Traffic in the Avenues.

The New York Times
January 15, 1900

To the Editor of The New York Times:

As germane to the subject of restricting the public uses of Fifth Avenue during certain hours, it is worth considering what conditions exist in other thoroughfares, especially in the Third and Sixth Avenues. In either of these one may see, at any time between morning and evening, vehicles standing for considerable periods of time and without need, with the rear ends at the curb and their horses in line with them, so as to completely barricade the highway between the supports of the elevated railroad and the sidewalks. Seldom does one see any effort to lessen public disadvantage by a placing of horses or vehicles where they would be less obstructive.

It is not unreasonable that the driver of a heavily loaded dray should prefer Fifth Avenue, with its freedom from obstacles, to one in which he has contstantly to dodge about among surface cars, iron columns, grocers' and other wagons, which stand just where they are most in the way of others, and where his progress becomes a continuous "gee-haw," so to speak.

What is publicly needed is not restriction of the use of Fifth Avenue so much as better facilities for the use of some others.
F. A. Castle
New York, Jan. 12, 1900.