Automobiles

Automobiles came to Prince Edward Island in the early 1900s, but they were not greeted with open arms. This horseless carriage was considered to be a menace, creating clouds of dust, terrifying horses, and throwing pedestrians into a tizzy. So great was the outcry that an Act of the Legislature outlawed the use of these machines in 1908. This Automobile Act prohibited the use of any motor vehicle on any street or highway and defined a motor vehicles as any motors, automobiles, or vehicles propelled by any power other than muscular power except such vehicles as run on rails and steam road rollers.15 However, the automobile was operated by some citizens in violation of the law, and on April 24, 1913, the Provincial Government passed the Vehicle Registration Act. This required all vehicles using power other than muscular to be registered with the provincial Secretary. The Act specified that vehicles were not to operate on public roads on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Drivers were to pass on the right when overtaking animals or other vehicles and to take precautions not to startle horses and their drivers.16

The registration process consisted of the provincial secretary record- ing the owner’s name, collecting the appropriate fee, and providing the owner with two markers for the vehicle. The registration process has not changed very much since that time. The markers were placed on the front and back of the vehicle and were imprinted with the name of the province in 2 inch letters and the vehicle number in 4 inch letters. The registration fee was based on the size of automobile engine: up to 20 hp, $5.00; from 20 to 25 hp, $10.00; from 25 to 40 hp, $15.00; from 40 to 50 hp, $20.00, and over 50 hp, $25.00. Twenty-six cars were registered on the Island by the end ofJuly, 1913.

A chauffeur could obtain a license to operate a motor vehicle for a $2.00 registration fee and a tax of $2.00, provided the secretary received two testamonials as to his character and sobriety. An aluminum badge, oval, with a minimum diameter of 3 inches, stamped Reg Chaufieur N0. - had to be worn in a conspicuous place by the chauffeur. 17'

Charles Ives was probably the first resident of North Tryon to purchase a car. He owned a Model T Ford which he had converted to left hand from right hand steering. George Ives also owned a Model T Ford. Arthur Dawson had a Saxon Six, green in colour, and William Pooley, a Reo. All of these automobiles appeared sometime between 1916 and 1918.18 Brent Wood relates the arrival of automobiles on the Wood farm: About 1913 automobiles were allowed to run on Island roads. This kind of transportation was not only remarkably fast as compared with the horse and buggy but had a certain fascination, especially for the younger generation. Grandfather Wood (Luke), whose opinion was only given after careful thought, said, looking over his new chariot “All the time that thing is running it is burning money”. Perhaps there was some truth to his words, nevertheless, the family purchased two cars about 1919. Father (George) and I

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