New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-29
TO RESTRICT FIFTH-AFE.

The interesting announcement was mace yes
teriay by Police Commissioner McAuoo lhal as
soon as he had worked out the necessary pan
trucks and heavy business vehicles would be
excluded from F1fth-ave. between the hours oil
o 4. III. and p NJ. except when they had 10
deliver light goods. In such cases they VIII
be required to enter the avenue by the nearest
cross street. This must presumably be taken
as a general rule TO which it will be necessary
to make some exceptions For example, We
hicle which was permitted to enter the avenue
within the hours Of restriction for the purpose
of making such delivery could hardly be ex-
pected. in case it had 10 so to another ADDRESS
couple Of blocks further north or south, TO take
the rounda bout route instead of the direct one
That is doubtless one Of the details when MT.
r7cAdoO IS considering 1t would not be founu
exceedingly troublesome if the suggestion were
adopted that light vehicles should be employed
as far as possible for the Fifthave. delivery
service
After much discussion of this subject at fire.
quent intervals tin the latest phases of which
THE Evening Post has taken leading and
useful part) and after repeated efforts to pro-
cure supposedly necessary legislation, ii is some
what surprising TO find the Police Commissioner
concluding that he already has full authority to
curtail heavy traffic In Fifth-ave. He refers to
the charter, and probably relies on that section
of it which requires and empowers the Police De-
partment and force Ito regulate the movement
"of teams and vehicles in streets, bridges,
Squares parks and public places" Whether
or not that general provision will be held sur
ficient remains TO be determined. The Com
missioner says he is going TO try it, anyway,
but if directors, and especially the express
companies, maintain their present attitude the
courts will presumably have TO settle the ques-
ton. Some of those, however, who now oppose
the scheme have evidently misunderstood 1t,
and the hostility Of others may yield to pressure
or persuasion.
The managers of the express companies have
always contended that such regulation would
be a great hardship in their business, for the
reason that the grade is much easier in Fifth
ave. Just south of Forty -second-st than in Madi-
son and Park ayes, and that their dependence
on the Grand Central Station makes this an
important consideration, Sixth-aYe. being too
far away. From their point OF view there Is
some force in this objection, but we have al
ways thought that they made too much or II.
at all events, the question should not be de-
cided TO suit their convenience. There are Valu
and strong reasons for regulating traffic In
Fifth-ave. in the manner proposed. instead OF
permitting heavy and cumbersome vehicles
largely to monopolize the advantages due to It's
peculiar character The chief object in view is
to prevent such vehicles, whether loaded or
empty, from making it their route to remote
destinations, and there is no intention OF for
bidding its use for any essential purpose.
OF course. the complaint is made as often as
the discussion IS revived that the underlying
motive is to confer special privileges on the
rich. but there is no sense in that objection. 1t
is true that as a rule only prosperous citizens
live or do business IN Fifth-ave., but it is a
source of pleasure to q multitude of other per
sons because of its distinctive character. and we
venture to say that an immensely larger num-
Der of poor people than of rich would be graft
fed by the consequences Of the proposed restr1c-
ton The fundamental fact Is that there mas
ceased to be room enough In Fifth-aYe. for all
who for one reason or another choose to make
use Of the roadway. The wise and proper
thing, therefore is to it for the kinds OF
traffic to which it is legitimately assigned by
considerations of general convenience and by
prevailing sentiment