Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1912 — Many Automobiles, But Few Horses. [ARTICLE]

Many Automobiles, But Few Horses.

That the horse drawn vehicle is fast becoming obsolete, for pleasure riding, even in the country districts, is evidenced by the great number of automobiles that are constantly passing through pur main streets of Rensselaer. Sunday afternoon a correct count was kept of the number of vehicles passing over the Washington street bridge, from 2 o’clock to 7:30. From 2:00 to 3:00 there were 29 autos and 4 horse drawn vehicles.

From 3:00 to 4:00, 24 autos, and 11 other vehicles. From 4.00 to 5:00, 19 autos, and 10 other vehicles. 'From 5:00 to 6:00, 49 autos, and 13 other vehicles. 'From 6:00 to 7:00, 22 autos, and 15 other vehicles. From 7:00 to 7:30, 41 autos, and 13 other vehicles.

Here is a totai of 184 automobiles and but 66 horse drawn vehicles for the 5 % hours. Considering the fact that Six or eight years ago an automobile was such a curiosity Chat whenever someone did drive through here with one and stopped on the street the machine was immediately surrounded by a crowd, it was so great a novelty. The number of cars owned in Rensselaer and the surrounding country now, is indeed amazing. During the time this count was kept, or the first three hours, bear in mind, most of the automobiles hereabouts were at Fountain Park, and those crossing the bridge from 2:00 to 5.00 were a few tourists and a few cars in this vicinity not at the Park. Of course these were

not all different automobiles, some few perhaps crossing four or five times during the time the count was being kept. But the same is true of the horse vehicles, Billy Frye’s bus being counted perhaps six -times in the total of only 66 horse vehicles. From 5:30 to 6:00, and again from 7:00 to 7:30, many of the autos counted were returning from Fountain Park, and had the count been continued to 9 o’clock it is likely that the total number of autos would have reached 250.