Erection at Corners of Municipal Streets of Apparatus Containing Map of Shanghai Designed to Give Information to Public on Payments of Small Fee - Isida Service Association. 1932. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-3-3381 (0387-0393).

Letter from Isida Service Association (A.J. Schneider) to Secretary applying for permission to erect  at Corners of Municipal Streets of Apparatus Containing Map of Shanghai Designed to Give Information to Public on Payments of Small Fee (including a sketch of the apparatus). Shanghai, March 14, 1932. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-3-3381 (0388-0389)

Will you kindly to inform me whether the Traffic Office finds it useful to have a good plan of Shanghai posted in the streets of the city for the use of the general public.

The company I represent is willing to erect at the corners of the streets (places by appointment of the Traffic Office) the boards with the map of Shanghai made in a big scale and placed under the glass plate. The map can be used by any person for a small charge of several coppers or 20 cents, and will show automatically:
1. The point where the enquiring person is standing.
2. The location of the point wanted by the person.
3. The bus and tram routes how to get there.
4. The mileage from the start point to the point of destination. The apparatus has the following dimensions (approximately). (croquis) (p.2/2) In case the Traffic Office will find such maps useful for the general public and responding to the desire of the Municipal Council to give to the population of Shanghai every convenience to their expedient traveling around the city, I beg you kindly to grant me an appointment to consider the details of the matter.  

Report No. C5914 from Commissioner of Police. Letter from the Isida Service Association dated March 14. Shanghai, March 22, 1932. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-3-3381 (0392).

The erection of these boards should not be permitted on roads or footpaths. If permitted they would cause obstruction and, by obscuring the view would increaser the danger to pedestrians desiring to cross a road at points where erected.

Report No. C5914 from Commissioner of Police. Letter from the Isida Service Association dated March 14. Shanghai, March 22, 1932. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-3-3381 (0392).

I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter of March 14, addressed to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) submitting a proposal to erect at the corners of streets an apparatus containing a map of Shanghai designed to give information to the public on payment of a small fee.
In reply thereto, I am irected to inform you that the Council is unwilling to permit the erection of such maps on Municipal roads or footpaths, as it is anticipated that they would cause a certain amount of obstrcution and, by obscuring the view, increase the danger to pedestrians desiring to cross the road at those points.