New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-27
STREET SIGNS NEEDED.
appropriation Wanted to Complete
the Work Begun Under Lo1c.

-ss-chants and residents OF the northern part
q, Manhattan and those having occasion
- visit that district, are asking why the pres
-. administration apparently makes no effort
- carry on the good work of up TO date street
IONS begun and almost completed by the re-
,oryn administration under Mayor Low. When
,Tovor Mcclellan took the oath OF office, 1t is
,,o,nted out, street signs already punctuated the
Rorough Of Manhattan as far as One-hundred-
.,d-twenty-sixth-st, and even beyond. Since
.ho, time. It is said. the good work has ceased
sr.,relv. the appropriations have been permit
"a N run out, and no further funds are forth
.0rning. In consequence, Manhattan, north OF
.,,s thoroughfare. is largely without up to date
s,reet signs Of any description.
t4-orn inquiries made by a Tribune reporter
- che Office OF Borough President Ahearn yes
,erdsv. It appears that an appropriation of some
s5OOOO designed for this purpose has now been
Exhausted. that there is not dollar available
:, carry on the work. and that it is not expect
a that any appropriation will be asked for
until next year.
EvRorough President Cantor, however. is
,,-onqly in favor OF appropriation being
o,,ed and granted without further delay 1T
,rou,d only cost from $4,000 TO $4,000 to COM
,,e.a the work." Mr.. Cantor told the reporter.
go a. bg city such as this there is no rea-
IN
sborld not Immediately ask the Board of Esti-
20 and Apportionment TO issue special reVe-
me bonds for this amount, or why the Board
- Estimate should not forthwith grant the re-
Guest If the city cannot afford the expense
.b.r ~ is time for it 10 go out of business.
r2otb the former and present borough presi-
dants seemed agreed that the appropriations, on
she whole were economically and Judiclously
erpended. Said a representative of Mr. Ahearn:
Tho concentration as ! remember II, Was about
Ell ~, 81 whIch some $4,000 had 10 go for period
z; eighteen nS S' Park koW4Brosdwa and Third
ave excepted-we have Installed east ana l Mese
north of HOustOn-st there are some -'SV' NUM-
mated signs attached 10 electric pores as a Ia
,1or4h as Observation-Disclosures -SlAt I-St, tIld
even up 10 One-hundTed- and elgAiletIl-s1-, ~ollE
Tenth and Amsterdam ayts me 20 f1ish the
work along the other avenues stc no. - bss ,nn
done since last year. ,,, l., l. 49,,
The sign system, as already installed IS mace w
OF reaectors attached TO Welsbach hshts, OF when
there are 500 boxes attached TO dead lamp pos.s
reflector signs attaehed 10 nlSHoP q Ie 3Hgey in
The nature of an experiment. The eraIneI slgns
about SO cents apiece the DINERS 80 j5
certainly think the money vas H ;y5; 70 com
but We need an additl9n4l app @ he ~ asked
plete the work / greatly DOUBT Il II VIII Dc ASN'1
for until next year however.
NJ Cantor also was convinced that on the
whole the money could not have been put 10 bet
ter purpose. While he had challenged the adVls-
ability OF buying refectors. he admitted that they
had the advantage Of needing no outlay for light
Said he:
The bids were advertised and the lowest tender
accepted in every instance. The designs were aP-
proved by the Municipal Art Commission ana me
Municipal Art Society. the plans end speclncIJI-
approved by the Board Of Estimate ana the r or
roration Counsel ! do not recall al the moment
The total of the appropriations, but Il II was $9o
think every must agree that this vas A eA-
rremey reasonable sum, $4,000 Why, ior d CITY
of this size IL might well have been SlvJVI-
l think that most OF those who In 4 spirit OF
All fairness have criticised The lack OF uniformity
in the signs and their location, must reallze tlat
different conditions compelled different designs
You must remember too, that we had TO take tIe
posts as we found thsm-one, say, at the south
east corner and another the northwest corner
OF a street. What in my opinion IS needed now, -
the COMPLETION OF the work-a thorough lnstal4a-
ton from Tenth and Amsterdam ayes and one
hundred and twenty -siXIh hist, all the way up
Along Eghth-ave. north Of this street, also there
should be new up date signs all the way up 70
ndred -and-hfty-fifth-st There can be moth
ing 10 prevent an immediate appropriation for the
work
Mr.. Cantor added that in his regime he main
tanned an inspection bureau" inviting the Police
Street Cleaning, and the Gas. Water Supply and
Electricity departments 10 report anything aniss
with the signs their foundations that might
come 10 their attention.