In the 1890s cars were so new that they were one of the feature attractions at the traveling circuses. Today over 207 million passenger cars, not to mention trucks, pickups and other motor driven vehicles, travel on the highways of the world.
The "new" mode of transportation changed the lives of the people, especially in the rural areas and less populated sections of our country. Farm families no longer had to live the lonely, secluded lives to which they had been accustomed because now they had a means of transportation to the towns and the cities. It didn't have to be a major trip of two or three days to conduct their business in town. Now the city people could get away from the noise and commotion of their environment to spend some time enjoying the peace and quiet of the countryside, to maybe do some fishing, skiing or camping out.
The automobile created all kinds of new businesses too, such as motels, restaurants, super highways, shopping centers, drive-in movies, Laundromats, just to name a few.
Before this period anyone going a short distance would walk or ride a bike. Long distances were accomplished with riding a train, street car, or horse drawn carriage.
The early cars were dubbed the "horseless carriages". Only the wealthy people were able to afford them at first. But as the industry developed, more and more people were able to purchase them. This brought a demand for such materials as steel, zinc, and aluminum. Service stations and repair shops became a necessity. Engineers were called on to develop roads as well as safer cars.
In 1901 two developments occurred that accounted for the rapid growth in the automobile industry. First there was a sharp drop in gasoline prices, due to the discovery of the oil deposits in Texas. Second the industry was introduced to the mass production method in manufacturing cars. The first assembly line was started in Detroit. A fire destroyed the Olds factory. To compensate for the loss and to stay in business, small machine shops were set up to manufacture various parts which were then sent to a factory to be assembled. In 1901 Olds built 425 cars, 1902 - 3,750; 1903 - 5,000. Soon other manufacturers were following the same method.
By 1908 interchangeable parts were introduced. Up, until this time parts would only fit one particular car.
Henry Ford improved the assembly line in 1908 to further cut the cost of production, thus making his cars easier for the people to obtain. A 1908 Model T Ford could be purchased for $850.
A moving assembly line was introduced in 1913. The frame of the car would be placed on a conveyor belt and moved through the factory. Workmen on each side of the belt added parts to the car as it passed by them. The Ford workman could assemble a Model T Ford in a little more than one and a half hours using this method while the old method would take about 12 1/2 hours. By 1916 the Model T could be purchased for $400, the very lowest price ever. Ford sold over 15 million cars from 1908 to 1927.
As people in the area began to purchase cars, there was enough excitement that these purchases and subsequent happenings were news items that appeared in the local papers. It took some education to learn how to operate these "horseless carriages" especially on the trails that were supposed to be used for roads. There was some resentment from horses and the pedestrians when these new machines were first on the scene.
As early as June 1902 an article appeared telling of our cars that were seen in the Grand Forks area. By 1903 cars started to appear in Foster County. C.H. Davidson and Harry Wheeler were two of the first owners. Some of the experiences of these new car owners were not always pleasant. These stories provided entertainment for the people who had not as yet purchased one of these machines.
1 1/05/03 "Al Halstead was up from Jamestown in his auto last week. On Sunday afternoon we had our first ride in one of these animals. It is a first class machine and somewhat of a surprise to us to learn that at one stage of the game we were traveling at the rate of 25 miles per hour even though we did not have to hang on. Mr. Halstead is an expert chauffeur and can steer his machine at the rate of 35 miles per hour on ordinary prairie road.
05/12/04 "George F. Peabody's horse became frightened at a passing automobile and made such a short turn endeavoring to get away from the machine that the buggy was wrecked. Mr. Peabody held onto the horse until both the driving lines broke, the animal got away and went out in the prairie. Neither the driver or the horse were hurt in the mix-up"
07/27/05 "A.P. Halstead started for New Rockford in his buggy auto and when he got near Barlow the machine thought he "auto" go back, Halstead had to get a Barlow liveryman to tow him home."
1 1/23/05 From the McHenry Tribune: Joe Doyle and friend were over in their buggy auto from Carrington after exhibiting the rig to the astonished populace they started out and the ---- thing went bump. He gave a farmer $9 to haul it to Carrington!
5/16/07 R. The Buchanan boys are having the time of their lives with their new Buick touring car which arrived last week. The firm has the local agency for the car and very much pleased by the way the new machine runs and all are fast becoming expert chauffeurs.
07/18/06 I. C.K. Wing has his automobile running again about six weeks ago it was taken with severe pains in his hind quarters and gradually became worse until it was found necessary to take it to Dr. George Bauley for treatment. For a time the case baffled the doctor's skill but his knowledge of auto bone setting at last overcame the difficulty and Charlie's machine is as good as new.
08/08/07 A.J. Smith's auto got a severe case of congestion of the differential gear last week and was obliged to go to the hospital for treatment.
04/16/08 Art Swanson started out for Barlow in his big touring car, Monday. The last report is that he was sticking in a mud hole north of Guptil.
06/28/08 W.J. Doyle and H. Postlewait started for McHenry Monday. About 6 miles from town they lost the bottom of the carburetor. While Joe forgot votes for the moment in the vain search for the missing article, Homer walked two and a half miles to the Ben Holcomb farm to telephone Will Doyle to come out bringing the necessary repairs. Will engaged the services of B.S. Newberry's automobile and shortly thereafter they arrived on the scene. The boys were again bound for McHenry. Joe has, however, established a new record for the greatest number of mild remarks made in a minute and all the boys agree Homer as a pedestrian is hard to beat.
08/20/08 One of the most prominent citizens and considered one of our most level headed businessmen, Thomas Doughty, has been seen driving a dark brown automobile. It is an Olds, bred about the year autos were first discovered. He is nursing a hand as a result of a vigorous kick from its front left leg not withstanding its balkiness, the owner says it is a wind-splitter and occasionally works like a charm.
09/17/08 Joe Doyle drove to McHenry in his auto. He was accompanied by the Independent man. Joe's machine is surely a wonder. When Joe approached a large and formidable looking hill he informed his passenger to get out. His slow gear was out of commission and chances were that he could not make this rise. Sure enough when he tried he failed by a big majority but that is where his Yankee (?) ingenuity came into play. He merely turned the machine end for end and backed up the hill without effort. Joe's surely the fellow who knows how.
10/15/08 Evidence of prosperity in Carrington; beautiful city of about 1800 people with 36 automobiles ranging in value from $500 to $7000.
1 1/12/08 The first automobile accident occurred last evening on Main Street in front of the Nichols' Pool Hall. Mr. Nihill with his fast car, Knud Christianson with a Buick tried to pass on the same side of the street. It was a miracle that someone did
not get hurt. Mr. Christiansen's car was not damaged being a much heavier touring car but Mr. Nihill's being a very light car was smashed almost beyond recognition.
11/26/08 There is a heavy fall of snow and a number of autoists had to resort to the old-fashioned method of attaching horses to their autos.
As more cars appeared on the scene more uses were found for them. In 1909 Billy Bronaugh purchased a Ford touring car to be used as "an automobile livery service." Dr. Cusack was using his "Maxwell runabout" to make house calls. Speculation was that if something happened to the innards of his car that his veterinary experience wouldn't be of that much help to him.
L.L. Walton was described as the first man in the state to use an auto to haul livestock. Would he soon be using it to milk cows and do other odd jobs too?
Mr. Ballard, commissioner from McHenry, made use of his auto to campaign for the upcoming election.
C.R. Wing took an auto tour over the north and western part of the state to inspect the crops. He made stops at Velva, Plaza, Underwood, Garrison, Wilton and Pingree in 1911.
The Foster County Bank purchased a Flanders touring car to be used for outside work for the bank.
The feud between the automobiles and the horse drawn carriages continued. A new law was passed in 1909 to describe in detail the -right of way of each vehicle. It went like this:
"The law states that any driver or operator of any automobile or motorcycle on any public road or highway outside the limits of any town when signaled by any driver of any vehicle propelled by horses or other animals which signal shall be given by raising hand or in any such manner shall stop such automobile or motorcycle until the vehicle is passed and if in approaching said vehicle from behind the driver or operator in charge of said automobile or motorcycle shall stop for a reasonable time and the driver of said vehicle shall as soon as the condition on the road will permit turn to the right and allow at least half of the road on his left for the passage of said automobile."
Accidents were common where the horses would become frightened of this new monster on the road. Many times they would shy causing the buggies to overturn tossing their passengers out and wrecking the buggy.
By 1910 more and more cars came into the area. People became braver and began to make longer trips. A committee consisting of T.N. Putnam and C.R. Wing, and Dr. Goss traveled to Edgeley to inspect the hospital facilities there.
A demand for better roads became uppermost in the minds of the auto enthusiasts. As early as June 1909 an organization known as "The Carrington Auto Club" was formed. The purpose of the organization was roads. The first road to be graded was the one going to Barlow. They hoped to interest the surrounding town and township officers to help in the project.,
09/0810 Monday, September 19 has been designated "pick and shovel day." It is hoped that there will not be a rock or badger hole in the roads of the county. The culverts will also have attention and approaches filled so there will be less bumping the bumps in the future. The automobilists in Carrington will divide into different groups, each autoist will take with him one or two men and pick and shovel and given a certain piece of road to be held responsible for putting it in condition. Other crews will move from Barlow, Bordulac, and McHenry meeting their Carrington cohorts half way. Farmers will be expected to clean up the roads bordering their farms. People in towns are expected to clean the streets of sticks, stones, glass, etc.
It was decided by the state to collect $3 per automobile for a license. The money would be used to improve the highways. Counties were allocated a portion of the funds for their area.
Breakdowns were common- many motorists being stranded miles from home. Other owners were then called on to come to the rescue with the necessary repairs.
07/15/09 George Bauley has an automobile that will loop the loop without a loop. While speeding along at a 20 mile per hour clip last Thursday the steering wheel broke and the machine turned two complete somersaults before landing in the ditch. Mr. Bauley was pinned under the machine and had three ribs broken. His companion went out at the first revolution and was not hurt. The auto was not seriously damaged.
7/25/12 - Yesterday at Barlow Edwin, the son of ex-governor Frank White and his company set the engine of their big Elmore auto in slow speed to get the auto out of the ditch. When once upon the road the big auto lunged forward and the boys were unable to get to the wheel and guide it. It rushed across the street into the sidewalk some feet above
the ground. The front axle was twisted into a letter "S" and smashed beyond repair. The whole machine was more or less damaged. Even the sidewalk will need $25 worth of repairs. Mr. White was in Barlow adjusting hail losses.
8/23/13 R, . Auto breaks horses leg. E. T. Halaas, postmaster attempting to pass William Blake on a grade three and a half miles west of town last Friday struck one of the mail-carriers horses with his auto breaking the animal's leg and it was necessary to shoot the horse. Mr. Blake is the carrier on Route 1 and was just starting his delivery.
This poem was published in the Independent February 5, 1914.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 448