New-York tribune., 1900-01-12
A NECESSARY RESTRICTION.

The City Councils Committee on Streets
and Highways will give public hearing this
afternoon on President Guggenheimer's pro-
posed ordinance providing that heavy traffic
shall be excluded from Fifth-ave.. between Mad
ison Square and Fifty-ninth-st., from to p. M,
and above Fifty -ninth-str along Central Park,
at all hours. Heretofore, when similar plans
for the preservation of an easy and agreeable
approach to the Park have been under discus
sion they have lacked the support Of Tammany
Hall, its rulers fearing TO cOuntenance munich
pal regulation which might be denounced as
'cass legislation" Perhaps the same foolish
objection from the same source may be fatal
now but Mr.. Guggenheimer, who has been
working intelligently for two years to produce
a better understanding of the matter, and whose
influence in the organization is we'll recognized,
believes that public sentiment is at last on his
side. and is hopeful of gaining the necessary
official backing.
If 1T were true that only a small proportion Of
all who use Fifth-ave. used it for other than
business purposes in a strict sense, and were
therefore for private reasons in favor of keep
ing it as clear of heavy traffic as possible there
would still be a strong warrant for such re-
striction. In other great cities the propriety and
general advantage of subjecting certain streets
and places TO special conditions are both official
maintained they are a source of municipal
pride and distinction. and in that way
tribute to the common satisfaction more or less
Indirectly. But in addition to this by providing
facilities for recreation and objects of interest,
they afford to all elements Of the population
positive opportunities for enjoyment of which
all elements are glad to take advantage In
the case of Fifth-ave this argument is par
ticularly forcbe, for 1t is only ''show street
to use a phrase which conveys its meaning
rather vulgarly-and, moreover, the only
giving direct and convenient access to Central
Park where the people have made an immense
investment which it is merely good business
sense to render as profitable as possible by rem
dering the Park as accessible as possible.
But 1t is not strictly necessary to plead
these general considerations. Our esteemed
contemporary, THE New-York Times" has
taken the trouble to demonstrate by actual
count fact of which casual observation could
scarcely leave doubt, namely, that the average
proportion of pleasure travel to business traffic
on Fifth-ave. in the hours of the afternoon
when deliveries are presumably most numerous
is four to one. In word, If the decision were
left to those who traverse the avenue in wheeled
vehicles a great majority would vote for Mr..
Guggenheimer's resolution. As for the innu-
merable multitude on foot, it is undenable that
Fifth-ave. would be far more attractive to them,
and, when they wanted TO cross it, far safer and
more comfortable, if the traffic were reduced in
the manner proposed The passage from curb
to curb is already troublesome and dangerous,
and it is constantly becoming more So owing
| TO the multiplication of vehicles of all sorts,
| including several modern varieties like the BIZ
| cycle and the automobile in its numerous forms.
The limit of reasonable security and cOnven-
ience was exceeded some time ago, and Mr..
| Guggenheimers moderate suggestion for restor-
ing tolerable conditions ought to be adopted at
| once.