Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-22
An Appian Way for Motorists.


Long Island, like the Empire Of
ancient Rome. il to have its Applan
Way|a great understanding park
way, lined by miles Of sea and Sound
coast, by numerous springfield lakes,
by ancient hills and waving trees, and
beautiful vistas If wood and water.
Rome's great highway was conceived
for military and utilitarian purposes:
Long Islands parkway to serve pleas
ure-loving classes only. Unlike the
road from Rome to Brindisi no domes-
tic animals nor commercial vehicles
will travel along it's way. Motor-cars.
designed and built for speed and pleas
ure, will be its sole travellers. Speed
unrestricted, save that necessary to IN
sure the safety of all users, will be
permitted and urged. Police traps will
be but a memory. Straight east to
Overhead and beyond-sixty, eighty, or
ninety miles out-this parkway will be
The embodiment of the new era. \
railroad without rails. and the users
supplying the rolling-s tock-a smooth,
dustless roadbed, hills, grades, and
stretches of level-a perfect chute, if
YOU will. with nothing in this country
or Europe that can approach it,
Think of the time it will save the
busy man of affairs, who likes to crowd
into each day a bit Of relaxation. He
will leave downtown at 3 O'Clock
IN the afternoon, take the Subway to
garage within striking distance Of
the new Rlackwels Island East River
Bridge. In twenty minutes a 6O-horse-
power car will have him at the western
terminus of the motor parkway. Here
a I'd Of al, ice n,
the gates. speed limits are left behind.
the great white way is before him. ana
with throttle open he can 60, go. go, and
keep going fifty. sixty. or ninety miles
an hour until Riyerhead or South
hampton is reached in time for a
Scotch at the Meadow Club, a round
Of golf, and refreshing dip in the surf
and all before dinner is served or the
electric lights begin to twinkle.
Possible. Yes, and sure to be an
everyday occurauce, a common one TO-
many. Thank, again, what it means,
if you live at Great Neck or Oyster
Bay or Nassau. to take a cup Of coffee
and a roll. step into your high powered
runabout. open the throttle. and drive
to Riverhead, sixty miles away, and
back in time for an early breakfast
with your family at seven OF
seven-thirty. depending on whethe-
you leave home at or five
thirty. Can it be done, Surely.
know scores of men who are counting
the days before they can do this thing
do it regularly-and be "ft" when
| they take up their duties at the down
town exchanges. Think of the greater
mental capacity, after hours in
fresh air. driving at top speed, with no
thought but to go, go faster, and a
thought for the car. There will be no
grade crossings along this new Appian
way; every intersecting highway,
trolley or steam railroad is to be pass
cd either above or below grade. and
each bridge to be constructed of REIN
forced concrete. thus eliminating re-
pairs and vibration.
This magnificent pleasure boulevard,
OF sort and for a purpose never before
constructed, will it be of var ing
"ldths-from one hundred to two hun
req feet-and with a roadway approx
nlateiy fifty feet wide. An artistic
steel fence-and there will be no less
IMAM one hundred and twenty miles Of
Twill protect the racingman and
tourist from the careless pedestrian.
the predatory domestic animal, and the
neaVy-laden farm vehicles or horse
uraWn pleasure carriages.-Harper's
Weekly