New-York tribune., 1902-09-13
CRlTICISES SPEED LAWS
". X. VANDERBILT, JR. WILLING TO GO
ANYWHERE TO HELP LIFT
BENNETT TROPHY

According TO interview 10 be printed in Auto
mobile Topics to-day. W. X. Vanderbilt jr. says
that instead of giving up autoInObiling he will
go to England to represent this country In the
race next year for the International trophy Plans
for the automobile speedway Long Island all
perfected, he says. and he expects actual work to
begin soon 1t will connect Long Island City
with Rosyn, Long Island distance of about
twenty miles
When asked hat thought of the speed law IN
this country, Mr. Vanderbilt said:
Better inquire from the magistrate who fined
$40 week ago BY the way. there was one point
quite correct | refer 70 the evidence Of
the two women who swoLe they saw me
facts are these: in the first place I was merely
taking quiet ride in reliable little ear which
have had for three years, and which is certainly
not a racer. AT the hour mentioned by the two
women 1 was actually at the New-Haven railway
station All this | explained % the Chief Of Po-
him that l could prove by reliable witnesses that
plead guilty in order to avoid unpleasant COM
ment. ! agreed to do so. When the masistrate
had followed the Chiefs advice, and even went
frain from telling him what thought of these ah-
surd laws, especially after I had explained the
actual facts of the case and my reasons for plead
The speed laws in America to-day are most ab-
surd. The suggestion to drop the practice of pro-
hibiting SO many miles al, an hour and @ make i SO
have h seem offered It would Certainly Show the ab
surdity of the present laws in way that ought to
Mr.. Vanderbilt continued:
If the Automobile Club of America enters the
competition for the Gordon Bennett trophy. as /
thing it ought certainly to do. / shall be only
pleased to go to England Ireland. wherever
the is held. to do whatever / can to lift the
cup Whether shall succeed not Is another
question The only way Ii is by trying
Eventually. 1 think. shall bring that trophy to
America And what good thing 1T would be for
automobiling in this country!
The plans for the automobile speedway Long
Island all perfected, and expect actual work on
the road will begin shortly. / may say that w.
G. Whitney. TO whom ! mentioned the project. is
heartily in favor of it, and will back up his opin-
ions with good fnaneial support. The plans have
the Automobile Club of america. not with the
view of any official support from the club. but
Iy that may have the benefit of any suggestions
that may be offered. IL will be purely a private
enterprise. undertaken by private capital and in
tended for the of autOmObiljsts.
The road will run from Thirty-fOurth-st. ferry
the Long Island side. Rosyn, Long Island.
distance of about twenty miles. Ali the land has
been acquired. and there is no reason why we
should not have the finest short stretch of road In
the world The best devices for overcoming the
dust problem will be adopted. and in addition TO
speedway there will be abundance of room for auto
mobsts who wish to be mere spectators The
will not be subjected to the interference OF
local authorities. nor TO the speed restrictions Of
a public highway.