The sun., 1892-03-27
Tho Speedway and the Park.

| SlncD Uhe 1SObtu Of Iafk commissioners
has decided that the now road proposed
for the Central Park in what Is now known
as the Speedway Law shall not be built, let
us consider the subject further, full as ii is
| OF still uncXhaustcd interest.
| in the first place. wo desire to protest
| against tho unwarIantcd vtupcration
| which has been launched at the heads of
| those Immediately responsible for the law
| by critics who have considered tho
| aesthetic aspect OF tho project solely.
1t has been favored by many of tho
most respected. most public spirited. and
most valuable citizens of the metropolis.
Their recreation is directly associated with
a great and important interest. which to
every true American should DO u source of
national pride and satisfaction, the breeding
Of the American trottcr. Their uso of tho
trottcr is not only full of satisfaction and
eyhiaration to themselves, but is delight
full TO others to see. 1t is n gem
uine pleasure in Itself. of IL peculiar
value for sustaining a mans power
to work and do business; and it
is dull and careless mind which does not
appreciate the sight of the marvellous and
beautiful development in equine motion
illustrated in the trottcr's gait. The natu-
raj disposition Of any American COM
munity must be to provide for The daily
metropolitan use of trotting horses all
the facilities possible within the lines of
reason comprehe endin;y tie public interest
at every point. The present generation of
road drivers. us they are known. have seen
the days when the Old Harlem Laic was the
stretch whero they could let their horses
step to tho full limit Of speed. and brush
without restraint with the next fellow who
came up alongside. Then the fun had to be
transferred acrosS the Harlem River to Jc-
rome avenue. and there it tiourishcd without
Interference or diminution until in an i'll
judged moment Il number of the most in-
iiucn .ial horsemen conceived the idea of cs-
tabishins a special club at Fleetwood Park
This drew the great body of them away
from the accustomed road. Jerome avenue
ceased to be fashionable and the sport on it
died. Since then they have cherished tho
idea of n drive such rs was contemplated
by the Speedway law. That was intended
to give them precisely the ground for using
their animals that they once had on Harlem
Lane. and later on Jerome avenue.
1t must DO said here plainly that this |
notion was accompanied with little under
tended to be or what it is in fact: and from
this arose the great mistake. These gem
tlemen wanted to put on one side of tho
Central Park a road which should be wide
and straight and soft, designed for their
special accommodation. and comparatively
useless in muddy weather. and. as such
n proposition could not be entertained
by any Board of Commissioners COM
,,rnl,n 4, |
went to the Legislature. and there sic
cceded in getting bill put through. in
tended beyond question to compel the
Board OF Park Commissioners To build
such a road as they desired. There are two
ways To make roads in our parks. Ono is
for the Park Commissioners to make them.
Their power in that respect is unre-
strctcd SO long rs the Board of Estimate
and Apportionmcnt will appropriate money
for their purpose. Roads made under these
auspices will always be conceived and cxc-
cuted in the spirit and under tho influence
Of mon who make parks. Tho other way is
10 go to Albany and get tho Lcgisla-
ture to drive road through by enact
mcnt in accord with plans not sub
mitted to the functionaries primarily
charged with the regulation of tho
parks. This was the method selected, and
t involved proposition too monstrous TO
% tolerated by any intelligent community
with disposition to control its own affairs.
Il such road us was proposed In the Speed
way law were an Imperative necessity. that
Tould be another question: but II it wore
brought to a landscape architect on the
strength Of n plea for greater and better
Irving facilities. no expert OF that sort
would consider it for a second. 1t would be
cpulsivc both TO the sentiment and the
earning OF his profession.
Since this bill has been discussed in tho
Park Board. the attitude of the road
lrivcrs has been changed to one Of re-
luest for better ana more exclusive facil-
les for driving. with great stress laid upon
he need OF better protection against dan
,cr They point TO one years record OF ac-
ldents upon the East and West drives and
he bridle paths contiguous thereto. which
vas last week submitted TO the Park Boards
consideration, MS powerful evidence in their ,
avor. Let us examine these accidents u little. 9
The West sido OF the Park shows 12G ouch J
accidents against III on tho East eide. al
hough the East sidc is known to bo much
more thickly irequcnted by vehicles than t
he West; and yet see the analysis. OF thcse t
II cases Oh the East drive there were:
runaway wagons no damage. .
runaway wagons damage,
runaway carriages, no damage e............-......u
runaway carriages damage. agc.,......~....-.........3
olsions.
olsions. no damage
unaways with collisions, no damage ..............
0naways with collisions. s.damage...................4
oisons between bicycles and vehicles.
Tho collisions with bicycles produced a c
ingle injury and that was to tho bcyclist. l
he saddle-horse accidents. OF which the 7
rcat majority were not on tho drive a
roper. but on the brldlo path near the t
rive. are:
unaway saddle horses no damage
unaway saddle horses
There were also four cases Of "unman- t
gcable" horses resulting In no damage. a
nd one case OF horse frightened by Il
icycle. with no damage.
fairs: 5pk TO
saaxsy xagGaa r. 1aIks