In the early 1900's the
automobile age was beginning to appear in Marion. The first sighting
of one of these new contraptions made it's appearance in Marion in
August of 1904.
August 11, 1904, a party
of tourists, four in number, passed through the city in an
automobile, en route from Nashville to the World's Fair at St. Louis.
This was the first horseless carriage ever seen in Marion and the
sudden appearance of the horseless carriage coming up Main Street
created a stir among our population.
Several years later in
May of 1911, the Press tells us that motoring in Crittenden is
getting more popular each day, and all that stands in the way of
universal use of automobiles is the desperate roads, and not the cost
as many would think, for compared with horseflesh and the expense of
keeping same, automobiles are not high and are certainly a most
delightful mode of transportation. With the advent of better roads
the use of the automobile will grow into popular favor all over
Crittenden County.
With the appearance of
more and more automobiles in Marion and around the country side, made
cause for some laws and rules of courtesy.
July 14, 1921 Gist of Some Laws
Governing Motor Vehicles
It is a great wonder to
us when we think of how few accidents to individuals have occurred in
this county and especially in the town of Marion since the
automobiles had come into use. Our county court show very few damage
suits while the police courts show not a great many prosecutions for
cut outs, tail lights, speeding, etc.
Since this record is
commendable and speaks well as to the law abiding spirit and general
good fellowship that the citizens of Crittenden County bear toward
each other and to the rest of the world. Yet, there are some who
will grow careless of the other fellows welfare and drive recklessly
around a short turn in the road, and dash without warning upon a team
of horses and buggy or a horseback rider and frighten said horse or
team beyond control of its rider or driver.
If it does not end in
accident or injury it leaves a “bad taste” in the mouth of the
rider or driver and maybe a bad feeling that he cannot overcome for
an hour or two.
Now, the laws governing
the operation of automobiles an other motor vehicles are many and
varied, far too much so for this article, but I want to give the gist
of the most common passages.
* Thous shalt not run
with the cutout open.
* Thou shalt not run
without a tail light and two head lights.
*On coming up behind a
pedestrian or horseback rider or occupant of a slower vehicle thou
shalt sound the horn or other warning device.
*Thou shalt not drive
rapidly a round the corners of these Crittenden County crooked roads
without sounding your horn and staying close to the right hand side
of the road. (This may sound corny, but I remember when people
actually did honk their horns when they came upon a curve on the
rural gravel roads of years ago, many years ago. Now they are driven
on as if they were on a freeway.)
* Thou shalt always keep
thy brake in good repair.
To The Drivers Of
Buggies, Wagons, Etc.
* When a faster driven
vehicle overtakes you and gives a signal to be allowed to pass thou
shalt pull to the right side of the road immediately and permit it to
pass. Don't stay in the middle of the road too long.
* Treat your neighbor as
you would have him treat you and we will all love another better.
There have been complaints recently of the automobile drivers having
not given fair warning on short turns in the roads or driving up
behind a buggy and attempting to pass without giving a warning and
being too careless and reckless in passing, skittish horses.
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