The Washington herald., 1911-02-26
BY l.. ID. SALE.

IL any one interested imaglnes that COL
Cosby is reclining on his oars, the thought
will be removed by taking "a stroll some
day in that part of the Potomac Park
that lies east Of the historic Long Bridge.
To begin with, the surface is being
rapidly raised to the required grade. 1t
will probably take the better part of the
year to accomplish this task The dredges
have been at this important work for
some time, the silt being pumped out OF
the channel of the Potomac River, as
was the case with the rarking lying west
of Long Bridge. In addition to the above
important work, the dump men are also
busy making the necessary fill. so that
it cannot be very long before the beauti-
fication of the park will be commenced
and the grand scheme unfolded, which
the park commission has long had In
mind.
We are informed authoritatively that
when the Potomac Park scheme is fully
worked out. no city in the United States,
and. probably, no city on the continent
of Europe will be able to claim park
that is its equal for the enjoyment and
pleasure of the public. The scheme. as
We are informed. contemplates a mile
speedway for light harness horses, a
bride path, polo grounds a road devoted
TO carriages and machines. and grounds
for athletic games Of all kinds.
We further understand that it is Quite
probable that work on the new and per-
manent Speedway will be begun late in
the fall. and that work will go toward on
il all through the winter months. IL is
more than probable that within year.
at least the Speedway will be in a condi-
tion TO be used.
The completion OF a permanent speed
way, means to the light harness horse
lovers of the District of Columbia and
adjacent territory more than appears on
the surface. 1t means renewed interest
in speed horses in this immediate section
of country. Renewed interest means that
Washington will he the best market south
Of Philadelphia and Baltimore for good
hammered and speedy road horses. Men
who are Indifferent on the subject just
al this time will become interested when
assured that they have permanent place
where they can drive their horses at
speed without violating the law.
To those who possess an mate love for
the horse. the machine with all its many
advantages and fascinations, can never
lullN SuplldHN ililtl III Nih'4l iAA'rSNASii@-
For quick transit. and for travelling
long distances with ease and comfort, the
modern machine is unrivaled. and there
is not the slightest danger that it will ever
fall into disuse. But having said all this.
there is no visible evidence that it can
fully suppant the horse. 1t can never
fully suppIant the horse. because il is
machine and has not behind it the power
Of sentiment that exists, and. has existed
for countless centuries. in all ClimeS and
under all civilization. for the horse. The
inventive genius and skill of man have
made the machine a model of elegance:
nor have We any reason 10 believe that
its possibilities :Or the comfort and in
dustriaI use Of man are exhausted. On
the contrary, there is every evidence that
it is still in the infant stages Of develop
ment.
In the promotion Of longevity its equal
has not yet been discovered. As a case in
point. take that Of the veteran road
driver Frank Wood. of New York, the
retired banker. On Friday, February TO-
he was nincty-two years old. and taking
into account his busy lift and his eX-
trcme age he is in fairly good condition.
ChiIlicothe. Ohio. to New York. and
joined the road driving brigade. to which
belonged the late Commodore Vanderbilt.
Robert Bonner. and many others of ma
tional renown. II was Mr.. Works habit
to ride every afternoon in fair weather
behind d pair Of fast trotters. his best
pair being Edward and Swiveller. Com
modore Vanderbilt died. We believe. in
his ciShty-seventh year: Mr.. Bonner. we
L l. IL,
Mr.. work. being of tougher fiber, is still
with us.
Associate Justice of the United states
Supreme Court Henry r. Brown. retired.
was. the greater part of his life. a de-
votee of the saddle. That he is not a
patron Of the saddle to-day, is partly due
to an affection of the eyes. by reason of
which he cannot see plainly. and. be-
cause. again. he is not as young as he
once was and the slippery pavements. on
occasions. make horseback riding a trifie |
dangerous for a man who has parted with |
much OF his former nimbleness. Forty |
years ago. or more. early in the morning, |
or late in the evening when his duties |
were done, his was frequent figure on |
the avenues of Detroit. mounted on a |
good sized bay cob. rising and falling |
style.
Judge Brown. always close student a |
lawyer with an extremely large practice. !
and. subsequently, a busy United States |
Circuit Judge. from which position he |
was called to a seat on the United States |
Supreme Bench, comedies that he owes |
his longevity and good health, in a large |
measur = to the horse. Now the venerable |
Justice is a dsvotee of pedestrianism. on |
the plea that shanks horses are safer |
han machine or equine But one does not |
have to search far for illustrious ex-
lmples of men who have a fondness for !
the horse. They are near us in plenty.
and one has only TO frequent our parks |
to see the President and his advisors. !
either mounted or driving, as we'll as
other eminent statesmen, and men and |
women in all the various walks of life. |
To the man in a hurry the automobile and /
flying machines appeal strongly. They |
contribute a comparatively new expert
ence to modern civilization. and no man
IAN fully forecast their possibilities.
The biting winds Of the past week drove
all horsemen In this latitude we'll under
cover. Vouchsafed a week of sunshine,
which we certainly ought to enjoy in the
near future, and we shall sec them
smerging from their caves OF gloom in
surprising numbers. Alonzo Corbin has
decided on March / as the date on which
ne will depart for his training ground at
laurel. Should che weather be as unfaY-
,rable for his work as II was during the
week just past. re may delay his depart
ire for few days. He is already assured
II a number of good horses. and more
will come to him as the weeks pass. Dur
bo b.,. -t,fvz