Year: 1869

OuF TTOtSofo ouo Ouf Or1v0os


It is a well known fact that many OF the
speediest and most valuable trotting horses Of
this country are in the possession of private
gentlemen Of this city who never exhibit their
powers on the trotting track for money, but
who nevertheless are anxious to speed them
whenever an opportunity offers on a suitable
road. Harlem lane has been one of their
principal resorts for years past but wider
field of operations has now become necessary,
as the number Of fast horses is daily augment
ing and pleasure riding becoming greater
specially among gentlemen of leisure and for
tune. As Harlem lane will soon be closed
against fast driving by the march Of improve
ment and the impediments created by
Seventh avenue we would suggest that new
drive or avenue be created for the express
accommodation of such as delight in speedy
travel, and that the upper part of Sixth avenue
be devoted as a dirt road to their especial use,
as this avenue runs directly from the Park to
Harlem river 1t being wide avenue and very
level, makes it peculiarly adapted to the purpose
suggested, and would draw off all the lighter
class Of vehicles from the danger Of contact
with the more cumbrous carriages which daily
throng the drives in every direction. Such
dirt road is absolutely necessary for the sake
of the legs and feet Of fast horses, and is just
the place to speed them without danger to
horse or man. Fast horses do not like to be
confined in their gait they like to give vent to
their exuberant spirits and to fly along the road
at gait that none but themselves can equal.
To restrict them to Park gait is little less
than cruelty to them, for it makes them ner-
vous, restless and dsagreeable to handle.


The boulevards now in course of construction
will be little il any better than the Park for
fast horses to be driven upon, as the roadway
will be so hard that, even should there be no
restrictions upon travelling, no gentleman
would like to speed valuable horse upon
its finty surface at the risk Of seriously dam
aging his legs and feet. The boulevards will
be well adapted for carriage driving, and will,
no doubt, be extensively used for that pur-
pose; but for light vehicles and fast horses
we want something different-a good, wide
and level dirt road, on which the horses can
extend themselves and trot to their hearts
content without danger of collision or mishap
of any kind. These horses represent an ag-
gregate of great wealth their owners are men
of standing and position in society, and their
demand for a new road to be opened for their
recreation is not more than reasonable and
just. We should have roads adapted to every
style of driving where all parties can enjoy
themselves with safety and take such recrea-
ton as suits their peculiar temperaments. II
is to be hoped, in laying out the boulevards,
that special drives will not be neglected, and
that the general convenience of the public
will be attended to. Sixth avenue is pecu-
liarly accessible, from its contiguity to the
upper end Of the Park, opening at once into
an expanse of area where the pent-up ener-
gies of the horse, after his snal-like progress
through the narrow defles of the Park, can
find scope and verge for their full display.


By the way, the demand for widening the
Park avenues is increasing daily, as their
insuficiency for the pressing requirements
upon their space becomes more apparent.
Operations to that effect may as well commence
at once, for sooner or later IL must be done.
The danger now from collisions is very great,
and serious accidents are almost daily oc-
curing which do not reach the public press,
as the police in attendance upon the grounds
carefully suppress their publicity. Dangerous
as they now are, what will they be in the fu-
ture, if timely measures of precaution by
widening the drives are not taken? The
Park belongs to the public, and we see no rea-
son why they should not have things just as
they desire them, irrespective of the whims
and caprices of officials. Do not tho people
pay for them?