New-York tribune., 1910-07-24

There is an eight-mile stretch of boule-
ward, 100 feet wide, down on Staten Island
not forty minutes from Manhattan, that
would make an ideal speedway for motor
lists. And there is hope that this piece OF
road may be set aside as a place Wnere
the automobilsts may try out the speed OF
their cars under proper restrictions.
Motorists have not objected much when
the owners of fast trotting horses and sac
die horses have had set aside for them
special speedways and bride paths at the
general tax expense through state and city
sanction.
II there is necessity for a speedway for
horses surely there is one needed for motor
car drivers where they can test their cars
The statement of it's makers that partlcu-
lar car has a speed of forty or fifty miles
an hour cannot be proved, as an attempt
to demonstrate it would result in an inn
mediate arrest by the police.
A speedway would also reduce danger on
the public highways, because every car
owner, if such a speedway was set ASIDE
could drive there as fast as he wanted and
would not have to use the public road 10
determine the speed Of his car
The people of Staten Island have known
for about ten years that this eight-mile
boulevard 100 feet wide existed, but few
outside of the Borough of Richmond knew
of IT. The Tribune motoring department.
representative recently inspected the boule-
ward with Charles A. Schultz president OF
tho Richmond Automobile Club, and H. h
Buel. Superintendent Of highways for the
Borough of Richmond. The boulevard no"
runs from Atkinson avenue. which Is a
connection of the South Beach Road, and
ends at the Westfield Township line, about
five miles from Tottenville.
The driving club of Staten Island used 1t
at one time but when the half-n1lle track
of the Richmond County Fair Association
at Dongan Hills was opened the trott1ng
mon transferred their speed matlneeS 10
the half-mile track. Some one mas SAID
that the boulevard. which is known as the
Southern boulevard and which can be
seen on the map of the Borough of R1ch-
rncnd starts nowhere and ends nowhere,
and is as much isolated as would be a
boulevard in the wilds of Long Island.
TIE people of the township of Westfield
objected to the road or boulevard being eX-
tended through their territory to Totten-
Vile. so it is quite likely that If the state
and city took up the matter Of making the
boulevard a special speedway for automo-
hiIists the road would be extended or
heightened eastward so as TO connect WIN
Vanderbilt avenue and also to become a
state boulevard highway across the
island.
It is suggested that this boulevard be set
aside certain hours of the day Tor autofno-
bilists. and as there is little traff1c there al
any time this could be done Win safety
1t might be protected when speed NrlalS
are on. The road will need a new sur
face as more than half of it is at present
weed grown.
AS the State of New York has decided to
take more than 100000 yearly as speclai
tax from automobilists II is natural 'hat
they should ask for something III return
The Richmond County Automobile Club
has ndorsed the proposition IN regard TO
the boulevard, and a resolution TO thal
effect was drawn up. Staten Islanders be
lieve that the speedway would De spleh-
did advertisement for the borough ana
would bring a good deal OF business ana
prestige to Richmond.
Charles NJ Brown, manager or the WIN
ton Motor Car Company, placed Two WIN
ton cars, one 1911 model, at the dlSposai
of press representatives and borough or
fcials on Wednesday in order that an
examination of the boulevard could be
made. This investigation pleased Louis
A Tribus, the consulting engineer OF the
Borough OF Richmond, who believes that
the proposition TO improve and set aside
the boulevard for automobile speed uses
at times will meet with the approval of
most people on the island. A careful IN
spection was made. The president or tie
automobile club. Mr. Schultz. and II. Il,
Buel, the superintendent of highways. made
every effort to give the party all the infor-
nation necessary.
The Staten Islander newspaper OF
St George comments the project edi-
torially follows:
''The latest movement in reference 10 the
Southfield Boulevard. II carried into effect,
is going TO make Staten Island even more
popular with automobilists than at present.
1t will add greatly to the safety OF the
public especially on the winding Richmond
and Amboy roads
wv. j. Morgan. accompanied by Thomas
b. Low. OF Chicago, and A II. Damon. of