New-York tribune., 1898-10-24
ON THE SPEEDWAY.
THOUSANDS OF HORsEMEN ENJOY THE
FINE WEATHER AND THE
GOOD ROAD.

IT.. oooi hracing weather OF yesterday was de-
lightful for driving, and hundreos OF nor
availed themselves OF the good conditions loI '''e
snort The Speedway was well filled with fast
,ro,ers and PAGERS and the results Of many or the
brushes between them will be talked over 1or Some
time 70 come The cool winds which blew for the
greater part of the day were tempered oy the
warm sum- and even when the sun sank low IN 'he
heavens the bluffs which shelter the speedway
kent the cold blasts OF air from reaching the road
As on previous Sundays, a large number % people
found the Speedway mos' pleasant walk ana
many OF them lotered there for hours so IN
terested did they become in the eXhlbiuon OF uo'-
ting and pacing which they saw
There has been considerable harsh anc unmerited
criticism Of the police on the Speedway Of late and
both the mounted mer and the patroimen VINO
were stationed there yesterday worked hard TO en-
force the rules which were formulated by the Park
BOARD The mounted men who were sent to the
Speedway when Il was first thrown open 10 the
public were among the most experienced In the
city They all came from posts In SeVenth-aVe..
and All had good records in stopping runaWays
These men have performed good service since they
were sent 10 the Speedway. yet some wou!d-be
critics who know nothing of the difficulties under
which these policemen labor seek TO crltcise ihem.
A mounted policeman on tho Speedway on a day
like Yesterday has his hands full all the time
What with the crowds OF fast and spirited horses.
driven genoray-thauk heavon.-by experienced
drivers and the multitude of animals driven by
inexperienced men and boys, the policeman who
ESCAPES without having 10 report an accident on
his most is lucky indeed. Then again the people
continue TO disobey the rules OF the Speedway TO
an alarming extent. Many Of them siill insist on
crossing the roadway, instead OF using the sub
ways taking great risk Of being run down by
the horses. There five mounted policemen sta
toned on the Speedway. which Is two and a quar-
ter long. and It is simply imposs bic FOR them
% prevent the breaking OF these rules. When peo-
PIE ire caught in the act they plead ignorance. As
The Tribune advocated some ks ago. the plac-
/ ing Of few signs the Speedway would GER
tainy accomplish much good The pedestrians
who visit IL would longer be able to plead ig-
norance Of the rules
There is a class OF people who appear 10 take
pleasure in evading the rules. and incidentally the
policemen while doing so and among them are Il
number of cyclists. II would seem improbable that
a man or woman who rides a bicycle does not know
ny this time that bicycles permitted on
the Speedway. much has been printed IN the
newspapers on the subject. Nevertheless the po-
licemen have much trouble every day to keep
cyclists off In fact. OF The riders so per
sistent that they get in spite OF the efforts Of
the officers There is steep and dangerous path
running up from Manhattan Field to the Speed
way, and yesterday a policeman captured young
woman just she had climbed this path painfully
dragging her wheel behind her II was a dlfncult
feat even for a man. and II just goes show what
pains and risks people will take to break the
Speedway rules.
/ A telephone box for the benefit Of the police has
Lecn placed on the north side OF High Bridge. 1t
was in use for the first time yesterday and viii
! be convenient IN ambulances or other assist
! ance are needed quickly at my time II connects
with the Manhattan Hosp al and the Thir.y-third
/ Precinct station.
Among the large number OF horsemen out yes,eE-