Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-22
,Sgysef Nomenclature.

The subject of proper names for the streets
OF Washington Is one that has for long time
attracted attention, and that will doubtless
continue to elicit discussion and suggestion
until suitable system Of nomenclature
sh all take the place OF the poor apology Tor
names now afforded by the letters OF the
alphabet, duplicated north and SOUTH We
publish, Therefore, in another column Of to.
days paper a communication In regard to
the matter. We print 1t exactly as written.
not because we approve OF all the views ex-s
pressed, but because we desire that all opin-
ions on the subject shall have expression,
feeling confident that at some time or other
those in authority will take the matter up
and give us the best results OF all the various
suggestions offered.
To our mind the best plan, and perhaps tbs
best list of names also, was contained In an
article on the subject heretofore printed in
THE STAR, and which, I'm view of the fact
that a new Congress has assembled since
that time, we rePIblish below.
To the suggestions aud recommendations
therein contained we desire TO add now ONLY
the hope that the street at present called
-Four and - half may by christanei
"L'Enfant Avenue" To the genius aud skill
OF that distinguished engineer is the national
capital indebted for Its splendid system of
streets and avenues, aud il would only be a
fitting recognition Of the fact TO commence
rate his name In this way.
From The ETeHing Star, Dec. 5, 1871
Before there is any change made in toe orm
OF government for this District some mea
ure ought to be adopted which will give bet
Ter names 10 the streets of Washington. To
begin with, an initial letter Is not q name
In the case OF person IL only represents or
hands for a name. When applied 20 a street
IL mas neither Appropriateness, dignity nor
meaning. Then, again, the similarity In the
sound of different letters, to say nothing OF
duplicates, Is often confusing and mislead-
ing. IL is doubtful whether any plan can be
devised that will please every body or he en-
tfrely free from objection. 1t is believed
however, that the system heretofore drst ad-
vocated by The STAR, and which was after
ward approve /, but unfortunately not put
into effect by the Board of Public Works, is
as simple and combines as many adyan-
tages, with as few faults. as any than can be
brought forward This plan is Substantially
as follows: Commence with the numbered
streets, or those running North and South
with First street at the AuacOstia. or Eat
ern branch, and keep on numbering west
war In regular numerical order up to and
including Georgetown. This will at once
simplify matters greatly by doing away
WIN tne serious objection OF duplicate num-
bered streets.
Then, In lieu OF a doutle set of Ietterei
streets, or those running east aud west, IeS
the dividing line between the two sets exs
as IL Is, anu give 10 those on the north side of
IL the names OF some American citizen emf
nent as statesman o. In civil life. and those
on the south side OF Ii that of a naval er
military hero-oeing careful to give TO each
letter IL now bears. The result would be
something like This.