The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-28

| present, among the y Lieut.. Gen Nelson
A. Miles. at that tue in command OF
the United States army. and one Of the
most ardent admirers of harness horses
in the country. an admiration expressed
by his ownership Of several with ex-
cellent records.
Speedy Start Secured.
No time was lost at this gathering.
General Miles was elected president,
committees were appointed and sub
scriptions we're at once solicited for the
construction OF Speedway along the
river drive from the foot Of Nineteenth
street south to the Potomac. Money was
literally subscribed and the work pro-
crossed SO rapidly that on October 70,
or the same year. the course was form
ally opened with a parade which at
tracted hundreds Of turnOuts, and a
series of highly interesting races in
which the fastest steppers Of Washing
ton and Baltimore competed. The gem
eral public was admitted 10 the course
on October %
! Finding that this temporary Speedway
did not afford sufficient room II was pro-
posed 10 build another and more perma-
nent one on the Virginia side Of the
river. but after investigation the plan
was not considered feasible and was
abandoned. although at one time It had
many warm supporters. Races were con-
tinued on tho Speedway every Saturday.
but when the dredging operations were
begun il vas necessary 10 dump snud
on the course. which put it out Of COM
| mission until December of last year
While the dredging was IN progress the
drivers found refuge on the roadway
extension OF Z street. but interest died
away.
Record Time Made.
Through the efforts Of Charles McDer-
mott the dredging was hurried and as
| soon as the opportunity offered Mr.. Nc
| Dermott put large force Of men and
road machines 10 work at his own eX-
pense 10 rebuild and enlarge the Speed
way. So rapidly did he progress that the
| date for the reopening was set for De-
| cember .. OF last year. but Il was later
postponed until December - when the
course was once more turned over 90
the public. It was gala occasion on
which four races were pulled Of In fast
time IN the presence Of a crowd OF be-
| tween 400 and $3.50 people. The large
/ surprise TO the officials OF the assOCia-
ton. who were delighted with the great
! popular interest displayed in harness
horse competitions
Since then the Speedway has been the
attractio each Saturday afternoon for
the best horses in the District, and the
cl0seness of the brushes and the intense
but friendly rivalry which has arisen
between the various owners caused a
/ constant increase in the number or COM
| petitOTs and onlookeTs.
The present officers and directors OF
the Road Drivers and Riders AssOcia-
ton were elected at the annual meeting
on November 3, and are as follows:
Life member and honorary president,
Gen Nelson a Miles. president. p. V
De Graw: first vice president, Col
Charles s. Brom~eu, second vice pTesl-
dent, Col Thomas ". SymOnds; third
vice president, E Z. Taylor. sr.i fourth
vice president. Robert Callahan, 81,
NTH vice president John Gheeu. il,
secretary. J. NJ. Morrison, treasurer. f
II. Droop; directors. Charles McDer-
mott. Charles Crawford, Percy Crawford
Thomas Bond, John ". Gheen. Charles
White D. Lincoln Z. +. Taylor, IT,,
John W Preston, Prof. J. Z. Gales, l.
Mccormick. F. r. Javins. A. G. Brooke,
Col. c. Z Hartung, and j. d. Robinson