To make and establish such and so many uniform rules and regulations as to them may seem expedient, for the better regulation of porches, porticoes, benches, doorsteps, railings, bulk, bay or jut windows; areas, cellar doors and cellar windows, signs and signposts, boards, poles or frames, awnings, awning-posts, or other devices or things, projecting over, under, into, or otherwise occupying, the sidewalks or other portion of any of the streets, lanes or alleys, and in relation to boxes, bales, barrels, hogsheads, crates or articles of merchandise, lumber, coal, wood, ashes, building materials, or any other article or thing whatsoever, placed in or upon any of the said sidewalks or other portion of said streets, lanes or alleys, and also to prevent and remove all encroachments thereon.