1 VALUABLE INFORMATION V FOR THE RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK CITY PRESENTED BY THE CITY IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY lEx Stbrtfi SEYMOUR DURST When you leave, please leave this book Because it has been said "Sver'thing comes t' him who waits Except a loaned book." OV^ / 2 on &° y 3f 'AVERY U DURST . Incorporated June 14th, 1892 12 EAST TWENTY-THIRD STREET, NEW YORK Objects. To Promote the Improvement and Beautifying of the City, and to Assist and Stimulate the Authorities in Enforcing the Laws Relating Thereto. 3 The City Improvement Society is under the management of an Executive Com- mittee, and is supported by voluntary subscriptions received from public- spirited citizens interested in promoting the welfare and improvement of the city. The Society furnishes a medium, never before existing, whereby residents of New York having any complaints to make, within the scope of its work, can be assured that the same will be pre- sented to the authorities and urged until they receive proper attention. The Society is also ready at all times to receive any suggestions relating to special objects, the attainment of which will tend to benefit the public at large. J. C. PUMPELLY, Secretary. No. 12 E. 23d Street, New York, Nov. 16, 1894. 3 Complaints for the following violations of the Sanitary Code may be sent to this Society if signed with name and address of complainant ; said name and address is always held strictly confidential : Sec. 87-89. — Whenever ashes, garbage, or refuse of any kind are allowed to remain, or are thrown into the street or gutters. Sec. 95. — Whenever receptacles for gar- bage, ashes, refuse, etc., are placed upon the open sidewalk between the curb and the area or stoop-line, or in any other pub- lic places. Such receptacles should be kept within and between the stoop or " area " line and the house line of the premises to which they belong until removed therefrom for emptying by the authorized employes of the Department of Street Cleaning, and by them must be returned to the place whence they were taken.' Sec. 99. — Whenever builders or con- tractors do not clean up the street after completing their work, removing all mate- rial and refuse so as to put the street and sidewalk in the same good condition as before. Sec. 196. — Whenever vacant lots by reason of their not being fenced in become 4 a nuisance or detrimental to health as the result of dumping or throwing thereon garbage, refuse, etc., or are resorted to by tramps or unruly and disorderly persons who disturb the peace or menace the wel- fare of the neighborhood or passers-by. Sec. 117 and Il8. — Whenever any thick black smoke, foul odors, or soot, ashes, etc., are allowed to escape from any factory, gas-works, shop, or other building so as to cloud the atmosphere or enter into adjacent premises to the detriment or an- noyance of any person therein engaged. Sec. 98. — Whenever carpets, rugs, clothing, or material of any description are shaken or beaten where particles there- from, or set in motion thereby, may pass into any occupied premises. Sec. 172. — Whenever the barking of dogs, the crowing of roosters, or noise made by other animals or birds kept on or within any premises disturbs the sleep, health, or comfort of any person occupying the same or adjacent premises. — Provided, however, that the person making complaint is willing to sign an affidavit in each case that the noise complained of disturbs his or her rest to the detriment of his or her health. 5 Sec. 165 and 168. — Whenever street- car companies do not provide clean, wholesome, and comfortable cars, or do not run their cars at regular intervals dur- ing the night, as required by law. Sec. 79. — Whenever any business, such as the slaughtering of animals, fat render- ing, soap or bone boiling, lime burning, etc., the operation of which is or may be detrimental to the public peace or health, is conducted without a special permit from the Board of Health. 6 Complaints for violation of the follow- ing 1 City Ordinances and the Laws of New York State may be sent to the City Improvement Society, if signed with name and address of complainant ; said name and address is always held strictly confidential: SIDEWALKS. Whenever snow or ice remains on the sidewalk or in the gutter for more than two hours after a storm. Whenever sidewalks are obstructed or encumbered by stands, goods, wares, merchandise, building material, etc., placed at a greater distance than three feet in front of houses or stores, or placed at or along the curb, excepting when same are in process of actual shipment or being received from shipment. Whenever sidewalks are allowed to re- main in an unclean or dirty condition. Whenever water or other liquids are allowed to flow on or over the sidewalks from buildings, or from the gutter pipes leading down from same. Whenever any signs, movable or other- wise, are placed at the curb. — Nor can any sign be more than 5 feet in height if mov- able, nor placed more than 3 feet in front 7 of the house line. — Swinging signs when attached to buildings cannot project more than 4 feet from the house line, or hang less than 8 feet in the clear from the level of the sidewalk. Whenever skids, bars, or planks are placed on or over the sidewalk for the purpose of loading or unloading goods, etc., without allowing a clear passageway of at least 3 feet. Whenever horses or vehicles are driven on or over sidewalks. Whenever awnings on buildings are placed so that they project outwardly be- yond the stoop or area line said awnings must not be less than 7 feet in the clear in every part above the sidewalk. Whenever any flagstones, curbstones, or other stones are removed from any side- walks for the purpose of repairs, or for the purpose of paving, flagging, recurbing, or reflagging, without causing such repairs to be completed as soon as same can reason- ably be done, or a proper substitute there- for provided while repairs or changes are in progress. Whenever a sidewalk or street crossing is in a broken, sunken, or dangerous con- dition, or if any of the flagstones are miss- 8 ing or have been removed, — specifying the exact location as shown by the number of the abutting premises. If such defective sidewalks are in front of vacant lots such fact should be stated, giving the location as near as possible by reference to the adjoining premises. 9 STREETS. Whenever streets are not regularly and properly swept or cleaned. Whenever ash-cart drivers allow debris or refuse to drop or spill from their carts through carelessness or overloading when collecting or carting same. (Specify the number of such cart.) Whenever gas, electric light, or other companies or contractors do not properly replace the street pavement or sidewalk after same has been torn up by them. Whenever street pavements are in a dangerous condition and liable to cause accident or injury to horses or vehicles by reason of loose, sunken, missing, or un- even stones, or if same have bad ruts or depressions, — specify full particulars in re- gard to the location of such defects. Whenever unharnessed carts, trucks, or vehicles of any description are stored or allowed to remain in the public street during the daytime, except on Sundays and holidays ; or remain in front of or on your premises or on premises occupied by you at any time, day or night, without your express consent. Whenever gas lamps are not lighted, or TO if same have broken panes or globes in them. Whenever electric lights in streets do not burn properly, or if same go out at intervals during the night. Whenever horses or vehicles are in the habit of standing in or along the roadway so as to obstruct the crosswalk of any street. Whenever roadways are unduly ob- structed by building material, etc., except during process of construction or repairs, and then only within the limits designated by the permit issued by the Department of Public Works, which in no case allows the use of more than one third of the roadway for this purpose. Whenever ball is played, or sticks or stones are thrown in the public streets. Whenever street pavements or any por- tions thereof are torn up or removed, unless same is authorized by permit granted by the Department of Public Works for some specified purpose, which also provides that such pavement shall be restored to the same good condition as before. Whenever any glass-lamp hung or fixed in any street is wilfully broken, or the lights therein are wilfully extinguished. ii Whenever streets are used for storage purposes of any description. Whenever a dead animal is exposed or allowed to remain in a street or other public place. 12 MISCELLANEOUS. Whenever buildings are not properly provided with fire-escapes, or if such fire- escapes are encumbered by any articles. Whenever street numbers are not placed on buildings, or the names and numbers of streets and avenues are not shown on street lamps at street intersections. Whenever any glass, window, porch, knocker, or other fixture belonging or at- tached to any house or building in the city of New York is wilfully broken or defaced. Whenever wooden sheds are erected over 15 feet in height within the "fire limits," or if same are not open on at least one side, with the sides and roof thereof covered with fireproof material. Whenever garbage or ashes are not col- lected regularly and the empty receptacles are not placed back within the area or stoop-line. Whenever a policeman on post is inso- lent when civilly addressed in the line of his duty, — specifying his number and loca- tion (as near as possible) at the time. Whenever a policeman on post wilfully neglects or refuses to make an arrest if called upon to do so, for an offense against the law committed in his presence or within his immediate neighborhood, and when the person so demanding the arrest is will- ing to testify before the Captain of the Precinct or Magistrate against the patrol- man in question, — specifying the police- man's number and location at the time. Whenever work under construction or repairs, or excavations made for repairs or construction, are not properly guarded against accident to pedestrians, or horses, or vehicles, at all times, and if same are not indicated by lanterns or lamps at night to warn against danger. The above are among the most frequent violations of la 7o in t/iis city. TJie City Im pr ove ment Society desires however to inform the public that it will re- ceive complaints f within the scope of its work) regard- ing the non-enforcement of any City Ordinance or Law of the State relating to this city, and will en- deavor to procure the abatement of nuisances where there is no law or ordinance directly applying to the same. 14 CAB RATES AND REGULA- TIONS. Each licensed vehicle is obliged to carry certain numbers corresponding to the num- ber of its license, on each outside lamp. Also to carry a Card of Rates, which must be hung or fastened at the back of the cab on the inside above the seat, so as to be plainly visible from either side. Warning. — Do not under any cir- cumstances employ a cab without first observing whether such rate card is con- spicuously shown, as above indicated. RATES OF FARE. One-horse vehicles carrying one or two adult persons (children under eight years not counted), also one piece of bag- gage not exceeding fifty pounds in weight : For the first mile or part thereof, 50 cents. For each additional half mile, 25 cents. For stops over five minutes and not ex- ceeding fifteen minutes, 25 cents. For longer stops, each additional fifteen minutes, 25 cents. Or such vehicle may be hired by the hour, if agreed upon, with the privilege of stopping as long or as often as may be de- sired, at rates not exceeding the following : For the first hour or part thereof, $1. 15 For each additional half hour or part thereof, 50 cents. No extra charge can be made for night service. Two-horse vehicles carrying one or four adult persons (children under eight years not counted), also one piece of bag- gage not exceeding fifty pounds in weight : For the first mile or part thereof, $1. For each additional half mile, 40 cents. For stops over five minutes and not ex- ceeding fifteen minutes, 38 cents. For longer stops, each additional fifteen minutes, 38 cents. Or such vehicle may be hired by the hour, if agreed upon, with the privilege of stopping as long or as often as may be de- sired, at rates not exceeding the following : For the first hour or part thereof, $1.50. For each additional half hour or part thereof, 75 cents. No extra charge can be made for night service. If more than one piece of baggage is carried such additional baggage is charged for at the rate of 25 cents per piece. In all cases where the hiring of a vehicle is not at the time thereof specified to be by the hour, it shall be deemed to be by the mile, and the driver of such vehicle shall have the right to refuse to make any such agreement by the hour and to charge by the mile. 16 Every licensed owner or driver of any hackney coach or cab shall have the right to demand his fare of the person or per- sons employing him on their entering his coach or cab, and may refuse conveying any person who does not comply with such demand. When taking any licensed vehicle by the mile do not make any bargain beforehand^ as the above are the only legal rates. It makes no difference whether one or more passengers as above are carried, no addi- tional charge other than as specified can be made in any case. In case any dispute should arise as to the rate of fare or distance travelled, the mat- ter can be settled at once by driving to the nearest Police Station. (See location of Police Stations.) If for any reason the passenger has paid more than the legal rate of fare and after- wards wishes to make a complaint against the hackman for the overcharge, a brief statement of the facts, together with the license number of the vehicle, should be sent to this Society, provided the person so doing will agree over his or her signature to appear before the Mayor's Marshal when notified so to do, in order to testify against the driver ; otherwise the Society is power- less to adjust the overcharge or have the driver punished. When engaged by the hourly rate, no cab or coach shall be driven at a pace less than five miles an hour. 17 Caution. — Do not employ any licensed coach or cab at night unless the outside lamps are lighted so as to distinctly show the number of the vehicle. The Rate Card should also be distinctly visible at the back on the inside above the seat, and in no other position TABLE OF DISTANCES REGU- LATING HACK CHARGES. One-half mile from the Battery includes any portion of New York in a direct street line South of Wall Street on Broadway. South of Wall Street on East River. South of Carlisle Street on North River. One mile from the Battery includes any portion of New York in a direct street line South of City Hall on Broadway. South of Park Place on North River. South of Peck Slip on East River. One and one-half miles from the Battery includes any portion of New York in a di- rect street line South of Canal Street at Broadway. South of Franklin Street at North River. South of Market Street at East River. Two miles from the Battery includes any portion of New York in a direct street line South of Houston Street at Broadway. South of Canal Street at North River. South and west of Jefferson Street at East River. 18 Three miles from the Battery includes any portion of New York in a direct street line South of 1 8th Street at Broadway. South of 14th Street at Ninth avenue. South of Bloom field Street at North River. South of 1 2th Street at East River. For greater distances, or starting from or above 14th Street, the distance travelled is best computed by blocks, viz. : Twenty street blocks running north or south constitute one mile. Seven avenue blocks running east or west constitute one mile. 19 LOCATION OF POLICE PRECINCT STATIONS. PRKCINCT ISt WARD 1st Old blip, cor. .bront St. 2d 3d Lor. Liberty and Church Sts. 3 rt otn City Hall 4th 4th Oak St. rfV. 5th otn 19 Leonard St. otn otn 19 rLiizaoetn 01. 7tQ 7th 240 Madison St. otn otn Cor. Prince and Wooster Sts. 9th qth 94 Charles St. 10th i4tn 205 Mulberry St. I Ith •w- 10th 105 Eldridge St I2th 13th Cor. Attorney and Delancy Sts. 1 3tn t 1 tn Union Market, n.. Houston ot. 14th 17th Cor. 1st Ave. and 5th St. 1 5111 i5tn 231 M ercer ot. iotn iotn 230 \v . 20tn ot. 17th 21st 34 E 29th St. (Broadway Squad) 1 otn iotn 327 22d ot. 1 gtn join x 37 ** • 3°tn r>t. 20th 20th 434 W. 37th St. 2ISt 2lSt [20 E. 35th St. 22d 22d 345 W. 47th St. 23d 19th T63 E. 51st St. SO B-PREC1NCT 23d 19th Grand Central Depot, 42d St. PRECINCT 24ttl 220. cor. ootn ot. ana 9tn /\ve. 25th 19th 67th St., bet 3d and Lex. Aves. 26th 1 2th 134 W. 100th St. 27th » I 432 E. 88th St. 28th t ( 104th St., bet. 3d and Lex. Aves. SUB-PRECINCT 28tll 9th Pier 41, N. River PRECINCT 29th 12th 140 rL,. I20tn ot. 30th ( I i20tn ot. ana otn Ave. 3ISt « i H ighbridge 32d ( I 15^^ »3t' ailQ lUlII rVVC. 33d 23d Town Hall, Morrisania 34th ( I Tremont 35th 4 I King's Bridge Central Office 300 Mulberry St. 20 aw