ALTON - In the summer of 1924, Altonians were excited about driving automobiles. Auto clubs sprang up all over the place, there was a car column in the Alton Telegraph, and there were picnic fundraisers to cinder dirt roads all over town. On August 11, 1924, an Alton Automobile Club presentation on automobile safety at Riverview Park drew a large crowd. It was a cold night for August, and many of the attendees wore their winter coats. At this time, there were 3,600 automobiles in the district and approximately 36,000 residents, one auto or truck for every ten people. Speakers at the automobile safety meeting included G. C. Varnum, secretary and manager of the St. Louis Safety Council, and Roy Rauschkolb, chairman of the development services of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce. They recommended measures such as a safe drivers’ club and a vigilance committee and encouraged pedestrians to use street crossings and drivers to follow traffic guidelines. Varnum recited a little
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