Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-19
APPEARANCE OF BUSINESS STREETS.

APPEARANCE OF BUSINESS STREETS.
A correspondent, former resident of
California, was permitted to state his views
freely in this journal yesterday, concern
ing the domestic policy of this city, and to
advance his reasons for believing that
there is not here manifest that public
spirit that should distinguish a growing
and prosperous community. Our CORE
spondent takes somewhat too ultra view
of the matter, The truth is, that while
the community is very slow, unreasonably
so, in making modern improvements, it is
not wanting in advancement. Its people
are prosperous and the commercial i'm
portance of the place has not diminished.
Nevertheless some criticisms are made
by the correspondent that are Just, and
should command our attention. The chief
of these is one that has been frequently,
but not too much referred to-that is, the
unbusiness-like appearance of the business
streets. 1t is true that in most respects
we adhere to old and primitive styles in
the architecture on the business streets,
Tor no apparent reason than that the style
is indicative of the pioneer and formative
era that in the initial efforts to found here
a city, testified to a want of faith in its |
permanency. But while that frontier and |
camp-like period has departed and perma-
nency and prosperity have succeeded we
have not put by the raiment of the mining |
camp and the backwoods In nothing is |
this more conspicuous thant in the "awn- |
ing system, that leech-like clings to us |
and is the source of endless uncompli- |
mentary remark by visitors. Familiarity |
with the continuance of the primitive sys- |
TEN has bred in US indifference to its of |
fensive character in the eyes of strangers,
and for that reason it is necessary that |
there should be inaugurated something in |
the nature of a crusade to work reform in |
the matter. 1t has been held that the |
post-awning is, in a warm climate, neces-
sity more than convenience, and that in
hiAC SJttSuu II 10 lUSltlNS
But little examination will dispel this
delusion. In cities and towns where
higher temperature prevails and for
longer period, the post awnings have been
superseded by more graceful, less expensive
and more useful and comfortable devices.
The permanent over-hanging awning of
iron or wood that has here and there sup
planted the old style was decided and
most agreeable improvement, but not even
that costly structure is needed. 1t is |
hindrance and positive danger in the |
case of CONGREGATIONS. 1t is incapable of
sustaining much weight and is therefore
useless to firemen. II serves, as do the
old post awnings, in case of fire, to create
draught that facilitates communication
of the flames from one structure to an
other. 1t is expensive, cumbersome, and
puts upon the walls an unnecessary strain.
There are other objections to the style,
not the least of which is the effect of re-
ducing the apparent hight of fronts.
Now there are eight months in the year
when there is no necessity for shelter of
the windows of merchants, save on sunny
days for an hour or two at the outside in
the very early or the late hours of the
business day. For that time, and in the
summer season, when shade is desirable
for somewhat longer period each day on
the north side of east and west streets, the
movable or rolling awning, either of can
vas or of metal, is infinitely preferable.
OF these there are score of styles, and all
are ornamental and serve the purpose adj
mirably. They roll up and out of sight
beneath the windows OF the second story
and over the doors of the first, and in case
of fire are instantly put out of the way, so
that firemen have perfectly unobstructed
approach of sixteen feet between the
building and the electrical wires that line
the outer edges of the walks some twenty
feet above the street level.
The rolling awning is so easily adiusta-
BILE to the conditions of light that by its
use the merchant makes a positive saving
in the matter of lighting his establish
ment artificially. OF course, the rolling
metal awning is infinitely preferable to
auv other and almost universally prevails
in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and
the East generally, where the hanging
awning is little seen and the post awning
;s prohibited. The life of the rolling
metal screen is quite equal to that of the
building to which affixed, and because OF
its portability and the lightness of the ma
,erials used in the construction. costs less
than the hanging and ten-fold heavier
awning.
As Tor the convenience of the extended
,ermauent awning in the rainy season, the
,oovable device answers all purposes, while
!, prevents the possibility of occupants OF
MINER floors half living in the street and
oanductiug in the open large part OF the
domestic affairs OF the household. 1t is no
uncommon thing in this and some other
interior cities Of California to lind the fam