Those Infernal Putt-Putts

With warm vacation here we are once more having our ear drums and our good natures assailed by those infernal and seemingly eternal putt-putts, or outboard motors with cutouts off.

We have no objection to register on the out-board motors which operate with cut-outs closed, SO do not condemn them as a whole.

But we do object to the operation of outboard motors with cut-outs open.

The air around Lake Maxinkuckee has been filled for the past few days with the unchecked exhaust of these motors. This same condition existed all last summer and the summers before, getting worse each time.

The problem now facing those interested in the lake is whether or not this nuisance is to be stopped. A resorter commented that another popular lake of Indiana had been ruined for cottagers by these loud-speaker motors, and feared that the same fate would befall Lake Maxinkuckee if not stopped.

This lake is famous for its peaceful surroundings and cottages have been built by people who desire that sort of environment. But they don't come here to have the days and nights made hideous by these unmuffled motors.

It is possible to hear these motors a mile away from the lake, so it takes no imagination to picture what a din it must be on the lake's edge.

Yet, we can see no reason for opening the cut-outs, for the manufacturer makes the motors SO that they can run efficiently with the exhaust muffled. The same condition existed in the automobile world, but has been effectively checked there. Now the same thoughtless individuals are forcing their obnoxiousness on the summering public.

Furthermore, it is unlawful to operate a motor on a lake with the muffler open. We understand the Culver police have no jurisdiction over the lake except when a warrant is sworn out for the arrest of an offender, but the county officials can stop this unlawful running of motor boats with the cut-outs open, and the summer cottagers and residents of this community call upon them to use the same energy in stopping this nuisance they would any other violation of a state law.

We would prefer that the users of motor boats use their mufflers of their own volition, but if they can't consider their fellow cottagers then the county officials should step in.