Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-14
CLEARING THE STREETS
Commissioners Issue an Order Against
DISTINCTIONS Now Existing
Fruit Stands, BoOtblaclxs and All Sorts
of Affairs on Louisiana Avenue
Are Affected.

An important order was issued by the
Commissioners this afternoon, the effect
of which will be to remove from the streets
Of the city all distractions.
This order is sweeping in terms, and will
remove a number Of fruit ard other stands
from the sidew AXIS of the city. This mat
ter was brought to the attention OF the
Commissioners seme time ago, and Maj.
Moore was directed to obtain from the leu
tenants of the different police precincts
list Of the distractions, together with amy
other information obtainatle upon the sub
ject Tals order was faithfully carried out
by Maj Moore, and the list furnished In
time to the )mn.issioners. 1t shows that
there are in the neighborhood of 500 stands
and other distractions in the streets Of the
city, and further that Thousands of dollars
are paid monthly by the owners thereof to
the lessees of the buildings upon which
they abut.
The list furnished by the neutenants is
startling, and the authorities opened their
eyes at the number Of Instructions now
permitted upon the sidewalks This is no
new thing with the Commissioners They
have had their eyes opened to the condition
as they existed for long time. Now they
are going to act. and the order, 1t Is be-
lieved, will clean out the whole city of OBJ
st. uctions to the sidewalks as they now
exist and prevent further obstruction
Louisiana Avenue.
On Louisiana avenue alone it is esti-
mated that upwards of sl50,OO0 per year is
paid to the owners of buildings for stand
privileges in front of stores. The custom
has been for q merchant to rent store
and then rent out the stand privileges In
the front All of these stands project be-
yord the building line and as a conse-
quence the sidewalk is narrowed until
there is scarcely room at times for pc
destrian to squeeze through.
If the order is enforced all OF these
stands will have to go. Some time ago an
effort was made to get rid OF these stahuS'
but for some reason the matter was drop
ped and died natural death. This time,
however, the Commissioners are In earnest,
and 1t is und srstood that the war Will be
waged on a "no-compromise" basis, and
the street will be cleared within month.
Fruit Stands.
Then there are the fruit stands, all Of
which the Commissioners believe exist
without warrant Of law, and these, too,
will be included in the order. The revenue
derived by storekeepers from these stands,
which they suffer for a substantial con-
sideration to occupy the space adjacent to
their places of business is considerab bic.
The rents paid vary from s. per month to
800 per month, according to location
Along Louisiana avenue the prices paid
1
per month, and the general average is
about $40.
Also BOotblacl&s.
Then there are the bootblacks. With a
few exceptions they do not pay for the
privilege Of standing before store, but
boldly pre-empt corner and set up their
business. They are slated, and the order
will sweep them away. The barber poles
are included. In fact, Instructions of all
kinds have been reported and the Com
missioners propose to see that they are re-
moved.
The order was the result Of a simple re-
quest on the part of a bootback to set
Pennsylvania avenue and 18th street north
west. When the application was received
it was sent to Lieut.. Amiss with instruc-
tions to report upon the advisability of
granting the permit. The lieutenant, in his
report, said:
by granting this privilege 1t would be
in conflict with the decision Of Judge Cox
in regard to distractions in the streets.
Therefore I would suggest that it be re-
fused"
This report was unanimously approved by
the Commissioners, and the application
was denied. Then Commissioner Truesdell
moved
THAT the major and superintendent of
police be directed to remove all bootblacks
and others who occupy the public streets
in violation of law"
The order was promptly approved, and
copy sent to Maj Moore, who will see to
it that it's provisions are carried out.