New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-03

AGAINST RACING IN HIGHWAYS
II L. ARNOLD EXPECTS NO MORE SPEED TESTS UNTIL
A PRIVATE COURSE is OPENED
BLAMES TRACK AND POLICE
MEMBER OF AUTO CLUB THINKS OCEAN
PARKWAY THE PROPER COURSE.

The automobile speed trials on Staten Island
on Saturday which led to the killing of two
persons and injury to many more were much
discussed in circles yesterday where automophe
enthusiasts meet and talk. member OF the
Automobile Club of America who was seen yes
terday said that the committee of the cluo IN
charge of the speed trials had made grievous
mistake when 1t decided upon the SouthneId
course on Staten Island rather than Ocean
Parkway in Brooklyn, where Fourier MADE
the mile in 81 A. seconds last year According
10 this member who for various reasons would
NOT hermit his name to be used, jealousy be-
tween the club in this borough and the Long
Island Automobile Club indirectly the cause
of all the trouble. Ocean Parkway could nave
been secured again for the trials, he SAID. Out
the New-York club did not like the idea OF haV-
ing the trials over the same course. and the I'M
fortunate selection Staten Island was the re-
suit
How any committee with any knowledge of
speed and curves could have selected such a
course surpasses my comprehension The ma
ca 5amized road on Staten Island is crowned
sbarplv with dirt sides. 1t practically inn
possible for a machine to keep on this ROAD
going at full speed and take that turn l
watched the flight of the Baker machine on
Saturday. and l have since talked with MT
Baker regarding the fest. When the machine
made the turn in the road it was going at a rate
of q mile in Sc seconds In making the turn or
bend in the road the machine left the crown OF
the road and went into the dirt at the side. In
trying to steer it back into the centre of the road
the automobile twice left the middle Of the
road Near the red cross. or hospital tent, the
current had been shut off. for the automobile
al that time-was travelling at rate of less than
a mile in IS seconds.
Nearing the car tracks. the automobile
swerved side. and did not go over the
tracks covered with dirt. but struck the ex-
posed steel rails. This caused the machine to
swing sharply to the right, and il did so the
wheels slowed, with the result that IT made
sharp turn following the curve of a fshhook
That the power had been shut off and the brakes
applied before this is proved by the fact that
the machine went only a few feet after the
wheels slowed. On the straight course on Ocean
Parkway, in Brooklyn 1 think the machine
would have made mile in So seconds. AS 1t is
Fournier's old record will stand for the time
being. The police were also to blame. 1 know
that those in charge Of the trials sent auto
mobiles down the road more than once asking
the people 10 get back off the road
Horace L. Arnold practical machinist, and
a friend of Mr.. Baker who the machine
said yesterday that he was of the opinion that
such contests should not be held upon the pub
lie highway any time but that If they were
precautions should be taken which would pre-
vent such accidents that of Saturday. In
France he said, police are stationed about
thirty feet apart, each side of the course and
the course is roped OFF we'll"
IT do not look upon the machine as jugger-
naut or anything of the kind said Mr.. Arnold
When the trolley were first introduced in
Brooklyn somebody was killed nearly every day.
You seldom hear Of serious accidents now. Some
people have pointed TO the sharp nosed machine
and have called il shark monstrosty and
other outlandish names. The machine was built
for speed. TO offer little resistance to the air
possible so that it would cut through the air
like a fish cuts through the water That sharp
nose responsible for the death of two peo-
pie. but suppose the machine had been built
broad in front like ordinary automobiles 1t
would have killed DOZENS where the other killed
two.
Il do not believe In racing upon the high
ways" continued Mr.. Arnold and it should not
be permitted. This question will be solved when
the automobile enthusiasts have finished their
proposed fifty-nile private road on Long Island
Until then do not expect to see any more such
public trials the highways. Roped in and
properly policed private road, there would
be no danger to anybody, with the possible
machines"
Mr Arnold believed that the strange actions
OF the Baker machine due not to
improper building by the maker that the cur
rent of brake could not be controlled, but to the
fact that wooden rims were used the wheels
instead of steel The wreckage showed
wheel entirely crushed. with the wire spokes
twisted about the hub. Mr.. Arnold argues that
either the wooden rim broke. causing one OF the
tires to explode, that the explosion of the
tire caused the rim to break He thinks that
with steel rims used instead OF wood the
machine would not have Slowed ii did
HERE WITH KIDNAPPED DAUGHTER