Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-22
WANTS THEM ABATED.
Inc Mayor Receives Complaint
About Sidewalk Nuisances.
HE HAS AN INVESTIGATION MADE.
Dealers Who Make Display Counters of
the Public Footways
IN TOTAL DISREGARD OF STREET LAWS

The blockading of sidewalks is a matter
which is causing much complaint among
the pedestrians on the busy downtown
streets these days, and it is probable that
Msyor Gourley will take some action in the
premises soon if the officers in whose charge
it is fail to recognize the necessity for abat-
ing the nuisance. Owing to the repaving
of several streets In the business part of the
city the contractors have filled half the
sidewalk with piles of block stone which
are great impediment to travel, but this
is considered only temporary evil and
will vanish as soon as the stone can be
placed on the street.
1t is the growing custom of many dealers
In merchandise to appropriate large sec
uons of the walk in front of their stores for
the exhibition of their wares and the plac-
ing Of big packages that are inconven-
causing complaint at this time.
Complaints Made to the Mayor.
The Mayor has lately received numerous
requests to compel the storekeepers to
carry on their business within their legiti-
mate territory. At first he paid little at
tention to them, supposing they were prob
ably the result of jealousy among the busi-
ness men themselves. Finally he directed
the ordinance officer to look the matter up
and was surprised at the result.
At one place on Liberty street the officer
reported big water tank on the sidewalk,
fully six feet square, in which an enterpris-
sIng eating house proprietor displayed a col
lection of live turtles as an advertisement
of the brand of soup obtainable there. The
wholesale blockade by the commission mer-
chants on the opposite side of the street was
also reported, but this the Mayor regards
as necessary evil at the present time.
But there were numerous places reported
where dealers in all kinds of merchandise
are simply making the sidewalk part of
their exhibition space, regardless of the
rights of pedestrians, on nearly every down
town street. Liberty street, Wylie avenue,
Wood and Smithfeld streets are the worst
for the sidewalk nuisance, but others ap-
pear to need the attention of the authorities
nearly as bad.
Trouble From Fruit Vendors.
The most prominent class of offenders,
and the ones who cause the most complaint,
are the fruit vendors, who in some cases not
only carry their business out on the side
walk, but allow the refuse or waste from
their stock to lie on the street In front.
One case reported to the police yesterday
was of a dealer in notions and jimcracks on
Smithfeld street, who displays his bargains
in little baskets spread out over the pave
ment On Wednesday evening a young
man was arrested for appropriating an
article from the sidewalk display.
When brought before the magistrate yes
terday morning that official, after learning
the story, discharged the culprit and at the
Same time gave the dealer to understand
that he must not tempt people by placing
his goods on the street where he could not
keep an eve on them.
The Magistrates caution was the same
as that given by the Judge in the Criminal
Court some years ago. 1t was before the
late Chief of Police Gus Braun had issued
his famous order to reusSex sidewalk OBJ |
structions and swinging signs.
A Decision by tho Court
A Smithield street shoe dealer had man
taken into court for stealing pair of bro
gans In the evidence it was brought out i
that this pair of shoes with many others
had been displayed from an awning post on
the sidewalk, and that it was only by acci-
dent that the proprietor Of the store discov-
cred the theft The Judge charged the jury
for scquittal, saying storekeeper had no
right to display his goods on the street
where they would be a temptation to poor
man or q morally weak man to steal them.
Chief Brown has caused several crusades
against sidewalk obstructionists since he as
sumed his position, and the Mayor expects
he will do so againwhen his attention is called
to the nuisance as it was to-day. Other
wise 1t is possible the Mayors officer will |
be instructed to proceed against the Offend
ers under the ordinances covering the case,