New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15

uniform plan for displaying such NUMBERS anu
many people have difficulty in finding the right
house. particularly at night. In many resioe''e
streets or parts Of streets. the fashion mas oeen
| to paint the number OF the house on the eiass
of the transom over the inner vest.bulc door' ana
when the front door is closed there is no hu'oe'
in sight. To find the right house at night IL Is
sometimes necessary to climb the steps or sever
al houses the front doors OF which may be open'
and count the houses along the street from an
ascertained number Anybody who has had
such experiences will appreciate the remark mace
by stranger in the city, after long hunt for
the house of a friend:
Blamed IL 1t don't look as II city people are
unwilling to have it known where they live after
dark"
palmer and more uniform system OF placing
the numbers on houses would prevent endless
trouble and annoyance and loss OF time Dy
thousands of persons every day and night.
The marking Of streets in the Tenderlon dis
trict is extremely defective. In some places he
who runs finds nothing to read and in others
the wayfarng man. should he follow what he
reads would 60 far out OF his road. At several
corners the signs have become twisted so that
transverse signs are on the avenues, and vice
versa.
Up to few weeks ago the sign at the south
west corner of Fffth-ave. and Thirty 1fth-st. was
turned around so that the street sign ran along
the avenue and the avenue sign marked the
street but recently a reform which could be FOL
lowed TO advantage In other parts or the city
has been worked at this corner. Now gas lamp
burns there at night and illumnes tie names OF
street ana avenue, which are ground In white
into the red glass Of the lamp shades
At Broadway and Thirtyfrst-st. In the red
glass of a dsused lamp-post is emblazoned the
word broadway" and that is the only legend
at that point TO indicate to the stranger where
he s Fortunately the Broadway sign IS actu-
ally on Broadway. Where Sixth-ave and Broad
way come together and form Greeley and Herald
squares. between Thirty-second and Thirty-htth
SITS. the corners are marked with the names of
the squares although the buildings are all num-
bered in either Sixth-ave. or Broadway. This Is
extremely misleading and confusing to the
stranger There should be some indication OF
the identity OF the two thoroughfares which
form the squares.
Their. are no signs at all at Wall and Nassau
sts The signs at Wall and Broad SITS. in front
OF the Drexel Building OF tin and so badly
rusted ms to be ndistinct. The signs at Broad
WAY and Exchange Place also are Of tin and are
not clear
wHEELMEN ESPECIALLY INTERESTED
The absence Of proper signs the street
corners is source OF much annoyance to
wheelmen and especially so TO the beginners
While II Is admitted that the average wheelman
IL better posted as to streets than the average
citizen still even the wheelman loses his bear
ings because the old-time familiar signboards
have been swept away In company with the
street gaslamps.
The League OF American Wheelmen Is doing
splendid work through the country districts IN
arranging for signboards to be put up at the
road crossings. 1t Is now suggested that II the
local organizations wish TO accomplish some
thing for their members they can do IL pet
ter than by sending representatives 70 Al
h,nv n onpose measures which the National
association IL working 10 have adopted. There
e nlenty OF local work to be done by these local
/ oryanIzattons and this matter OF having proper
signs placed at the street corners Is one OF
them.
The average cycst will cover much GROUND
In hts effort TO find the few well-paved tho'-
oughfares In this city. and in time he becomes
remarkably familiar with the streets ne VIII
| learn more about the streets in his city IN che
years wheeling than he would learn IN propapiy
| ten years II he was not a rider or the oicycle.
| The absence OF these signposts nj the street
! corners IL particularly annoying to wheelmen
/ from the suburban districts when they Visit
/ the city II IL comparatively easy matter
for the pedestrian To ask or some passei,oS
| ,rhere n certain street Is. but Il Is a rather
/ difficult matter for the cyclist. VINO must De III
! the road and ne must dsmount To make IN
quries.
on THE NORTH RIVER FRONT.
on the North River front the absence or
| street signs Is noticeable. This quarter OF the
! civ IA comparatively deserted after dark. ex-
cent in the vicinity Of the ferry stations, ana
| h
signs are especially needed. owing 10 the ao-
sence of pedestrians OF whom the stranger can
| ask his way. The absence or signs ~ only w
casional in this quarter. but II - hKe'y 10 DC
extremely embarrassing. nevertheless.
In MANY cases where he streets are properly
ru,,,orod ~ ,e,,ered the disposition OF the
! lights ia such as to make II next TO impossioie
to read the signs. The electric lights are piaSeu
| at such rare intervals AZ TO be or niue seISSs
at point midway between them. WINE 'ne OH ~,
! gas lamps have. in many instances nee" NJ
/ lowed to fall into a dapidated state.
| In the extreme lower part or the CITY. ana
especially In the neighbornood OF , .ns Wal
the signs are In rather good CONDITION; wna.
| ever NAV be the reason. the signs on the street
corners in this section bear none OK the o.apl-
dated appearance Of some OF tho uptown ssns;
! but rather have the look Of well-resuiated and
law-abiding indicators Of the ciys nien~uys
and hvways At Bowling Green. wnere beaver
ST begins there is no sign TO guide the strahsel;
| A. pms, and broadway there IL no sign ana
as this is n most important downtown corner
! the need of street sign Is plainly evioen,:
| Along South-st. the street signs are sie~eu
around more or less. ana one VI wv '
ties Slip missing.
THE MAYORS VIEWS
Mavor Strong. when asked for information as
IN my sten. that were being taken to remedy
the evil complained Of said:
AS to the insuHlcency Of signs to show the
names OF streets and avenues which should be
placed Mt the street corners. this evil has re-
ceived the attention Of the Board OF Estimate
at a number OF its meetings. 1t Is we'll known
that when electricity superseded gas In our
streets the gaslamps upon which the name OF
the intersecting street or avenue appeared, len
| into disuse and many thoroughfares now nave
| No s,cns or nIaca rds AT the street corners How