The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-09
Opposition Headed By MT. and Mrs. Wilbur Brooks Smith Too Much to
 Overcome
Bridgeporter Threatens to Call Tn State Police If Necessary-Thus One of i Country's Foremost Mo tor Events Is Lost to These Parts.

From present indications there will
 be no hill climb at Sport Hill, Easton.
 on Memorial Day and the Automo-
 bile Club of this city under whose auspices the climbs, which have be- come famous the country over, have
 been given do not believe that there
 is sufficient time to find another 1o- cality that would be as suitable as the Easton hill.
 Monday evening there will be meeting of the contest committee of the c1ub-to decide just what the final action will be. It must be admitted that the outlook today is against the event being held. Whether anything can be accomplished between now and Monday night that will change mined.
 MT. and Mrs. Wilbur Brooks Smith of this city who own property at the summit of the hill in Easton5 are vio- they have voiced their opposition in no uncertain terms. They aver that for a week or more prior to the date of the contest the hill is made the rendezvous for drivers of competing cars and that traffic on the roadway is made unsafe for life and limb. AS they frequently use the hill in driving to and from Bridgeport they say they have personally experienced annoy ances besides being subjected to dan ger.
 The Automobile Club has offered to pay for having officers stationed on the hill a week or more previous to that did not satisfy them. Both MT. and Mrs. Smith told President F. T. Staples of the Automobile Club. this morning, they would take every possi- ble means to thwart the plans of the club and would prevent the hill climb at all hazards. gal advice and had communicated with the authorities at Hartford. If the club persisted in giving the event he would seek the aid of the State DO lice and stop it by force. MT. Smith was more than emphatic and no amount of conciliatory talk on the part
 The Smiths claim a large part of Easton is opposed to the hill climb. but MT. Staples says his investtga tions do not bear out such statement. The only other person to oppose 1t actively is the town clerk who has always been opposed to it. but he has told MT. against it. He simply held an opin- ion on the matter.
 The club has the approval of the se- lectmen and so far as known every l one along the course. except the 1 Smiths, are anxious to have the climb | held. They have made money in sell | ing parking spaces. selling refresh l nents, and two years ago the Meth | odist church made enough from it's re- l freshment tent to paint the church. 1 Then the advertisement that Sport Hill l is given and excitement of a big show | with thousands of people in attend l ance are appreciated in a neighborhood | which is quiet all the rest Of the year.
 There was every prospect that this | years climb would be bigger and more | than ever. Inquiries from E makers and dealers in cars all over | the country have been received and | there was a chance that the record of | the hill might be lowered. The mfli- | tia was also favorably considering the | plan of guarding the course and the 1 was that twice the number 0f soldiers of those present last year would be available for guard duty.
 The attitude of the Smiths, however, will have a. serious effect as the club 1as no legal right to appropriate the ,oad, and only gives it's hill climbs with the tolerance and approval of the 'esidents along the course. If the hill :lirnb is abandoned it will cause disap- 1ointment to thousands who contem- plated visiting the place and enjoying he record breaking performances.
 While last years accident was greatly regretted, those injured and all spectators at the tsS'' turn had been repeatedly warned and begged to get ut of danger. The crowd persisted r remaining close to the course. This rear it was the purpose of the club to ence in the turn and place an unus- ally strong military guard at the spOt