The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-18

, primary ideals Of the artistic and beau
tiflil? The universal verdict would be
that they did not. Neither do they I'LL
the bill satisfactorily from the standpoint
of the practical 1t would seem sim
pie matter to designate plainly the name
Of each city street. And so it was, when
| the pedest rian was the only one to pc
| accommodated, and he never went out
| after nightfall. But the traveller on the
swiftly knowing trolley car must now pc
served and the signs must speak by
night as well as by day. Not every man
| can always have a match convenient, ana
| a still larger proportion lack the physlcal
| ability to shin up sign post ana nan g
on with one hand while striking match
| with the other. The street sign, therefore,
| to, fulfil it's mission properly, must meet
! tho eye of the pedestrian and traveller III
any vehicle Or car, and be leglDle by DAY
| and by night.
/ With such points prominently IN mind,
| the Municipal Art society of New York
has recently approached this problem and
has proposed to the municipal assembly
of that city an ordinance embodying it's
ideas of the proper course OF the mu-
nicipality along this line in the future.
Anew Ideas.
These ideas are in substance as fol-
lows: ,
Street signs should be placed parallel with
the street, on diagonal corners, either on
buildings or where this is impossible, on
posts. Illuminated signs on electric light
posts are preferable, but these must be 80
placed as to show easily by night. On streets
having car lines the intersecting streets
should be designated by signs placed at an
angle Of forty five degrees to the cross street,
SO as to be read by passengers. All signs
should also indicate, II practicable, the street
number Of the nearest building. They should
ho ttStj in character
with proper regard for their cost The de-
sideratum for; a large city, however, 1g the IN
stituton Of a general and comprehensive plan
providing for the combination OF all street
fixtures. This involves the erection or
structure as light as conditions will permit,
but capable of being closed and locked, The
accompanying designs illustrate the pos
sibilities in this direction. The structure
combines accommodations for fire MIGRANTS,
fire alarm box, police telephones, letter
box, manho1e and surrounding all, street
signs. BY combining all these features IN
one structure substantial addition would be
made to the beauty of the thoroughfare. THIS
plan is applicable Of course only to the oasl.
ness districts of large cities, on account or
the heavy cost
What Minneapolis Has
Minneapolis has been committed by the
council to two types of street slgns-a
blue enameled background with Whlte
lettering, and a galvanized iron sign, also
with white lettering. The latter is the
cheaper and is intended more for the
residence district The other sign is the
more artistic, however, and probably more
durable, and is being used in the business
district. The council has never officially
designated a glass sign for street lamps.
Each ward is there fore free to exploit its
own ideas here and the fourth ward alder
men have settled upon something that
they believe is going to give universal
satisfaction, both by day and night. There
is yet field, however, for society in
suggesting inexpensive improvements on
the present sign, and agitating the day
of the combination structure for the bust
ness district.
In New York City great interest is
being taken in the movement for more ar
tictic street signs, and in some instances
individuals and associations Of citizens
and lighting corporations have erected at
their own expense specimen signs en-
bodying improved ideas. Two of these are
shown in illustrations accompanying this
article. Simple effects, it will be noticed,
are sought after in each instance, and GER
tainly the signs satisfy the needs of the
city, from the point of view of both the
progressive and beautiful, much better
than the ordinary type of street signs.