The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-09
BRooKLYN,s TROLLEY SPEEDWAY.
4 Stretch where Cars Make Fast limo Through
Clouds or Dust.

This is frightful - cried a man on a stand at
the Grant celebration as a sandstorm hit him.
"Oh. that's nothing" reioined his companion,
giving every evidence of being happy, sandstorm
or no sandstone.
"Whcw - exclaimed the first, digging the
dust out OF his eyes, ears, and ~nostrils.
Live in a section OF Brooklyn where they're
improving the parks. and You'll get so you
won't mind it," said his companion.
That is only one Of the Disadvantages of tho
improvements now going on in the parks of
Brooklyn. Most OF the new parks which are
hcing improved are tracts in the wilderness, far
from human habitation. so that it doesn't mat
ter much what is going on there. A few are SO
situated that the general public is impressed
strongly with the fact that improvements are in
progress. That is the case with the eastern sec
ton of Prospect Park. East Of Flatbush avenue
there is a tract OF park lands. the title OF which
was long in dispute. These lands have always
been OF peculiar benefit to the public. Pending
the litigation. everybody felt himself free to
lump there any old rubbish which couldn't be
acquired is exceedingly disrcputablc in appear
ancc: but the practice saved lots OF trouble and
money TO fEnral.mindcd people; Al that has
confer another hcnefit on the public in place of
the dumping privileges. l. has given to Brook
Greater New York. il not in the world.
From the entrance to Prospect Park Flatbush
avenue runs down n long hill to the ancient
town of Flatbush. On the west side is Prospect
Park, on the east side are the park lands which
are being improved. SO far ms is distinguishable
with the naked eye, the improvement consists In
dumping vast quantities Of light. lonmy soil
over the accumulated rubbish of years. This
makes splendid dust. The winds have n free
sweep all the way from Europe over this tract.
They come from the ocean hungry for dust and
catch up huge clouds Of il. Formerly. people
may have travelled on this section of Flatbush
avenue: now little ira file Is seen save the flying
trolley cars and u few bicyclists on the far side.
walk. Thus the dust both gives the occasion for
speed and clears the avenue for a spcedway.
the conductor closes every door and window
tight. just MS the windows and doors are closed
when a abroad train is to make n dash through
a forest fire. The motormnn jams the crank
around to its farthest notch, and sees that the
brake swinEs clear. and kicks the gong like mad.
With a rapidly increasing roar the trolley car
dashcs into the cloud OF dust. AS its speed in
creascs. 1t sways and joltS, and the passengers
are thrown about in their seats. A Coney Island
tohoggan slide or razzlc-daZzle OF the most i'm.
proved type is nothing TO IL. The regular pas
sscngcrs. spc"k of il AS shooting the chute. al.
though the Concy Island clutes were tame be-
side II. because they ran smoothly.
As showing how fast trolley cars can run. this
speedway il interesting. Every fourth trolley
pole is painted white. The trolley poles are
about l25 feet apart in this section Of the road.
and the end OF tho trolley speedway. That
makes its length half u mile. Now. the trolley
cars sometimes mako the run in one minute,
which is nj the rate of thirty miles an hour. II
will he seen. therefore,. that a ride on the trolley
speedway Is not commonplace.