The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-02-09
A SPEED WAY IN NEW nApEN.


am aware that your paper will often
champion the cause Of public improve
ments I have decided to write you re-
garding a speedway in this city-that
Is, some street or avenue where own
ers Of fast horses can meet for pleasure
driving and speed as fast as possible,
as they are allowed to do on speedways
In other cities. In many cities where
speedways are established they are re-
garded as being very beneficial. 1t has
often been stated that the establish
ment of Riverside drive in New York
city has occasioned the sale of many
valuable and very fast horses. In
Of fast horses would naturally cause
an increase in the business of grain
dealers, carriage manufacturers, har-
ness dealers and builders. Employ
ment would be given to hostlers and
many others. There are in this city
many very wealthy persons who are
so rich that they can afford to crafty
any particular fancy. Many of these
persons are admirers of fine horses.
The establishment of speedway here
might be an incentive for the pur-
chase of horses and would give them
an opportunity to see and be seen on
the drive.
Regarding popular drives this city is
retrograding or going backward. Whal-
ley avenue was formerly much better
place for fast driving than it is now.
The street car tracks take some of the
space and the snow from the tracks Is
thrown very nearly into the middle of
street, leaving smaller space than for
merly for pleasure driving. The Boule-
ward road was formerly the most popu-
lar speeding drive in the city, particu-
larly during the winter, but now the
street car tracks occupy the center OF
the road, consequently the old time
sport is prevented. Thousands of per-
sons have had considerable pleasure
watching the sleighing carnivals dur
ing previous winters on these two ave-
nues This calls to mind the article
dated February 4 and published in a
recent edition of the Evening Leader.
g In this excellent article the writer
makes many good points and correctly
refers to the pleasure Of the spectators
at sleighing carnivals. / endorse the
article and am sure express the sem
timents of many persons when l say
] shall be pleased to see In any of the
city papers more articles like the one
referred to which appeared over the
non de plume of "a Has Been" Near
ly every city in this state has speed
way, which in some cases is a certain
street designated by the mayor where
persons may drive at unlimited speed,
but New Haven, although older and
larger than many other cities, has no
speeding drive. Residents of other
cities have stated that their speedway
Is as much appreciated as any Of their
public parks.
Last winter I had the snow on the
Orange street asphalt scraped, leveled
and prepared for fast driving. When
the snow was too light and the weather
was cold enough to freeze, I had the
roadway watered by sprinkling
wagon The work was paid for by the
horse fanciers, who contributed gener-
ously to the fund to which also con-
tributed. = In consequence of this
preparation of the snow there was
much enjoyment afforded to those who
were on the drive in sleighs and also
to spectators last season. I have been
requested to superintend the same
work this winter and have been Of
fered considerable money with which
to carry on the work, but owing to
business cares I have been obliged to
decline to do this, although 1 am in
favor of the project. Under the exist
ing circumstances will make the fol-
lowing proposition, but if anyone can
make a better one shall be pleased to
hear it:
I propose to have subscription books
left at convenient places, for instance,
the Tontine hotel, the Gem, 104 Church
street, and at my store 100 Grand ave-
nue., where persons may subscribe the
amount of money they are willing to
pay for the preparation of the snow
for fast speeding. Some contractor or
anyone interested may be engaged to
superintend the work. If snow falls,
quick work is necessary for the reason
that the beautiful snow does not often
remain long in this city. Sometimes
the snow is so deep that the drivers
say "the footing Is not good to-day but
will be better tomorrow" and during
the next day the same remark is often
made. While they are waiting for good
footing for horses the snow disappears.
During the recent sleighing I was fire.
quently asked to show my horse Blue
Light at speed, but the snow was so
deep that it was not prudent to drive
fast.
If Orange street is to be designated
as the drive the snow should be lev
eled from curb to curb SO as to make
all the space available and afford good
driving close to the curb for those who
return at slow gait to the starting
point and thus give more space for
speeding in the center of the street.
Many horsemen, myself among the
number, appreciate N. w. Hubinger's
offer of the free use of the half mile
track at Elm City park for sleighing
carnivals and if a majority of drivers
favor the track, will gladly acquiesce.
During the sleighing last week on
Orange street the police protection was
very beneficial. One mounted officer
and several policemen were present to
warn drivers when they were impru-
dent or out of proper line
CLINTON AVENUE FOR A SPEED
WAY.
An excellent place for a speedway
- o,,f