he has had various other accidents, it being said that he ran down a girl not long ago and that he has killed more than one valuable dog. It would seem that a man with such a record for carelessness and absolute disregard for the rights of others should be deprived of his license and given a wheelbarrow to "drive" in a back lot. W. C. Miller, father of the injured man, has retained an attorney and says he proposes to determine what, if anything, can be done towards punishing Waterman for his latest piece of carelessness. Central Point Herald, May 11, 1911, page 1 MOTOR DRIVERS SEEK PROTECTION
The worm
has turned.Suggest Rules to Govern Arrogant Encroachments of Pedestrians. Not much longer will the downtrodden drivers of motor cars and motor cycles put up with the arrogant encroachments of irresponsible pedestrians on the streets and highways. Too long, already, have they suffered in silence from this growing source of annoyance and danger to themselves and their machines and they now propose a set of rules to govern the action of people who walk, and which may later be enacted into city and state laws. The rules, which seem to be preeminently fair and just to all parties concerned, are here given: 1. Pedestrians crossing boulevards at night shall wear a white light in front and a red light in the rear. 2. Before turning to the right or left they shall give three short blasts on a horn at least three inches in diameter. 3. When an inexperienced automobile driver is made nervous by a pedestrian, he shall indicate the same, and the pedestrian shall hide behind a tree until the automobile has passed. 4. Pedestrians shall not carry in their pockets any sharp substances which are liable to cut automobile tires. 5. In dodging automobiles, pedestrians shall not run more than seven miles an hour. 6. Pedestrians must register at the beginning of each year and pay a license fee of $5 for the privilege of living. There shall be no rebate if they do not live through the entire year. 7. Pedestrians will not be allowed to emit cigarette smoke on any boulevard in an offensive or unnecessary manner. 8. Each pedestrian before receiving his license to walk upon a boulevard must demonstrate before an examining board his skill in dodging, leaping, crawling and extricating himself from machinery. 9. Pedestrians will be held responsible for all damages done to automobiles or their occupants by collision. Central Point Herald, June 15, 1911, page 1 Farmers' Anti-Auto Society
The
following is the new code agreed upon by the Farmers' Anti-Auto
Protective Society, which has just held its annual convention in the
different States in the Union.1. On discovering an approaching team the automobilist must stop off-side and cover his machine with a tarpaulin painted to correspond with the scenery. 2. The speed limit on country roads this year will be secret, and the penalty for violation will be $10 for every mile an offender is caught going in excess of it. 3. In case an automobile makes a team run away the penalty will be $50 for the first mile, $150 for the second mile, $250 for the third mile, etc., that the team runs; in addition to the usual damages. 4. On approaching a corner where he cannot command a view of the road ahead the automobilist must stop not less than 100 yards from the turn, toot his horn, ring a bell, fire a revolver, hallo, and send up three bombs at intervals of five minutes. 5. Automobiles must again be seasonably painted--that is, so they will merge with the pastoral ensemble and not be startling. They must be green in spring; golden in summer, red in autumn, and white in winter. 6. Automobiles running on the country roads at night must send up a red rocket every mile, and wait ten minutes for the road to clear. They may then proceed, carefully, blowing their horns and shooting Roman candles. 7. All members of the society will give up Sunday to chasing automobiles, shooting and shouting at them, making arrests, and otherwise discouraging country touring on that day. 8. In case a horse will not pass an automobile, notwithstanding the scenic tarpaulin, the automobilist will take the machine apart as rapidly as possible and conceal the parts in the grass. 9. In case an automobile passes a farmer's house when the roads are dusty, it will slow down to one mile an hour, and the chauffeur will lay the dust in front of the house with a hand sprinkler worked over the dashboard. Central Point Herald, September
7, 1911, page 4
Jackson County Has Many Autos.
According to figures recently compiled at Salem this county is about as
well fixed for automobiles and motor vehicles as any in the state and
perhaps even a little better. While it ranks third in the actual number
of machines in the counties of the state it is generally conceded that
when the population is considered it has the most in this proportion.
Multnomah County leads with 4887 motor vehicles, Marion is second with
751 and Jackson County third with 576.
The autos in Jackson County are scattered as follows: Ashland 115, Brownsboro 2, Butte Falls 1, Central Point 38, Eagle Point 6, Gold Hill 6, Jacksonville 13, Lake Creek 1, Medford 290, Phoenix 7, Provolt 1, Rogue River 4, Talent 12, Tolo 1, Trail 2, Wellen 3. The total of motor vehicles is distributed as follows: Ashland 120, Brownsboro 2, Butte Falls 1, Central Point 41, Eagle Point 6, Gold Hill 6, Jacksonville 18, Lake Creek 1, Medford 343, Phoenix 9, Prospect 1, Provolt 1, Rogue River 9, Talent 13, Tolo 1, Trail 2, Wellen 3. Central Point Herald, February 19, 1912, page 1 French inventors have designed an automobile suitable for children, having engines of less than a horsepower and guaranteed not to go faster than four miles an hour even on a down grade. It would be a mighty good thing if some grown folks in America were compelled to use just such a machine. Frank E. Trigg, Central Point, "Farm, Orchard and Garden," The New North, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, June 12, 1913, page 5 A couple of young guys from Medford, accompanied by their sweethearts, hove in town Monday evening in a large automobile. They drove east on the street at a 2:20 clip while spectators stood aghast at the speed demons. Whirling the corner on two wheels they returned up the street on their way home. In passing the guys gave the glad wink to the marshal and recorder, while the ladies smiled that smile of contempt. Indignation was manifested by the onlookers, but as a fellow remarked, "What the deuce can you do! Give us an honorable justice court here and these speed demons and no-light fellows will get what's coming to them." Central Point Herald, July 9, 1914, page 2  Joy riding on the newly paved Pacific Highway between Talent and Ashland, circa 1915
THE ROCK PILE FOR SPEEDERS
In
these days of freak legislation, fanatical laws and attempts to
regulate habits and personal affairs by legal rules, it is refreshing
to come across a new idea in city ordinances which, hurting no one,
acts as a means of saving lives and reducing the number of accidents.
Portland is the city which is to be complimented upon writing into its
code a low which has made the place unique in one respect. There are
500,000 people in Portland and there are countless automobiles. Yet in
the last nine months there has not been one person injured, much less
killed in an automobile accident in that city. And why is this so?
Because in Portland the driver of an automobile who exceeds the speed
limit is put to work on the rock pile, for from two to thirty days. No
fines accepted. If the driver is convicted he must do his time at hard
labor and no exceptions are made. Portland's streets are safe to
pedestrians. Here is an idea that ought to spread eastward.
Central Point Herald, December 3, 1914, page 2 INJURED IN AUTO ACCIDENT MONDAY
While
returning from Ashland Monday evening in an auto, Mrs. Emma Bebb of
this city was thrown from the car and sustained a broken ankle,
fractured skull and several severe bruises and cuts on the body. The
accident occurred the other side of Phoenix about 8 p.m. Charles Mee, a
nephew of Mrs. Bebb, was driving the car and the other occupants were
Mrs. Bebb's daughter, Hazel, and her son, Irvin T. Bebb.
The accident occurred in this manner: Mrs. Bebb was in the act of changing from the back to the seat in front, her son standing on the running board to assist her while the driver was assisting her with his right hand. The car swerved to the right and was headed for a nearby telephone pole. To prevent the car from leaving the grade Mr. Mee loosened his hold of Mrs. Bebb and turned the car with a sudden jerk. This threw Mr. Bebb several feet from the car and caused Mrs. Bebb to be thrown on her face close to the car, the hind wheel passing over and fracturing her left ankle. They were traveling at the rate of fifteen to twenty miles an hour. Excerpt, Central Point Herald, May 18, 1916, page 1 DOLEFUL PREDICTIONS.
When
the automobile came it was predicted it would make the horse extinct.
Horseflesh costs more than ever as equestrianism continues to grow in
favor. Now the oracles say the aeroplane will eliminate both automobile
and horse, but like the horse, the automobile grows in number and
favor. The saturation point in the automobile industry is always being
predicted but never reached. It will be found that horse, automobile
and airship each have their purpose and will increase in number as new
needs are found for them and the population grows.
From an article in a current magazine are taken a few quotations on the subject of the automobile: "The automobile stands unique as the most extravagant piece of machinery ever devised for the pleasure of man." "The people are becoming car poor as their ancestors became land poor." "In this craze for automobile ownership, the joy of security in the future is sacrificed for the pleasure of the moment." "The whole scheme of domestic life centers in the motor car." "Once the man who borrowed in order to buy a car was looked upon as dangerous." With some of these statements some will agree, but it is invariably the careless who predict disaster and chaos because so many of their neighbors are on wheels and exchange old cars for new every year. It is manifest from the popularity of the auto, from the universality of its use and from the jealous tenacity all car owners cling to their cars, whether palaces on wheels or decrepit derelicts, that there are satisfactions derived from the automobile which the critics of the automobile have not discerned. Ashland American, April 15, 1927, page 2 Survey Shows That Young Men Still Speeding on Street
There is no moral to the following; it is plain common sense.
Part of this information was given us by a business man. He says that for nine days after the fatal accident that occurred recently, the young men of the town drove very carefully, slowed up on every corner, but the tenth day he saw various ones turning corners on two wheels, especially when there happened to be young ladies on the corners. High school girls stood on the street and made the boys drive out around them. One of the worst corners at the noon hour is the corner of Pine (commonly called Main) and Fourth streets. This being a paved street, most of the school children pass that way. Everything possible should be done to prevent an accident there. Youth has ever been the same and needed the curb of the older generation. One party held their breath every time a certain car whizzed by their corner, but did nothing about it. They often said it was a wonder some child was not killed. The driver of the car was a neighbor boy, and it would be bad to have the neighbor sore at them. But which would be better: to have the neighbor sore, or grieve on account of their son cutting short the life of a little child? Every man or woman who sees a person driving recklessly enough to endanger life, and does not report it or speak to the driver about it and warn him that he will report it if he ever sees him do that again, is guilty if said driver kills someone. Our laws should be enforced. People will report fast driving, but when asked to swear to it, they say, "Oh, I don't want anyone to be mad at me. Can't something be done and keep my name out of it?" What do people make traffic laws for, to talk about how dreadful it is for someone to break them? Every man, woman and child living in a community should be partly responsible for every accident in that community. Not only [the] driver of a vehicle should be careful but pedestrians and bicycle riders are often far more to blame. We have seen bicyclists take chances that it was only the presence of mind and quick action on the part of the driver that saved their lives. Central Point American, April 17, 1941, page 1 Last revised November 17, 2009 |
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