Harper and the Automobile

Harper was obviously an early adopter of the automobile, since the first Model T was not offered until 1908, three years after this article appeared. The earliest roads were built by private contractors and financed through tolls. They were called turnpikes because of the pike that blocked entry until the toll was paid, much like a modern parking lot with the bar down until the parking is paid. The Turnpike Association was upset that the federal government was not paying its fair share in order to maintain the road, and was resisting any speed limits, which at this time were between 10-15 miles per hour. They also opposed night lighting; this was before many automobiles had headlights.