New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-06
TO NETWORKS ADVANTAGE.
A COMPARISON WITH LONDON MADE BY An ENG
LIsHMAN After 4 VISIT

\
traveller recently returned to London contrib
utes to The ST. James's Gazette OF July 20
somewhat interesting comparison between certain
practical features OF the two cities He says:
THE difference r the noise OF the two cities Is
striking. In actual volume I; may be that London
produces more sound But its quality is far Jess
disturbing. The rumble Of London is Ike the dis
tant beating OF millions OF mufled drums. The
rattle Of New-York suggests the passing OF an
Infinite number Of nfe corps il-timed and at close
quarters. The is as the PARKWAY booming Of the
waves: the other the clatter OF countless looms
in the building which one must occupy. London 9
smoother paving-especally the frequency Of wood.
the absence O. the roaring elevated railways. the
existence of the dangerous gongs Of street
cars. the scarcity OF street rails which are not
flush. the softer or-ar help to make a tolerahe.
rncnstrcus murmur Of what in New-York are
strlGent harsh. penetrating. nerve destroying noises
In keeping with the hystercal habits which they
aGGravate.
The average London street Is surely less con-
Nenlent and probably no more ieautiful than that
OF New York But it is .ess certainly far more
picturesque and Interesting. There few
curves-or. they call them cowpath streets
in what cnce New-Amsterdam; but for the
part the thoroughfares equally monoto-
nous and automatically convenient in their rigid
straighness. The streets OF the newer city. OF
course. have the advantage in breadth and regu-
larity of numbering These are doubtless great
merits but they are Incompatible with the mia
excitement attendant on a search FOR an address
In London TO which one Is stranger. SUCH names
East Twenty fourth or Avenue \ are .infnl ely
useful for the guidance Of proVinciaIs ihan
the highly varied lack Of system here; but what a
wealth OF historic assOcia IOn or insolublc nyster!
10 origin the modern uii itari&nlsr1 sacrinces.
of course, the inference in the GEOGRAPHY ana
ature of TIE streets of the two cities is main y
responsible for the diversity o. their means Tor
rand transit But il is a little painful. for the
patriotic Brtisher be convinced that the uNSlght-
iy. noisy elevated railways and the deadly stFtet
cars an Infinitely superior as PROVISIONS Iof 80
ting about &c he antiquated fou-airel under
ground railway and complex system OF com
paratiVely slow going buses. -
Nor is 4 altogether pleasing 10 the man OF open
mind 10 ind that while real estate may he bought
and sold most rs easily az cheese in New ork
II is here given away IN n mos' lavish ana IN.
discriminating fashion. InGcr the SUPERVISION OF
the great reformer Waring. the streets of New
York are kept infinitely cleaner than those OF Lon
don. -, -, -.
1T IS somewhat Of blow. TOO; that inc street
lighting Of a ridden city, rightly supposed 10
be governed for the profit OF the ponuGianS ra,ner
than the comfort Of its taN-paylnS mhah.'hhtS'
should be far better han that 81 L3ncHn unter ~
present decentralized authorities In thls cohhec-
ton IL is interesting to note that WIN me .NCr
tion Of q small number fitted with roHer-hI nos
the stores Of the American city are innocon, OF
shutters and that many Of them In the ,p"puIlar
streets ore brilliantly Eliminated as an auve ia I
rent after hours while those here are gene V !,
dark and mos Of them almost hermeuca'F sea'eu'