In 1917, New York City faced significant challenges with illegal street vending, which cluttered sidewalks and hindered commerce. In response, the NYPD employed a novel and notable method to address the issue: deploying a six-story mechanical device designed to clear out unauthorized vendors from busy thoroughfares. This mechanical apparatus was part of the city’s broader efforts to regulate street commerce and maintain order amid rapid urban growth.
The mechanism, often described as a large, multi-story structure equipped with forceful cleaning tools, was used to physically remove street vendors and their stalls. This approach reflected the city’s determination to enforce regulations and curb illegal vending practices, which were seen as obstacles to orderly business and public safety. The use of such a device garnered attention both for its ingenuity and for the aggressive stance taken by authorities.
While details about the specific design and operation of this six-story mech are limited, its deployment exemplifies the innovative and sometimes extraordinary measures city authorities resorted to during this period of rapid change. This episode remains a notable example of early 20th-century urban efforts to modernize and regulate bustling city streets, illustrating the lengths to which law enforcement would go to impose order in the rapidly expanding metropolis.
