New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-16

Inc NlSllOR FROM BROOKLYN.
The visitor from Brooklyn also has to
complain about the absence OF street signs. There
is nothing like a sign anywhere near the New-York
end Of the Bridge. except that Of North William
st.. on the north end OF the entrance. Hands
point In two directions. and only the initiated ones
know that to get to North Willam-st one must
descend the stairs which begin where the hands
point In opposite directions
A bright son OF New-England. who has been
resident OF NewYork time, but finds ttat
he must ask questions make many unnecessary
steps, thinks that 1t would pay the city put
mechanical devices like the weighing machines on
the corners and that many people would be glad
TO drop cent In the slot to learn in which
they were. Greatest thing you ever saw" he sad
you stand on the machine. drop a penny In the
SLOT that establishes an electric circuit a slide
shoots back and shows illuminated clock dial
and card jumps out at one side bearing the
OF the street There you are-the time Of day
night. and the name Of the street all for one cent
and the city gets the cent"
THE STORY OF PEARL-sT
Pearl-st. begins at states;., the Battery but
there is no sign to say The winds
to Broadway before 1t receives name. The
ner of South and Broad is ornamented with a
red lamppost. telling OF the presence OF fire.
alarm. but the bright sign Is "cata wampus.' and
means as much one way II does the other
Coentes Slip also lacks nnger-posts, and this is
South-st. where no sign tells OF its junction.
In lower Broadway and neighboring streets
Tribune reporter yesterday made these notes at
street corners: Broadway and Thames-st.-No signs
Broadway and Pne-st.-No signs. Broadway and
Beaver-st.-No signs. Exchange Place and Han
over-st.-Tin: fair Exchange Place and William
st.-No signs. Beaver and South William sts.--Tn
very dim. Beaver and New sts-No signs
A place In the city where the impossioity for
the uniformed ones to tell where they are Is at
Beaver and New SITS. The argument set forth by
neglectfu officials in the Of some neighbor-
hoods that the traffic is insignificant not TO
require a guidepost, is applicable. At any rate
10 Beaver and New SITS. This locality IL the heart
of great grain district. the centre transversed
by throngs. the neighborhood associated with many
historical features. 1t Is only stones throw
from Bowling Green Park. with It's ancient tree
that stood the fire Of the Revolutionary War. And
to these environments IL owes that interest which
attracts the stranger. who travels th'her to see
and TO wonder
When the visitor arrives at the intersection Of
the two thoroughfares in the adow of the Produce
Exchange and tries to determine which way TO
turn. his trusting. confdng gaze encounters rude
repulse In the blank the nearest lamppost. 1t Is
only another barren frame. rearing alor with us
empty top. bereft of glass and remnant OF IRON
Towering above II opposite corner Is an cleo
trio light pce but the eye OF the searcher foilows
its length from top bottom without beho!dng
sign. Even Chicago would have sign on an eiec-
trio light pole but this post apparently dsdans the
adornment
TURNS IN DESPAIR.
In DESPAIR the other day a man in beaver hat
turned to a passer-by who had an ar OF knowing
the
.Where am -" asked the man who did not know
The other paused. raised one eye from the match
with which he was lighting cigar anu lAou "
calmly on the hat before him
"you.re IN Beaver" he pulled through ring OF
smoke.
The man in the beaver hat frowned, but waving
h,s cane AT the intersecng street asked what II was
christened "New-st.." came from behind the cigar
I'm greatly obliged" said Mr.. Beaver Hat and
he moved away with look at the blank iainppoS'
that spoke volumes.
Spruce and Nassau SITS designated at their IN
tersection in Printing House Square by only one
sign each painted narrow strips OF tin IN wh''e
letters on a black ground. and fastened TO bent
iron lamp frame without glasses which surmountS
an otherwise d!sused gas lamppost on the northeast
corner in front OF The Tribune Building. There Is
sign at the junction OF PARK Row ana NaSsa"
In Park Row there is sign from Beekman-st.
10 the junction Of the former with North WH.lam-
nearly hidden by an elevated railroad column two
rusty and nearly undecipheraee signs are attached
IN the rusty empty lantern frame OF "A laInpppst
but the frame. instead OF being placed upon u.
right angles Is IN a., po ba wa wh eh,e % Sne
of the many adjacent pawnshops or become per-
manently crosseEed.
LONG WAY Orr.
At the junction of Park Row and Cenire-st. there
is an old lamppos supporting .etter-box ana sur
mounted by the empty lantern frame OF disused
gaslight but II bears sign. and the first intima-
ton that entering Cenre-st has that ne Is IN
that thoroughfare is at Chambers and Centre s's'
where there is sign at each Of the four corners
Centre-st which the boundaries OF the front
and two sides OF the .staaisZeiiuns bu i.i w.
plate recall it TO the memory OF Ola NINA yltants
' At Park Row and New chambers.st signs arr, are
of rusty tin ATTACHED 10 empty ape It RAM
so nearly worn that 1t can be read only by the
The widening Of what was formerly College Place
extending from Chsmbers-st. TO Greenwich,st. ana
the changing Of It's name to West est n@ hse fo
loved loved by the display Of an adequate number OF
street signs announcing the chang At ohampe rs
legend college Place" affixed TO Acker. Neral
Condits building on the southeast corner OF the TWO
At West Broadway and warren-st; there is one
''College Place are displayed on the other end OF
the building which extends from th nam r
properly painted signs but they are affixed TO the
hs ~ %ay ana and Vice.
At West Broadway and Vesey and Greenwich SIS,
Vesey.st. but one on the same building, intended
to indicate West Broadway is almost who'll hidden,
being nearly covered by a large advertising sign
painted In gaudy and variegated co.ors.
A PARADISE. INDEED.
| prominent produce commission merchant said
to the reporter THE produce district Is paradise
so far as street signs concerned when compared
| with some other districts of the city. There the
lantern frames not only turned completely
around but In certain cases, where glass slides are
used, ignorant city employees slip the slides into
| the lanterns upside down. wrong end foremost and
s 10 Gu o Where @9a he Was he
try to do by consulting the signs. Tammany Han
was primarily responsible for this chaotic condition
| of street signs hut as / am member OF that or
ganzat ton. though not strictly orthodox member.
| / do not wish my name to be quoted. am not
posing reformer. but 1t strikes me that the
reform city government has good chance TO gain
consdera bic political capital by taking hold OF this