easily located, but the fourteenth was overlooked, and when the inevitable breakdown, occurred, the bill for repairs was $50. Markley, a skilled mechanic, was able to cope with mechanical failures, but his first flat tire was beyond his ken. It resulted in shipping the wheel to St. Louis with costs totaling $17.

Mr. Markley admitted considerable apprehension while descending the steep hills of Allamakee county. The vehicle had no brakes. It was restrained only by the compression of its one cylinder engine connected to the wheels by a rather fragile chain drive. The muddy roads of this era required the carrying of a length of heavy clothesline to wrap around the tires for traction.

By 1910, several prominent members of the Ossian community had purchased autos, These included: John Hemesath, F. A. Figge and John Schroeder buying Hudsons and H. B. Bohr, a Maytag. The state established speed limits of 10 mph in towns and 20 mph in rural areas.

Ordinance no. 73 was adopted by the council in 1912. This act regulated the operation of motor vehicles within the corporation. Speed limit was set at one mile every six minutes. Every machine was required to be equipped with suitable horn, or bell, brakes and lamps. Drivers must bring their cars to a halt when signaled by persons riding a domestic animal or driving a horse drawn conveyance. The raising of a hand, palm forward, was defined as the proper signal. Seven signs were posted on the outskirts of town. They read: "Town of Ossian—slow down to 10 miles."

In 1906, a Waukon family, enroute to Minneapolis, passed through Ossian in their White steamer. This machine was described as, "A monster of 60 h.p.". Mr. Beddow, the owner, said he needed everyone of these horses to make it through the Iowa mud holes.

Mayor Schmitz issued an order that all automobiles must keep to the right of the bandstand. He enforced this edict in person one Saturday night; but reported it was not an enjoyable experience and he would leave traffic control to the marshal in the future.Marshal Boyle, stopwatch in hand, timed sixteen prominent local motorists at speeds in excess of 10 mph. All paid fines of $2 after an appearance in Mayor's court.

By 1912, automobiles were becoming quite common in the community. The Figge Auto Company was selling the new 1912 Hudson four door touring car for $1600; the Overland model 59T for $900, but top and windshield were an additional $50.

The 1913 Overland was priced at $985, including the extras, and featured a selfstarter, a 30 h.p. four cylinder engine and a Warner magneto. The Figges enlarged their garage facilities this year with a new white brick and tile front. They offered free rides in the 1914 Overland to potential customers. In 1918, a gasoline tank holding 1120 gallons was buried, and a hand-operated pump installed in front of the garage.

The following year the Dessel Auto Company installed a large gasoline storage tank to the rear of their business. The fuel was piped to a hand-operated pump in front of the building. The Dessels handled the Studebaker and Ford autos.

Attorney Carter, at age 64, purchased a new Ford. He declared that, as soon as he mastered the machine, he would challenge Henry Dessel to a race. However, a few weeks later, we find him giving this car to son, Ralph, a resident of Waterloo. An item hints that M. J. may have suffered a minor accident. Likely he found his "iron steed" difficult to control.

Mr. Carter was not alone in his failure to master the intricacy of driving an early automobile. They were not simple to operate. Older drivers, accustomed to guiding their equestrian-powered transportation with reins, experienced difficulty in changing control to a steering wheel. In more than one recorded emergency, the elderly, unskilled chauffeur, pulling back on the steering wheel, his knuckles white from the effort, shouted WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!, while his unresponsive steed, moving with undiminished velocity, crashed into the menacing obstacle.

The model T Ford was among the more difficult to operate of the early machines.