New-York tribune., 1901-01-18

STREET SIGNS As THEY SHOULD BE.
There is hope for street signs in New-Iork.
We are not sure that the hope is as bright as
the need is urgent. Certainly it could not be
more so. for the present condition Of NewYork
in respect to street signs is simply disgraceful.
and would not we imagine. be tolerated for a
day in any other city of comparable rank in the
world But il is distinctly hopeful that the
Municipal Assembly has taken the matter up.
The fact that il has done so. even though some
of its proposals have not been altogether
praiseworthy. indicates that # realizes the need
and is inclined to do something TO meet it, for
which Il is a pleasure cordially 10 commend
that body. In fact, it has already done some
thing in requesting the appropriate Commits
sioner to supply a general system of signs. 1t
is a pity the resolution was not peremptory
command instead Of request, and it is pity
the Mayor had not sufficient sense of public
duty to add to it the weight of his signature
instead of letting il become valid by default.
But at least it indicates progress. which we may
hope will he continued until the desired end IS
attained.
There are certain obvious principles upon
which the work of street marking should he
done Il should be done by the city, at public
expense, and not forced upon private citizens,
as was contemplated in the maladroit proposal to
which we referred the other day. 1t should be
universal, every street corner in the entire city
being marked. The signs should be uniform in
style. size and position, so that every one will
know Just where TO look for them and will
instantly recognize them. They should be so
designed and placed as TO be perfectly legible to
all passers by. whether afoot on the sidewalk
or I'm vehicle in the roadway. and they should
be legible by night as well as by day. They
should indicate Enthusiastically not only of what
streets they stand at the intersection, but also
which street is which. These requirements~are
simple and not formidable. They can be met
readily by a simple and inexpensive system,
which will in every hour be worth far more to
the city than It's total cost
The objection is made 10 the scheme of forcing
corner building owners to put up and maintain
the signs that it would be compelling them TO
do something which the city should do at public
cost. That objection is believe valid and
insurmountable. OF course, if the city wanted
at public cost TO put the signs upon the build
ings. instead OF upon posts, and 1t was clear that
such would be the best place for them, the
owners of the corner buildings ought not TO
object 1t is seriously TO be doubted however
whether that would be the best place for them;
whether, that is to say, they would there be
most legible TO all at all times. The plan
aoopteu by tne strong administration had some
admirable features. It cut down the lampposts
and surmounted them with rectangular glass
cases. of pleasing design, bearing the street
names In legible characters The trouble with II
was however. that at many street corners there
were no lampposts and so no signs. and in
! many cases where the posts and signs did exist
there were no lights in the lamps, or glass
cases. and so the signs not illuminated and
were not always visible at night. On Fifth-ave.,
for example, the ordinary street lamps have
long been abolished. and electric arc lights at