The Washington times., 1902-02-12
Colonel Bingham's Scheme
Meets With General
Approval.
BILL TO Be OFFERED In TEE HOUSE
business Men, as Well as Horsemen.
Endorse PInn-DriIl Ground and
Athletic Features of scheme-Rep-
sentative Weeks to Offer the
Measure.

A bill providing for the Improvement
| Of the tract of ground lying west of the
Washington Channel and known as The
| Flats" and the construction thereon of
a speedway and athletic grounds will
shortly be submitted 20 the District Com.
mittee Of the House of Representatives.
Speedway Long Sighed For.
The movement for the building Of Q
speedway had its origin with the en-
thusiastic horsemen of Washington. who
have long sighed in vain for leave and
/ license to give rein to their thorough
breds, unhindered by the guardians of the
law.
Representative Weeks OF Michigan re-
Gently introduced a bill In the House pro-
viding for the construction of such speed
way, but he had no definite plans for the
/ location or construction of the drive The
desirability OF building such a track has
for some time been apparent, not only
to those interested directly in horsehesh
and those who have fast trotters to drive,
but to many others who enjoy an i'm
promptu race from the spectators point
of view. But until recently all parties
have seemed unable to get together aud
work out a definite plan. Now, however,
such a plan has finally been evolved and
II has met with the appreciation Of horse
men, professional and amateur, and it
seems that it will be pushed TO an early
and favorable contamination
Colonel B,,gham's Scheme.
The author Of the plan which will be
submitted to the House Committee on
District Affairs, and which has already
met with the appreciation of some of the
members of the committee, is Col. Theo-
dore Bingham. 1t provides for the i'm
proyement Of the flats near the Long
Bridge and the building of an egg-shaped
speedway for fast driving, with a car
riage drive around the outer edge of the
oval.
The shape of the proposed drive. or
track, viii not be an exact oval. as one of
the sides will be one and one eighth miles
IN length, and the other one mile. 1t is
also projected to erect tennis courts.
baseball. football, and polo grounds In
the interior of the speedway A military
parade ground is also projected for the
convenience Of the militia, and all the
local organizations which are now ham,
rered for lack of suitable place to drill.
Mr.. Weeks Adopts Plans.
When Mr.. Weeks introduced his bill in
the House a few days ago. ne was in
ignorance of the fact that the local horse
fans" had scheme already outlined.
When he became cognizant of that fact.
and looked over the plans. he became one
of the most enthusiastic advocates of the
idea. Il is understood that General Miles
looks on the project with appreciation. as
do number of Congressman besides
scores OF private citizens who are own
ers Of blooded stock 1t is believed that
when President Roosevelt is made famil-
lar with the plans ne will lend the plan
his heartiest support, because of his WELL
known love Of outdoor sports
Capital Behind other Cities.
The good sleighing of last week, which
witnessed several lively brushes for su-
premacy in speed OF the ellipse south OF
the White House. emphasized the deslra-
bility of speedway Tor Washington. The
Capital City is behind most other towns
of half the size of the country in this
respect, according to the horsemen.
There is no place where a man with
pair of prancing steeds, eager to take the
kinks out of their legs, can have full
swing without danger of forfelting some
collateral in the Police Court the next
morning The speedway will bring busi-
ness to the livery stable proprietors and
many other business men. and they are
practically unit in their commendation
of the proposition.