New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-28
TILE SPEEDWAY.

The city has spent millions Of dollars on the
Speedway which stretches along the west
bank OF the Harlem River. and it is desirable
that every part Of this extensive area snail be
put in faultess condition at an early day. 1t
would be waste Of time now TO discuss the
question whether or not it was wise 10 use SO
large amounts Of public funds for this under
taking the cost OF which has much exceeded
the original estimates. Before the recent Strong
administration took office certain Tammany IA
vorites got sumptuous plcllings out OF this en-
terprise, and a great deal of money was mis-
applied. When Tammany control was set aside
more careful supervision was enforced, but the
Speedway as n whole Is melancholy example
of the manner in which many municipal
schemes are mlsmanaged The present Park
Commissioner has acted wisely in forbldding
the use OF any part OF the road until the whole
Is made as fit as Il can be made. In q few
weeks It is now expected. all the labor upon
the Speedway will be finished, and the drivers
of feet roadsters will take possession with re-
joicng. Clearly enough. the Speedway when
1t is thrown open TO the trotters will provide
amusement for q large class Of Newly Workers,
a class whose paths have not been altogether
paths of peace for several years.
In the eighties and in earlier decades Seventh
ave- was swarming with skilful reinsmen, but
that avenue has not for a long time afforded
opportunities for testing the speed of the road
sters. 1t has been much numbered with build
ing operations, and it has been so crowded with
vehicles that lively brushes" between trotters
were out of the question. Jerome-ave. at one
era furnished ample facilities for enjoyable
driving, but later it became the prey Of sewer
aud tl,o hull
ers OF streetcar lines. Therefore the owners of
fast horses turned away from 1t with rueful
looks Now Fleetwood Park. which in the old
DAYS was the theatre of many famous contests.
has been abandoned, and the men who delighted
to put their horses through their PAGES upon its
track have no rallyng place which suits them
al present. Nevertheless they are not despair
ing Energetic NEWCOMERS are looking for
grounds of the right sort for n new trotting
track, and they hope within a reasonable time
to 90. hold OF satisfactory substitute for Fleet
wood Yet the task of constructing a new trot-
ting track is not a matter Of few days or a
few weeks. Months OF toll will be required.
For the reasons herein indicated the opening Of
the entire Speedway at the earliest date prac-
ticabe and in the best condition possible will
be hailed with joy by every owner Of fine
roadster. and by all the people in or near New
York who take pleasure in driving or in watch
ing the nlmble action Of high-cass horses.
Rapid roadsers, agile PAGERS, space -deyour-
Ing trotters and all classes of horses which are
used for pleasure. display or sport can now be
bought at much lower prices than those which
prevailed n few seasons ago. A tremendous
boom in American breeding farms was devel-
oped in many parts of the country in the elgh-
ties and in the early ninetlcs. This excessive
boom has been followed by n natural reaction,
and 1t Is now easy TO purchase trOtters which
can be trained to trot in less than go or even
than 900, at figures which would have seemed
grotesquely low in 1883, while animals capable
Of exhilarating speed on the road are far more
plentiful and far cheaper than at any earlier
period. For these reasons and for many others,
upon which II is not now necessary TO dwell,
our new Speedway will have a host Of patrons.