New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-08
KEEPS Up THE "AD" FIGHT
SHOWS DAMAGE TO BRYAN.
". b. Parsons against Any Com
promise IN the Sub1Cdy.

In spite of the belief of George W. Rivez.
counsel for the Rapid Transit Commission.
that the contract with the operating company
permits advertising signs in the subway, Will
lam Barclay Parsons. chief engineer, urged
last night that the fight 70 abolish the signs
be kept up He is against the signs, absolutely
and entirely. If beaten completely in this
nsnt he should find it necessary to devise some
method Of regulating the signs rather than tear
Ing them out OF the stations. he would consider
IL Meantime, he says:
Keep up the fight. We're not going to COM
promise; We'll discuss no alternative plans until
were beaten"
just as much opposed to these signs is c.
Grant La Fargo, architect of the subway sta
tons The advertisements destroy entirely the
individuality, orderliness and harmony OF de-
sign which were the qualities chiefly sought in
building the stations, and in destroying this in
dividuality and color scheme of each station
render 1t very difficult to identify the stations
he says. He, too, would abolish the signs en-
tirely if that were impossible. regulate them
strictly as to size, color and position. leaving
meme the walls of the stations visible from
the trains.
Mr.. Parsons and E P. Bryan. vice president
OF the marlborough company. went through the
subway yesterday to inspect the signs and the
method Of hanging them. Until a method has
been approved by the Rapid Transit Commits
sion which viii not destroy the thing the operat-
ing company may not hang any more signs.
At the inspection yesterday Mr. Parsons point
ed out TO Mr.. Bryan the too evident dana ge-
pure vandalism many term (which has re-
suited from the reckless driving of nails into
the thing to support the gaudy posters
No plan was decided on There will be other
meetings at which Mr.. Bryan will advance his
views and Mr. Parsons will make suggestions.
When the views of both have been harmonlzed
the result Will be taken to the Rapid Transit
Commission for approval
That M. Parsons has not lost hope, however,
was evident from the tone in which he told OF
the trip through the subway. Nothing was
decided, he said. At some subsequent meeting
Mr.. Bryan would advance a plan, and he would
suggest plan. too.
Have you plan outlined now?" was asked.
Yes; remove the signs" answered the engi-
neer. That's the best way to settle this ques-
ton"
But if they can't be removed because Of the
contract have you an alternative as to the reg
ulating Of them?"
We're not going to compromise" came the
answer. We won't discuss alternatives until
were beaten. Let the newspapers keep up the
fight"
If finally 1t is decided that there must be ad-
vertising in the subway Mr.. La Fargo will
probably be asked 10 designate some method by
which IL can be rendered less objectionable and
kept from obscuring the name tablets In the
stations. This could be done only by making
the signs small and inconsplcuous as TO color,
he said, and keeping them entirely from the
walls of the stations which had been treated in
the general color scheme. There would be places
In the recesses by the ticket booths where small
quiet signs might be hung. causing much less
annoyance than the present ~ stem of plaster
ing them all over the walls
Small booths for the sale of cigars, papers and
magazines VIII be placed in all the stations
before long. These have been specially designed
10 be in keeping with the general character OF
the stations They Will be placed behind the rail-
ings near the ticket sellers booths and little
objection TO them is expected.
Many complaints continue 10 be made about
the air in the subway This has been brought
TO the attention Of the Health Department but
so far nothing has been found serious enough
70 warrant the departments taking action DR.
F. c. Chandler, head of the department Of
chemistry at Columbia said yesterday that ne
thought the air was not deficient in oxygen He
had not analysed the air, but had ridden
through the tunnel purpOsely to note the air
conditions. He found peculiar smell due
probably, 10 the newness of the tunnel but
otherwise the air appeared to him to be as
heaIthful as the air in many public buildings