New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-26
WIDENING AVIS

The reference rf ;hc Aun-s;. widening qnrN-
ton 10 the consideration of next years gov
crunent under the now charter was the Wis'st
disposition Of ihg subject which cord nave hVen
made. II may Ia possible for the adVrraicS "I
the schsme in the next six months ic sAow c1iS"
why the City should spend S3NroWn 10 hPh"i,
this property. hut the necessity is by 10 means
yet apparent. II would doubtless he both pleas
ant and advantageous for ,he owners of 0i'ic"
buildings IN The south side Of the street ana
for the owners of la..lS 20 the north which
would bc made available for corner office build
incs 10 have Cao city buy broad strip from
broadway to Gol,l->;. But neither the city ~
whole nor other property in the ncigh5'rhood
would derive benefit commensurate with The
expense. if indeed any bencii; ~ I'll.
Ann->t is Dot and never can ho II main ave
nuc of traffic. 1t does hot run il The direction
in which we most need neW ihJroTghfares.
Elm-si. and College Place improvements relieve
the pressure Of business. But tnn-St., starting
N broadway. does not even make thorough
fare 10 the East River NJ Coolest. ne 'ravrH'f
runs against 4 blani wall. 70 wide me snort
existing section VIII only give better approaci'>'
Light ana air 10 "A few buildings without imrr'r-
ing general trln>ii facilities. To make property
owners in Fulton Deckman ana Nassau SIS.
contribute for This improvement Ia rival proper
ties. which would not help them but rather tenn
10 lower their rents would he an outrageous
abuse Of the tasing power. II, on tie oihef
hand. Ann-sr. should be continued To the tas'
River there is no substantial gain. fuiion->t.'
the main thOrOu.hfare adjoining, has beeh
videncI. and if kept clear Of incunbranceS'
can accommodate more business tnan now
passes through IT, Beeiman and John sts' on
either side. offer direct ways fTcm the river 10
Broadway. and the three together are Suihceh'
for The croSStown traffic Il! This p0lnt pa"tlcu-
LARRY in view OF the increasing proportion Oh
business coming over the Bridge as compared
with the ferries. and the prospect that Il new
bridge further north and perhaps a tunnel 10
the south may divert mere of the business which
formerly so congested tho rcighhorhood OF Full
ton Ferry.
If the property-owners of Ann-st are not sat-
isfed with their conditon-and they are less
than human If they are, for there are few more
disagreeable and -smelling business streets In
the city-they have other remedies nearer nj
hand Let them drive away the peders who
make travel difficult and who cover the pave
mcnt with papers and garbage; let them
clear away the ash.barrels and the restaurant
refuse heaps which make the place unsightly;
let them substitute asphalt for the stones which
hold fermenting filth beyond the power of Colo
mel Waring to remove. and let them do away
with the annoying steps and grated areas in
those parts Of the sidewalk which are within
the stoop line Then their street will be one
that can be traversed without pain. If they
wish improvements beyond that, there is an
other luxury they might indulge in that would
be a picturesque and inexpensive widening
New-York knows little of tho charms Of arcaded
streets. IF all the buildings would place their
show windows six feet behind their front walls
and cut arches so as to make covered passages
under the second stories. ample space for foot
passengers would be secured, and the curb line
and building line could be identical. This would
give all necessary width without sacrifice Of
building space. and would make an attractive
and individual street Many Old World towns,
such as Chester. in England. and Bologna. in
Italy have whole districts of arcaded streets,
and Paris, in the Rue Dc Rivol, has shown the
beauty of arcades in great city.