Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-01
HAIL THE SPEEDWAY
AN AMERICAN INSTITUTION THAT HAS
COME TO STAY.
A Lasting and FarrenchinG BeneHt
10 Any Progressive City-SuccessfuI
Precedents Established - How to
Obtain a Speedway.

/ Vi new leih fitN anu Vicinity succteu-
ed in obtaining the magnificent speed
ing course along the Harlem river, they
little knew what widespread effects
their action would have. The enthu-
siasm which prevailed at the opening
of the speedway in 1897 and the re-
newed interest In all matters relating
to good horseneSh grew more pro
nounced as time passed on. and it was
not very long before cities in all parts
of the United States made known their
| Intention To provide "A special stretch
| for the devOtecS of fast driving. Clcve-
land, Detroit. Philadelphia, Boston and
san Francisco We're among the first of
| the larger cities To follow New York in
/ the actual building and setting aside
| for the special purpose of a speedway.
/ Scores of other cities of lesser impor-
| lance, however. at later dates agitated
the question, and many haze since be-
! come successful.
| The advantages accruing TO a city or
a town from the possession of Il speed
way are numerous and convincing. Ii
/ Is doubtful If a more beneficial adjunct
/ 10 live. mp TO date community has
been brought to light in recent years.
| one of the greatest accompanying ad-
I vantagcs is the inevitable rise in the
| value of the realty holdings in the
neighborhoOd of the course. Property
Of practically no worth whatever for
/ other purposes can be readily made
/ available and placed on the .larket at
good figure as a site for driveway.
and directly resultant is the increase in
| the value of the surrounding territory
| The individual landowners are not the
only benefiCiaries. The town, county
and state in which they live also come
| in for their share of the gains. The
county places a higher tax assessment
on property in question ana so replen
ishes its Golfers. while the town and
state gain by the influx of people at
tracted and the variety of interest Gre
atcd by the founding Of the new insti
| tuition. The amount of money brought
into town 10y a speedway is an vim-
pOrtant consideration.
a noticeable example of the effect
Of the establishing of speedway in
locality before deemed unsuited for
any good purpose is afforded by the
| New York city speeding stretch. The
visitor who had not seen the lengthy
eXpanse in ten years would scarcely
recognize the place today. What was
| then rough. unattractive spot of
| wilderness has been transformed into
beautiful park extending for two
miles along the Hudson river.
While no other city in the country
| controls the wealth represented by
| New York, yet there are hundreds of
communities that could construct
| speedway on less elaborate scale
and still derive much benefit there.
from. Bayonne, \. j., has proved this.
Less than year ago mile and half
| straightaway. parallel with the well
known Hudson county boulevard, was
! reserved for the use of the horSemen,
and the crowds seen there daily bear
ample testimony as to its popularity,
The business man finds recreation and
relaxation from engrossing cares while
whirring through the frosty atmos.
phere at brisk pace, and the man who
drives because of an inherent love of
the horse finds unalloyed enjoyment
There are many methods by which
speedway may be obtained. The
| establishment of the various driveways
through the country has brought to
light a variety of schemes. Each line
of action has advantages according to
the district where the proposition is
being considered and according TO the
circumstances governing and intiuenc-
ing the actions of the persons concern
ed The existence of boards of park
commissioners in various counties
! throughout the different states has
proved of great service to speeding
enthusiasts. Through the medium of
| these boards whole sections of land
have been set aside for the especial
use of the horSemeu and kept in good
condition. The Fairmount park drive
| way in Philadelphia was procured in
this manner. and, although the com
the most frequent patrons of the speed
way, yet their reserving of the land
was undoubtedly disinterested ac-
| ton. San Francisco's beautiful speed,
| way in Golden Gate park. more than
mile in length and 1870 feet wide,
| was also got from park commission
| ers. If city has an association or
| club of horsemen strong enough tinan.
| cally, a speedway can be built at the
expense of the organization, making 1t
entirely a private enterprise. or the
procurement of special legislation
might possibly be within the scope of
I AN influential body of men. There is
hardly state Legislature in the land
that would not favor a bill introduced
to further plan so plainly a benefit
| to the commonwealth in general
Another plan is to prevail on the 10
cal municipal government to permit
the utilization of outlying roads in
sparsely settled parts or to have the
county board set aside Il part of some.
| disuSed thoroughfare in the county
| There is hardly section in the whole
United States where one or more OF
these suggestions regarding the getting
of a speedway could not be followed
with success.
There is no doubt that the speedway
has come to stay. 1t is an American
institution and is typical Of the pro.
gressive nature of its originator. It's
value is very plain to the American
people. and it is probable that the
twentieth century will witness the
erection of speedways in or near every
city la wing claim IN imnortancp