New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-10
THE DRIVING CLUB ALMOST DEAD.
IT Is AN ORGANIZATION. BUT ALL IT'S OFFICERS
HAVE RESIGNED.

IT ~ AN ORGANIZATION. BUT ALL IT'S OFFICERS
HAVE RESIGNED.
The Driving Club is In serious straits On Tues
day night the president. secretary and majority
OF the Executive Committee resigned. The cause OF
all the trouble is said be the failure OF the efforts
made 10 select and equip another racetrack. Since
the Fleetwood track closed last fall the club
has been without headquarters. and II has been
most difficult 10 awaken any enthusiasm among tho
members in behalf Of IA movement for new outfit
Alfred de Cordova, president OF the organization
appointed a special subcommittee to investigate
and report the question OF a desirable site for
the new track. Among those considered were the
East Side swamp property near Bay Chester. and
the property In JeroIne-ave. near Dunwoode. When
the committee reported II recommended the pur-
chase OF the swamp property which was held, 1t is
said. at a value Of $1,000 an acre. The names or
James Butler and W. +. d. Stokes. two mportan;
members OF this committee did not appear on the
report. Besides the cost ot the land. at 900 an
acre II was estimated that It would take at least
$500 build and grade the track. Soon after the
report was handed IN several members OF the com
mttee resigned. and Il limited that considerable
dissatisfaction existed over the way things had
turned out. Mr. De CordOva made every effort 10
bring about decisive action OF sort but failed
to get quorum together.
The crisis ched last Tuesday night. when
a meeting convened at the Windsor In re-
Spouse to a special and urgent call sent out by the
president. Among those who attended were Alfred
de Cordova, c. II. Mcdonald. Luke Burke, LydelI
Whitehead Samuel McMan, Frederick S. Stein
way and Frederick Detz Those present proceeded
TO elect J. p. Robertson TO fiji the place OF James
McClenahan. Having obtained quorum Mr. De
Cordova took up the subject of the track and
handled IT without gloves He pointed out that all
interest in the future Of the club was lacking and
that the attempt to settle upon location for
new track had failed. lie then announced his res
igua ton president. The others present then
handed IN their resi- gnatiOns.
Mr. De COrdova. when seen by Tribune reporter
yesterday afternoon. explained that. In spite or al
rnmors TO the contrary. the best OF good FEELING
prevailed among those who hed been present at the
meeting. MY desire to give Newly DIRK a hrst-cass
trotting track is too well known to need comment
at this time" ne remarked. For considerable
length Of time those associated with me in the
management Of the affairs OF the Driving Club
have been trying IN every way to find site which
failed for the that every spot situated 10 as
to be accessible and within easy reach OF the city
has been held by the owner AT prob bitive price
No place could be found within twelve miles OF
Twenty -third-st suitable for our purposes. This
distance 10 great. a driver would have 10 20
too far. His horse would have TO be allowed 10
cool down and rest before attempting 10 mako
From my personal experience am decidedly OF
the opinion that interest IN the trotting horse has
disappeared from among the Followers OF racing IN
this locality. IL contest for trotters 10 ar
ranged. a patry two thousand or three thousand
people might be induced to attend Orer O similar
persons would rush to witness the result The
trotting horse is strictly American institution,
and II great pity that such conditions exist
as are evidenced by the larnentabe aralrs OF mo
Driving Club As 10 the result Of the action or tho
meeting Tuesday. | cannot say. The club has no
officers. headquarters, no track IT Is stu an
attempt TO solve the problem. Will give my hearty
support financially and in every other way.