New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-19
STREET AND HOUSE SLOWS.

Tho detailed report of the condition Of the
streets Of this city with reference 10 Signs anu
Of the difficulties which confront the authorities
in establishing o uniform system, published by
The Tribune in the last few days, must call at
tcntion to the need Of immediate legislation Tor
the proper labelling Of our street corners. Inc
annoyance experienced by the stranger, anu
even by the resident when off the beaten pain
of his daily journeys, in identifying any par
tcular corner Is familiar to everybody. 1t Is
so familiar that it has been accepted as one or
the inevitable annoyances OF a city which mas
developed under bad government. When one
had to pick his way through dirty streets in ana
out among carts stored ar curbs he was not
disposed to be hypercritical about the signs on
those streets. But now have clean thor
oughfares kept clear of membranes and with
the improvement comes n new realization or
the desirabIlity Of proper markings at the cor
ners as the next step in making the city place
Of convenient and comfortable abode.
At one time New York had system Of street
signs which had at least the merit OF being con-
sistent When gas lamps were everywhere used
to light the streets everybody knew where to
look for names. and the glass signs were visible
by night well by day. But with the in
PRODUCTION Of electricity that Arrangement be-
came unsatisfactory, and nothing adequate has
come to take Its place. The tin signs on the
unused lampposts, which are generally twisted
ont Of place and are trustworthy guides only
for those who know the way without them. TO-
gethcr with the labels here and there tackled
upon buildings and the few different patterns
Of clcctrc-light signs, make a tumble which does
aS much to confuse to assist the traveller.
The essentials of proper system are uniformity
and universally. One must never be In doubt
where to look for directions. having once learned
the customary place Of posting them, and he
must never find corner where the sOughtfOr
sign Is missing.
There need be no trouble In meeting these
wants. Other cities do 1t. and perhaps nowhere
Is II SO well done As In Paris. There ut all four
corners of ntersecting streets, at uniform
height on the wall of the buildings, are enam-
eled signs of white and blue. somewhat similar
TO the elevated railroad station signs. but smaller
and pretfler. while being sufficiently clear to be
read in the daylight or dark either by pedestri-
ans or by people driving Nobody in Paris need
have the slightest difficulty in telling where he
is. Some equally satisfactory plan might be
adopted here. but the city officials are Of the
opinion that they have no power to compel
property-o owners to afix signs to their buildings,
even II the city should furnish the signs. Then
let them draft plan for proper signs and ask
authority from the Legislature TO carry It out
1t cannot be possible that the lawmakers would
refuse n request for aid In this matter While
this reform is being carried out another might
we'll go on with 1t. The numbers on the houses
here are only less bewildering than the signs
on the streets The habit Of putting "No" on
one-half Of door, which is kept closed. and
the figures on the other. which stands open,
leads to a denial Of information In a form that
Is cruel mockery. The placing Of numbers on
the glass transom above the inner doors Of
houses Is equally troublesome. They can be
seen only when the outer doors are open and the
lights are just right. Paris In this, too. can
teach New York lesson. There a small blue
and white enamelled sign, large enough to be
seen without trouble and small enough not to
be ugly, Is fixed beside every gate and door.
There is no reason why some such plan might
not be followed here Let 1t be made easy TO
find both streets and houses In New-York. We
have put up with the annoyances due to the
present lack Of system long enough.