Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-18
THE OLD AWNINGS DOOMED.

The days of the old post-awnings are
evidently numbered in this city. In sew
eral instances the old style has been re-
moved voluntarily, in others by compul-
sion through the ordinances prohibiting
repairs. The people are beginning to see
how offensive they are to good taste, how
much they narrow the streets, how they
impede the circulation of the air. how
they actually increase the temperature in
stead of mitigating heat. That the hang
ing awning, or the rolling screen, or the
marrow balcony, surpass the post-awnings
is now generally conceded.
Now that the old awnings are to "go,"
we wish to call attention anew to the in
finite superiority of the rolling screen to
all other devices for sheltering windows
and protecting goods and building fronts
from the suns rays. These screens consist
of series of linked and overlapping me-
tallic strips, somewhat like the rolling tops
OF some desks, and wind up upon an axis
concealed beneath the cornices of first
stories. In case of fire they are put up and
out of the way in moment, permitting
fremen clear approach to the walls, and
unobstructed exterior ascent to roofs.
When they are not needed for sunshades
they can be rolled up, and thus permit the
free passage of cooling currents of air.
Unlike fixed awnings of any style, the
rolling screens do not constitute conduits
for the passage OF flame from one building
to another in case of confagrations. They
are cheaper than wooden awnings of any
style, and they are practically indestruct-
IDLE, require the minimum of repairs, and
are not an annual subject of cost for re-
painting. Upon them no rubbish can
accumulate; they can never be utilized for
display of the family washing, or the loca-
ton of the household kitchen or the do
nestle wood-house. They are handsome
In appearance, and comport with any style
of architecture that is adopted
But upon all buildings on the south side
of streets running east and west, and the
west side of streets running north and
south, no awnings are needed. In the great
majority of cases three-foot balcony is
all that is necessary. These balconies
enable residents to come out into the air
from second floors; the balconies are al
ways ornamental; they are cheaper by far
than any kind of awning, and they serve
to increase the apparent elevation of build
ings. They do not incommode fremen,
nor prevent the erection of ladders.
encouragement should therefore be
given to the balcony system wherever
practicable, and to the rolling metallic
awning in all other cases. Adoption of
either and abolition of post-awnings will
greatly improve the appearance of our
business streets. Indeed there is no prop
erty on or K streets that pays SO i'll that
the owners cannot afford to pull down the
old awnings and put up one or the other
OF the substitutes referred to. So great
nuisance are the post-awnings that it might
be well to condemn them in lot, and re-
quire their removal within, say, years
time. The people in their municipal
character have the right to forbid the
continuance of posts upon sidewalk edges,
supporting exterior structures. AT the best
they are dangerous, and have been the
causes of numerous serious and some fatal
accidents, by the posts being pulled out by
horses or knocked out by the wheels of
vehicles, or by breaking down under
weight. But it is to be hoped that such
drastic measures will not be necessary,
that the taste and good sense of property
owners will prevail, and that sail hands"
will join the procession of improvement
that is now marching against and downing
the Objectionable sheds that now line the
streets and disfgure house fronts.
IT is very gratifying to all lovers of fair
play to learn through direct official aven-
ues that the Government of the United
States did not, as a morning paper of San