New-York tribune., 1901-05-22
PLANS FOR STREET SIGNS.
SUGGESTIONS SUBMITTED BY THE
MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY

The Municipal Art Society yesterday sent to
the Municipal Assembly letter calling atten-
ton TO the necessity OF legislation for more
street signs and Offering its services to the city
in the effort to obtain an adequate name desig-
nation for such signs The society declares that
the signs should be Of such form. material and
design will contribute TO the artistic value Of
the city's streets. The city to itself. 1t is
asserted proper system of street marking. 1t
is to he borne in mind that the street names are
TO be indicated for two different classes Of per-
sons one the person ignorant of the locality
usually a pedestrian. and often stranger. and
the other the traveller in the streetcars. who
knows the avenue he is on. but who wishes to
know the street which he is approaching or
passing The letter of the Municipal Art So
ciety contains the following suggestions:
We respectfully submit that all streets should be
or where there are no corner buildings. by TEN,
porary sgnpost erected on the corner lot. The let
well by day. on avenues streets which are
largely used for transportation (which VIII be in
longitudinal avenues there should be additional
angle of forivye doeres to the Venue on dian an
onally opposite corners affixed to the electric light
by whatever manner of designation be adopted
should be pleasing and educating to the eye The
city streets are at present too much encountered
with disfguring private signs. Those which the
city provides should be such to be not only
submit that the design designs should be consid-
cred work Of art. and as such subject to the ap-
proyal of the Municipal Art Commission. and we
respectfully request and urge that the ordinance
TO be passed shall provide
We believe that the designs should either be uni
form or limited TO one OF few designs which may
be warranted by the different character OF different
sections Of the city. a designation for streets on
uniInproVed property In the outlying portions of the
city may properly differ from that prescribed for
the better business residence portions oF the
city. IT should, however, be equally pleasant to
consult. For that reason, respectfully s. -ggest
that the ordinance 10 be passed should prescribe
generally the pan Of designation. wing further
details to the Commissioner Of Highways
If this society be thus advised the require
ments of the city. and also of a limit of cost II
designs for adoption and by the city II con
templates that these designs will he the result of
a competition, ana it feels confident that in this
similar way your honorable body NAV accom-
plish a greatly needed reform and add materially
to the beauty of the streets.
The letter is signed by John De Witt Warner
president Of the Municipal Art Society. and by
Nelson ]. Spencer. Charles r. Lamb and NJ r.
Maltbe. members of the society's committee
The Municipal Assembly is considering an
ordinance which, II ii is passed without change.
VIII compel owners of corner buildings to erect
street signs at the corners Of the buildings un-
der the direction OF the Commissioner OF Pub
lie Buildings, Lighting and Supplies.