New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-31
SOUITTERS ~ THE STREETS.
THOROUGHFAREs ALMOST EMPAssABLE.

HOW sroRFkEErERs AID STREET VENDORS BLOCK
ABE THE Observation-Disclosures OF FOOT
TRAVEL ~ CROWDED DOWNTOWN 1HOHOtGIi-
FiREs-sCENEs N NASSAU, FULTON, yEsEY ASD
GRHENwICH-sTs.
The discussion in regard to street Obstruc-
lions, ana the action Of the Grand Jury concerning the
Aldermen, have drawn general attention 10 the man
ncr IN VII many Of the thorouShfarcs the
city dishgurcd AMI blocEadcd. In few streets
downtown can one get any clear view for dis
| tance OF mere than two three blocks. Awnings
! are universal. and being at irregular heights. and
made OF every variety OF material they alone sui-
cent 10 destroy the appearance OF street Then many
dealers have passion Tor flags, the waving OF the
National ensign i, supposed to have seductive effect
! customers Frequently. too an ambitious man throws
ropcs the street and hangs upon them mighty
banner. which dominates everything else In tie
street These offences to the eye that met with
at every turn offences for which, IN the opinion OF
those who have observed the custom OF foreign cities
there is rot the shadow Of excuse. They
| have not even beauty excuse for being.
! Their only advocates the who put
them up urderthc idea that they making judicous
investment III advertising. aud the officials who look
! "ith an indulgcnt eye on thu freaks % voters
But when one touches earth the main trouble begins.
The low jung signs great nuisance, but the prac
cc Of booksellers, dealers III cutlery sportin goods and
clothing III placing Large part OF their stock on the
sidewalk 81 To the great diculty experiences
In passing through downtown streets in business hours
Each block in Nassau-st has average ahaltOLcn
places where half the sidewalk j. taken ny with goods
Going down from iIccnan to Auu->t. the left hani
side passes under huge awning. below which are
golden fish advertisement Tor fishing tackle, and
large swinging signs If AL kinds. Presently he reaches
II bookstore. which his two stan Is about four feet wde
that take exactly half the walk. Frng"d with pco
pie. - hcy yesterday at noon. Was barely posi-
bic for person to squeeze by. Near by another
bookstore with the same ARRANGEMENT and more OF IT,
Here the crowd greater. a. large lot 81 cheap
brightly bound book, were exposed a; the tempt
Ing prices ~ 30 and - ooat- each. ADVERTISE
ucuts ~ beer hats. lamp shades, and lunch rooms
also uitcd ont into space the sidewalk. At
intervals of 'cw yards fruIt ytnlcr or man with
small stock ~ pcndrrs, combs brushes etc. cj
couut,r,d. Al almost every corner are permanent
stands the sale ~ ffi'. lemonade and candy. These
Places orcupy from hind 10 half oi nc walk. Idcrs
always surround them. Pcrpatrtic dealers line the curb
stones.
Othcr streets downtown furnish substantially the
same Probably block IN the city looks
Ike o!l curiosity shop than futou--tbewccn Broad
Way aud Nas~aust. Here several dealers IN nags string
various coorcd IA the street; banners SWING
from their windows; awnings abound. and n maker Of
umhr, Has has several cardnlcolorcd samples hanging
from his door. Tie dry goods men take nearly
half tie walk IN front OF their stores with
fshouably -attrcd dummi"., while street bookstores
ncw-tauds aud fiult stalls leave scarcely any %; the
sidewalk for it, legitimate purposes. The corner Of Full
tou-.t and broadway is especially cursed with street
ycudcr-. who pilc" their stand, to intercept the
,trcaui. Of people that nlw by here in al directions.
Park Row another dear L. the street vendors
heart. The sidewalk from spucc-st 10 Fu
ton j. fiugcd with carts, mainly Of dealers in
irmts. candies. and newspapers. GA every available
doorstep. ancient croncs deaf ont Lemonade Zee
cream. P,dilcI-. who wander from plIc" TO place,
also haunt this street. aud wander up TO Chlthnm-s
IIcrc especially sunday, large number OF " ndrrs
come from other portions III the city. ON sunday lat
no less than sixteen sttcrttands counted IN the
block between North William ana frankfort-sts
OF all the street. Ia the city, Fulton and N,scy seem 10
bc TIE home OF the dealers IN those uondc.crpt articles
called Yankee notions" Most OF these people have
assortment OF goods worth from - so They
occupy the sioop fronts Of stores; the stItWa!s To-
underground stores that are unuccupcd; or they
place tables the cubsionc- or 1t coiur-, or have
small carts which are wheeled mp close to the
edge OF the sidewalk \, the majority Of the store
ke,pcr, nj izo a the available soop in front Of
their stores and hang articles the edges ~ their
nwuiug- between the indoor ana ont door merchants
the re- l. little lr oI the pedestrian, and bockadcs
un the sidewalk almost - frequent and vcNaous rs
walk down fulion-,t from Broadway towashincton
Market and return by way of Vc>cy-t., VIII give one
WHO doubt. the reality of street distractions
abundant proof that the half cannot be- told
about the nuisance arising from tins
csmrfncnt of traders In the public streets In
the INST block from Broadway III fnlton-'t. all the
tiuctious the south side Of I'll" street. st
Pul's churcyard fence occasionally gives shcit'r To
b"g:ar venlcr In small articles, which can d" strung
the iron paiings but n rule ti' S oi me block IS
free from all rnc1mbrhnce ON ihc oth'r side
several paper warehouses Keep piIrS OF PROV" Tn
wrapping paper almost all thr umr on tne
sidewalk. awaiting removal III trucks Frequently
'S :" o. cnTr c |G' ,n %o hc%cS " the ac
aud the stoop front remain all day ana form II great
obstruction travel on the walk Near these also are
piles Of coriiec. and beyond cualk Is ornaIhcnted
with huge collection 81 empty peer oarIrls'
IL has a frontage Of about two yards on
Fuion-s'.. but extends along Tor about ni'y ir,t
by nouorollzng onc-half the walk, however very
good display of the stock Is made iarSr Wooden h
these are placed the hats with prices tckete! on them
The whole is surmountcd by large permanent awning
ON the opposite is shirt store with large glass
cases Cor the display of goods placed cAacy on Inc cor
From tho low awning which covers the windows
hang shirts. sewcd together So that they ail wlthh
w ." IN" awning but lust beyond The stoop ont
OF the store, and almost III the middle 81 inc siu"ak
brush against these dusty shirts. They are labelled
price quality and sway ana Nap WIN the wlnd
from morning until night Lower down on the same |
side of the street more paper stores . are
found. each being marked by the same lmp9s- |
ing piles of brown paper stacked up on the |
walk Across the way Is bird store the proprietor |
of which evidently believes that birds must have sun
light. most of the eahcrcd occupants sit uSconso,
lately cages hung In front OF the store They line the
grating and some hang over tue sdrwak nnu "n nr
more than four Of passagcway between The tworows
OF cages After passing a pyramid OF lunhs Which |
look as n they mad been isgorgcd from the small cellar
where they are made, the street suddenly becomes bu
collie Vegetable stalls sprOut up about the corner ana
the frat orange dealers are sure forerlnLeis or the
hordes who encalmp In the next two blocks.
Below Greeuwcllst., FultOnst-as does Nescy also
become, an arcade Permanent awnings cover most OF
the stores on the wooden posts which are placed ut
regular Intervals supports for the awnings are hlg
articles OF all kinds. Below the sidewalk are the |
dealers IN small articles. fruits and vegetables Nearly
every stOrckceper-tca merchant, grocer. butcher, |
etc-occupcs all the st0op front with dis |
play of his goods. When there IL "a vacant |
place Il Is covered with the small stock or the street
vender Not an inch 0f sidewalk room Is wasted here,
and frequently alley-way Of yard or Tour or nye
feet considered ample and verge enough for the
who Is hurrying with numberess Others To catch
ferryboat Below WashngtOn-st. the sidewalk seems no
doda Ne