The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-02
MOTOR HIGHWAYS POPULAR.
LONG ISLAND EXAMPLE LIKELY
TO BE FOLLOWED.

Special ROadways for Automobiles. a
Cherished Dream Since the Advent OF
Power Driven Vehicles, Likely TO he
Quickly Realized In Many Localities.
That the special motor highway which
IL to be built on Long Island within the
coming year will fill a long felt want" has
been proved beyond any possibility Of ar
gument by the interest that has been dis
played in the project by Automobiles and
manufacturer Of motor cars. h. X. Thomas
Of Buffalo, one of the technical advisers OF
the racing board Of the American Auto
mobile Association, and a director OF the
company which Is to construct the road
way on Long Island, has expressed the
opinion thai there will be many similar
roads constructed in various parts Of the
country in the next few years. That such
projects have the enthusiastic approval of
motorists In other parts Of the country is
shown by the following comments by the
Motor Age Of Chicago:
1T has often been said that the best
and easiest way to do a thing is just simply
30 do it. Following this plan the New York
enthusiasts, who lave undertaken to build
an exclusive highway for motor cars, seem
more than likely and, in fact, perfectly
sure &c accomplish it. Not only have they
had the boldness to attempt to put through
a speedway, but they have had the courage
TO go further and lay their plans for a great
highway OF magnificent distances. Ex-
elusive motoring ~turnpikes a been the
dream Of motordom since the coming OF
the road locomotive. Perfectly practical
propositions for racing INC testing circuits
have been praised, but there ae invariably
been a string of incredulity attached to the
laudation. All this was only a short time
ago--a few short years, even months.
The world has changed in its attitude
toward the motor car and motorists.
Now come the millionaire Manhattan
motorists to the scratch with serious in
tent. In a jiffy the obstacles hitherto
deemed insuperable vanish in h air.
Enthusiasts come forward with their
offers Of money, manufacturers volunteer
subscriptions and capitalists see in a motor
car toll load 50 good an investment that
thew actually pile over n another with
offers to underwrite the whole scheme.
The obtaining Of a right OF way, always
before regarded as an insurmountable
stumbling block. is shown to be the simplest
thing in the world. Property owners,
quick 10 realize the increment IN land value
sure to follow in the path of a motor high
wav. are to offer a right Of a. free. So it
10 that the promoters Of the scheme stand
in q fair way OF having the greater part of
the course donated and are assured that.
there being no necessity for a fixed route
or direction such as is demanded by a trolley
line or a railway, they need only to follow
the line OF the least price resistance to
secTe-a right Of way almost at their own
dgure.
The building Of the New York motor
car highway having received encourage
ment amounting well nigh 10 assurance,
already other cities are discussing and
planning for speed ways OF their own. In
n word, New York has but started an idea
that will spread all over the United States.
IT will be Just as easy for other great cities
70 hnd financial backing and secure rights
Df way. In fact, Father Knickerbocker
may have to hustle hard to hnish his motor
highway before some OF his big and little
brothers and sisters nave completed seed
ways OF their own, and even announced
TO the world a series Of events in the speed
line OF interest to the fast growing motoring
public.
The advantages, possibilities and. in
fact, necessity OF exclusive highways for
the new vehicle ere ~self-evident and have
been exploited by many eloquent tongues
and convincing pens. Speedways nave
hing been a dream. AThis dream now seems