The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-22
FOR An U jSfT rI House. Use Use APOLIO
AFFAIRS OFTHB DISTRICT
Merchants Ask Leave to Use Side
walks TO Display foods.
They Say the Louisiana Avenue
Pavement Is Wide Enough to Per
poses without Interfering with
Pedestrians Under Abatement.

a delegation of business men whose Of
fees and stores are on Louisiana Avenue
called upon the Commissioners this morn
ing and presented a petition requesting
that the sidewalk between Sixth and Sew
enth streets may be used for the purpose OF
displaying their goods. The delegation was
composed of w H Mcknight, j. ]. Sin
clare A. H. Tyson, F. Germiller, Charles
Ernardt. and Charles ". Darr
MIR Darr spoke for the delegation and
began by handing TO the Commissioners a
petition numerously signed. Mr.. Darr then
said that the merchants on Louisiana Ave
aue desired to use the sidewalks for the
display of their goods for various reasons
set forth in the petition. He said that for
some time past they had been subjected to
much annoyance by the police and they
wished the Commissioners to give them a
formal permit based upon such restrictions
as the Board might see fit. so that the
constant conflict with the officers might be
avoided. The situation was fully discuss
ed by Mr.. DarT, and at the conclusion Of
his remarks the Commissioners stated that
they would consider the matter fully and
decision later
The petition sets forth that the furni-
ture dealers. auctioneers, and other mer-
| chants doing business on Louisiana Ave-
hue. between Sixth ard Seventh Streets,
respectfully ask a permit TO occupy a por-
ton Of the pagementS tor the display of
their goods. The street at that, point
they say, is fifty fee wide, and the pave
rnents on both sides were widened some
time ago to make the avenue available for
q business thoroughfaTe, Continuing the
petition says:
The pavements on this street have
been used by the merchants doing bust
ness thereon for years for the display OF
goods and the said displays do not in any
way interfere with comfort of the public,
and without impeding travel thereon. as a
sidewalk is left, one OF the curb side and
one or the house side Of the pa yement,
each fully as wide as the usual side OF
the street We submit fIlher that the
wide pavement furnishes an ins:uc5meut
to merchants in certain lines 10 locate On
said street, as they have always enjoyed
the privilege Of using certain portions Of
the pavement for display which privilege
cannot be enjoyed on streets with narrow
| payements in other business sections.
We therefore petition you TO grant this
! privilege 10 the merchants on this block
that they may in a degree enjoy some Of
/ the privileges enjoyed by other merchants
/ on the same Avenue in the vicinity of the
/ market"
! The question Of allowing trades people
| 10 occupy the siieEG lks on Louisiana Ave
| nue. has been before the Comnissi toner's
| in one form or another for several months.
| Numerous complaints lave been received
| by them relative TO the matter. Some OF
| these set forth the alleged fact that the
! merchants, aucJoneeTs, and others 9riyi-
| legged 10 occupy the paYements nave liter
| ally blocked up the sidewalks so that
| passing along in comfort was practically
| out Of the question II is stated by some
| of the compliments that at certain times
| in the day when teams are taking on or
| delivering goods the whole side of
| the street is occupied with no passage left
| for the passage of PEDESTRIANS. One cor
| respondent describes the situation by say
| ing that the merchants have been given
| an inch of privilege and have taken an
| ell by taking possession of the whole
| pavement and using It for commercial
| purposes.
On the strength of these complaints the
] Police Department was charged some
| months ago with the duty of keeping the
| sidewalks clear on Louisiana Avenue for
! the passage of thos walking along the
/ streets. Several re9rts have been made
| to the Commissioner by the Superintend-
| ent of Police on the subject and they have
| thought heretofore that the best interests
| of the public were served by restraining
| the tendency Of the merchants to occupy
j the payements on louisiana Avenue.
The petition pTesIts the subject in a
new light and it is understood that the
| Commissioners will take up the subject
/ within a few days aad pass some order
upon it which will soye the problem per-
manenty.