New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-22
THE PROPOSED SPEED ROAD IN CEN
TRIAL PARK.

From an interview in yesterdays Tribune it
appears that few gentlemen who own fast trot-
tiers are renewing thoir efforts to confscate a
portion of Central Park for their personal pleas
ure. The so-caed arguments in favor OF this
spcliation are the same which have been often
urged before There are roads for carriages it
is said, why not a speed road for lght-harneSs
driving? The trotter is quite as important an
animal in American social life as tho runner, and
if eouestrians have bridle-rath, why not
speed track for Sunol and Baby Mckee. Surely
man who is willing to pay $4,000 for two
ycar-old colt ought to be provided with place
for tho display of his frictionleSs action.
Now many of these gentlemen are public
prited citizens and they would not Willingly
rob or wong their fellows. But if they would
sit down in a quiet place and reflect moment
hey would remind themselves of the fact that
the walks and blidle-paths and wheelways Of the
Park all have a single purpose, and that is, to
enable persons On foot on horseback or in car
riages to enjoy the Park. That is, the reads
exist for the Park and not the Park for the
roads. Gentlemen who own fast trotters hnvo
the same privilege Of refreshing themselves with
the scenery Of the Park which il accorded to
every other man, woman and child OF the city.
But what they propose now is to cut off portion
of the Park and condemn ii TO a Use foreign To
and absolutely destructive Of its primary pur-
pose. The essence of the Park is It's scenery, It's
rcstful stretches of grass, the mystery of its
woods and the IepsSeful contrast to streets and
walls of stone which il offers to ci,y-wcaried
senses or course, the gentlemen who can ray
fortune for a son of Elccticncer need 10 such
rafrcshment When summer comes they Hit
away to their villas on tho Hudson or by tho sea.
But they leave million people behind them in
the city, every one of whom has as good right
to tho Park as his wealthy ncighbors-a million
people who can sec no green fields but the Park
meadows, and no forests but the Park woods.
The Park space is too scanty already to meet
the needs Of the poor and the children Of the
poor. What grass there is has been provided
at enormous cost by blasting out rock lodges and
filling in with soil, which IL has taken years OF
patient waiting to cover with vetdme. This
scheme proposes TO whittlo down 70 sill more
contracted limits this verdant area and what
return for this spOliation Of theft property is
offered to the people? Why, they arc to be
allowed TO sit on Il bench and watch these
wealthy holsemen drive by 1t is to be n mag
nifcent spectacle, we are told, free show that
cannot but amuse the unfortunate persons who
are not able to handle the ribbons over 2 10
trotter and ii ought 10 console them for the
desolation of the woods and meadows which arc
theirs by right
OF course there arc specific objections in law,
in morals, in ant, in engineering, which can DO
urged against this proposed invasion, but simple
statement Of the project ought to kill it. The
good sense Of the city has invariably risen in
protest against it as often as it has been brought
forward. Every reputable newspaper of the city
is on record against it, and has given reasons
for It's opposition. We have no great confidence
in our present legislators but even they could
hardly face the storm Of popular indignation
which would gather at such sacrifice of the
nights of the many for the pleasure OF few.