New-York tribune., 1902-01-03
STREET LAMPS AND SIGNS.

The street lamp and sign model devised by
the West End Association, OF which we yester-
day printed an illustration, has some commend
able features IT is simple. yet sufficiently
ornate and it is above all else signboard for
the ready information of the public, conspc-
uous and legibe at all times. 1t may we'll be
asked. however, II 1t would not be better 10
have the four sides of uniform size. with the
names of both streets upon each side. There is
reason TO fear. too. that some confusion might
result from having the names of both streets In
letters of so nearly equal size. We are inclined
TO think the name of the street parallel with
that face of the lantern should be in much
larger letters than that of the cross street, and
that the name of the latter should be accOmpa-
MED with a hand and index finger pointing
around the corner TO the cross street; or else,
as suggested by Mr.. John A. Slecher the name
of the cross street should be inscribed vertically
at the proper end of the sign. At any rate, each
face of the lantern should display the names Of
both streets, and should do so in way that
will give not the least ground for doubt as to
which street is which.
The design of the West End Association is
most heartily to be approved in having ground
glass instead of clear glass sides, and in pro-
viding for incandescent gas lights within.
Ground glass makes the inscription far more
legible than clear glass. and the incandescent
gas light is really the Ideal light for such pur-
poses, presenting a happy medium between the
incandescent electric light, which is in it's single
form too weak. and the arc electric light which
is too dazzlngy strong. The design in question
has the merit too, of being adapted to uniform
use at every street crossing in the city.
This latter point suggests the necessity of dis
senting from one opinion attributed to Mr.. Can
tor whose ideas and acts in the case are other
wise most commendable. He is reported as
saying that Illuminated lamppost signs should
be used in the residential parts of the city, but
that in the business regions, which are practi-
cally deserted at night, blue and white metal
tablets on the buildings will suffice. Most en-
phatically, no. The signs should be alike in all
parts of the city. For, in the first place, lamp
post signs will be much more legible in day
time than tablets on the buildings. In the next
place the business districts are by no means
deserted at night, but thousands of people pass
through them every hour on their way to and
from ferries and railroads and from borough to
borough. In the third place-to go no further
it would be hopelessly confusing TO he COM
PEELED TO look for one kind of sign in one kind
of position in one part of the city. and for
another kind of sign in another kind of position
in another part of the city. Utility requires
uniformity. so that. no matter what part of the
city he is in, tbs wayfarer will know Just where
10 look for a street sign.
With the influences now at work there is
cause for confident expectation that errors will
be avoided. that sound principles will he adopted
and that the city will soon be redeemed from