New-York tribune., 1899-02-08
STREET md House NUMBERS.


A letter to the Editor which printed yes
tcrday lamented the progressive disappearance
Of signs indicating street numbers. There Is no
doubt OF the fact and OF the consequent incon-
venence and certainly something ought TO be
done about IT, but just what It Is best to DO
may not be so easily determined. New-Iork
has always been served in this respect, but
there was never before so much cause for com
plaint as there Is now. Before the days OF cleo
trio illumination street lamps were supposed 10
serve the purpose Of informing the inquirer
where he was, and they would have served II
in fairly satisfactory manner if care had beeh
taken to make and keep the numerary legend
legbe. Even IN spite Of neglect the corner
lamppost in majority Of cases responded after
fashion to close Interrogation, and you al
ways had a reasonable expectation OF being
able to ascertain your whereabouts without go
Ing more than a block or two out OF your way.
Nevertheless when the Strong administration
began TO put up lampposs Of new and I'M
proved pattern, from which the names and
numbers Of streets could be ascertained with
ease and accuracy, it received much praise for
IT'S attention TO n long-felt want. Indeed, our
impression Is that some more important re-
forms attracted less notice and gained less ap-
plause than this simple contribution 10 the
public comfort. But it was not destined to live
long and prosper. For reasons which have
never been distinctly stated. Tammany from the
first moment Of its return to power evinced an
extraordinary antipathy to the new lampposts
We suppose that a spitefu dislike of "od
Strong" and all his works had good deal to
do with IT, but however that may be- no time
was lost in proclaiming official hostility 10 the
new device. No more new lamps were put up
and a general understanding was disseminated
that those already in existence had 10 rights
which street urchns were bound TO respect
Thus swiftly did useful invention fall into
desuctnde which was not innocuous
Having said this we feel obliged to admit
that there are certain considerations on the
other side So long as gas lamps were kept
burning on two Of the four corners at every
crossing there was no conceivable reason why
they should not display street names and num-
bers. and perhaps that service could not be so
well performed I'm any other way. But now
that powerful electric lights have been installed
nj frequent intervals about the city 1t might
Justly be deemed extrnvagant TO keep gas
lamps burning in their vicinity. 4 great num-
her of the latter are still in use, but in many
II not dcluhlI III IuoSl tdScS INT StlNtI SlShH
have dlsappeared or become ilegible. The ex
cuse that this is a transition period is not valid,
but inasmuch as electricity IS presumably des
tined to displace gas altogether for public pur-
poses before long. and n uniform system Of
street designations is desirable. it is not too
soon to think about some permanent arrange
ment The most natural suggestion is that OF
n sign. which need not be large In order TO be
distinctly seen even through the windows Of
streetcarS affixed 10 northeast and southwest
corner buildings. Some owners might object,
but we do not imagine that many would op-
pose so great IA public convenience, unless they
were able to show better way Of accomplish
ing the object Certainly something ought to
be done for present conditions are exceedingly
vexatious and constantly growing worse.
4 kindred nuisance to which our correspond
cnt does not allude is that Of obscure or Ill
placed house numbers Perhaps the common
est and most absurd practice of all is to put
the number on that one of the two exterior
doors which, whatever is done with the other.
invariably remains swung back against the
vestibule wall from early morning until the
house Is closed for the night, and therefore can
not possibly afford any information to a person
on the sidewalk. OF course. n great many
houses are clearly and conveniently numbered,
but we honestly believe the majority are not.
and they are usually the ones you are trying
TO identify.