No. 4.] HIGHWAYS. 223 



Wide Tire Legislation. 



A law passed by our Legislature in 1900 relating to tires 

 of draught wagons is of importance enough to formers to 

 recjuire attention here. A draught wagon or cart having 

 iron or steel tires less than one and one-half times the 

 diameter of the axle or shoulder thereof may not be used 

 upon any public way, ])ut no tire shall be required to be 

 more than four inches in width. Where the axles are hol- 

 low, the tires must be not less in width than the diameter of 

 the axle or shoulder. This law applies to all wagons and 

 carts whose axles are two inches or more in diameter at the 

 shoulder, and to all stage coaches, tally-ho coaches and 

 other passenger vehicles, except cars, constructed to carry 

 eight or more persons. The law, however, does not apply 

 to wagons or other vehicles owned or used in this State 

 prior to Jan. 1, 1902. Any person violating these provi- 

 sions shall pay a fine of $100. 



In view of the wide latitude given as to the wheels of 

 vehicles in existence prior to the beginning of the current 

 year, it is quite likely that we shall have by and by a good 

 many wagons and carts that will-vie in antiquity with Dr. 

 Holmes's famous old one-horse shay ; for I take it that re- 

 pairs Avill be made upon such wagons until finally it will 

 turn out that no part of the original wagon remains. Or it 

 Avill be the case of the jack-knife over again, which had been 

 so thoroughly repaired in every respect that not a vestige of 

 the original knife was left. However, if not perfectly en- 

 forcible in consequence of this limitation, the statute is a 

 very wise and beneficial one, and nmst commend itself to 

 the notice of all who love to see good roads kept in good 

 order and well preserved. 



Defects in Highways. 



If a person travelling on a highway is injured or loses his 

 life because of a defect therein, the town, city or county or 

 person required by law to keep it in repair is liable, if rea- 

 sonable notice of the existence of the defect has been given, 

 and if the defect might have been remedied by the exercise 



