BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-10-05
SAN JUAN, OCTOBER 5
Editorial Comment.

The first bit of local coloring which attracts
the attention of the stranger from the States
upon his arrival in San Juan is the cries OF
the street men. The huckster, the teams,
ter, the "dulcsu man, the general rush OF
the mobile merchant, and the inevitable
street arab. At first, they furnish pleasant
music, strange notes that cause memories 10
the older American OF the larger cities in
the United States in the early days. They
also furnish topic to write to the 1olks
about. This lasts for about one month; and
then as is the case with all good things, the
music lGo-es its harmony and symphony,
the picturesque wandering merchant and
urchiD becomes an ogre, and their wares
take on the aspect of dreaded medicines.
The change is sudden, and what was yer
terday music becomes by constant repititlon,
discord, and the stranger joins the. ranks oil
those already domesticated folk who spend
their spare time in decrying and bewailing
the necessity that drove them to live
amongst such Internal bedlam.
There is absolutely no doubt in the world
that San Juan has as many public and prl-
vate nuisances as any city that amy OF us
have ever lived in.
Efforts should be made within certain
limits and confines to restrict these nulsan
ces. Tne street men must live, and should
be encouraged in every effort they make to
garner an honest livelihood, but they must
be taught to have respect for the private
rights of individuals. They must De taught,
and with all due force that the average
pedestrian is a mighty poor acrobat and that
it is specially difficult feat to go up Oruz
or Oristo Streets over the top of public push
carts. OF course it has been said and with
reason that if the street men would build
b5dgss Gp sart to oa faFt mfn Wy Sh sIaFt sSIaaFtpaEE
take them into account, the scheme is bad
one. The Police must make an effort to
prevent every push cart man in San Juan
from resting his cart in the same street and
and all at the same time. The Police must
also make 1t their business to stop those ter.
rifying noises made by these vendos at
three O'Clock in the morning, We know
that it is the duty OF the street man to wake
the chantlcleer TO his morning call, but that
should be changed an once, nature did not
mean to arrange it that way. The people
Of this City have some rights, and those
rights must be taken care of.
In the better governed cities of the
United States there are stringent regulations
governing the business OF the street merch-
ant. One rule that we know of for instance,
is that carts cannot remain on the ore spot
for longer period than ten minutes at a
time, that the owners of carts must keep
them ten feet apart. and that no cart is
permitted to stand within ten feet of street
corner or crossing. If this rule were en-.
forced in San Juan it would make an imp
rovement that even the street merchant
himself would appreciate, and as to the cit
lzen he would call for an annuity for the
Chief of Police. Ooe weeks trial, and the
good people of this town would fall over
one another in trying to tell the Chief what
good man he is. Possibly it may not be
within the province or right Of the Police to
enforce such a rule or regulation but he can
u 9 his influence and prestige to secure the
Passage of such an ordinance
But as to the noises. the greatest of the
nuisances, an immediate restriction must
be Placed on the vocal efforts Of these street
men. They must be compelled to do their
singing and yelling within certain hours,
mostly during the light Of day. If they
must give their musical faculties prac-
tice at all hours, compel them to use
The hours when most people are asleep, to
write their notes. Three o'clock in the NOR
ming is nj time to sell "julcev and the |
would be purchaser of cocoa do aqua abroad |
at that hour is anxious enough to get the |
drink to look for it, and need not
be directed to the place by the uneartIy yell |
ling that frightenes him into promises to |
get home earlier.
These nusances must be stopped. The
law provides Tor it, and if it does not IL
should, and 1t certainly is somebody's busin.
Ps to see that the law is complied with.
This article is written especially for the ben
siit OF those who are responsible for the en-
Iorcement Of the law. The people want it,
md the law orders it.
There Cheers for Colnmbial A Tiger and Il
Three. Three straight victories, aud the
up remains. Which BY the way reminds
Is that the scribe Of Tetuan Street must
rare forgotten his evening ''paseov last
hight, or be might have seen the good news
announced on the BoLETIN's bulletin board 4
The only up to date paper in Porto Rico, y {
'aa surely asleep last night, or fatigued {
nth editorial thinkineg or It would have Z
cen on the Plaza and obtained Cup to datev
eWs. Of course we know it was our duty
. print tho news in the edition of last night, | ]
u5 the cable came too late Then again iiip
10 Tetuan Street journalists haven't got :
nough energy 80 come to.the Plaza to get b
eHs, they must blame themselves. We are s
sry willing TO print the news, but cannot d
'are the time 10 carry il down to Tetuan b
ffeol. The noWe should hire boy. b