New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-24
NARROW NASSAU-ST.
Proposal to Turn 1t Into a, arcade
Exclusively for Pedestrians.

Because me fathers Of Hew-Amsterdam
planned for city OF thousands instead Of mill
Ions the citizen OF to-day Is squeezed tighter
and tighter each year In many downtown streets-
In narrow Nassau-st.. for example. the crowds
which surge back and forth between Wallet
and the Brooklyn Bridge are compelled to use
tie whole street as a sidewalk where horses and
wagons struggle about trying to ford
GrcsAet
Many OF the cities Of Europe have built ar
cldes to relieve the crush OF their most con-
gcslcd districts; and an arcade has been pro-
posed for Nassau-st Between the skyscrapers
which have made canyon OF this thorough
fare, the suggestion has been made to erect a
glass covered gallery. which will protect pedes-
iians from storm and yet not ohstruct light
Engineers who have studied the problem say
,hat the roof may be made removable In order
got to hinder hremen, movers Of safes or build
Nrs. The roof might extend from curb to curb
end interesting streets might be bridged with
ornate archways Among other engineers who
have Endorsed such structure as practicable
is Enrique Deserti builder OF the arcades at
Naples and Rome.
Should such an arcade be built. trucks would
be excluded from Naseau-st during business
hours This feature OF the plan meets with the
favor of most Of the shopkeepers and owners OF
property In Nassau-st. Even II a glass rooted
arcade is found impracticable, because Of en-
dangering life and property in case OF fire." said
Frederick Potter. head OF the o. b. Potter trust.
which owns the Potter Building at Nassau and
Beekman SITS, Il should still be in favor OF pro-
hibiting vehicle traffic in Nassau-st., except be-
fore and after the rush hours"
The fire underwriters are not friendly toward
any plan of an arcade thus far suggested for
Nassau-st, yet they do not deny that some sort
Of structure might be erected which would con-
vert the street into n concourse for pedestrians
The new Borough President and Fire Commits
sioner are both studying the problem with the
view of relieving the congestion of the street
without imperilling life or property.
Such cities London. Paris, Naples and Milan
long ago erected arcades to afford outlets for
crowds at congested points. In London the two
Oldest arcades are the Burlington and Lowtber
They are covered, and are lined with shops
Paris contains some Of the most ornate arcades
In rhe %orld. In the Rue de Rivoli PaIais ROYAL
and Old Place Royal are covered passagewavs
the sides of which open whereas the Pass
ages des Panoramas JOuffroy and de Princes are
arcades which are closed on the sides. A few like
the Passages Choiseul and de POp6ra, are espe-
cahy frequented by crowds bent on recreation
All are more or less lined with shops and caffs
one OF the largest and most elaborate arcades
Of the Old World is the Galeria Humberto. Of
-'"PieS- II covers -FOUR blocks OF ground, and
was erected by company at a cost of IS, OOO,-
wv. The structure has proved a good invest
ment however. and the stores and shops with
which its passageways are lined net an annual
income Of 100000
The Galerta Humberto has the firm y, .
Greek cross, GOO feet long In each direction with
a glass roof 100 feet high and a dome that rises
LOO feet where the streets intersect The shops
extend back on each side $50 feet and are all
built In uniform design The arcade is paved
with tiles and kept clean by constant scrubbing
Milan. with q population less than one-seventh
that OF this city, boasts ef an arcade of mag
nihcent Dimensions u n called the GaIeria
Ylttorio Emanuels and furnishes q dry passage