Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-14

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
In considering the question OF renumber-
ing the cross streets" Of Richmond u y
well to remember that north and northwest
OF Monroe Park there are no continuous
or "through streets" Smith street ION
which IL the Connection railroad ~ Is ,he
last Through street" west OF First, laid
off at right angles with the longitudinal
streets, tFranklin, ete.) Smith Is con-
tinuation noTthwsrd OF Belvidere street,
the eastern boundary Of Monroe Park.
West OF Smith are Pine. Laurel, and
shafer streets--all ending at Broad street.
On the north side Of Broad, west Of Smith,
begin Munford. Gilmer. Graham, aud Han
cock. none OF which align with any street
on the south side OF Broad. South OF
Monroe Park there are no streets that
quadrate with Franklin. All defect south
eriy or sou'easterly. so that the southern
terminus OF Pine street is on an AIRLINE
with Forshee street, and that oil Laurel
with Adams.
These facts and the general irregularity
OF all the streets In the western districts
and suburbs would seem to render imprac-
ticable the application to them OF the nu'
merical system OF designation used east OF
Foushee street. This trouble was foreseen
about twenty-five years ago, when the
Richmond members OF the Legislature
made earnest efforts TO have q bill passed
providing for the rectillcation OF the lines
Of streets i'm and beyond the suburbs,
but were defeated 10y the strenuous oppo-
sition OF Ilenriso freeholdeTs. A short ac-
count OF that contest would be interesting
reading at this time.
The only parts OF the city in which the
numbering Of streets, in substitution for
their names, can now be applied with adj
vantage, Is that between First aud Smith
north OF Cary. and that between Smith and
Richmond College, north OF Franklin TO
Broad--a comparatively small area. | am
inclined TO believe that 1t would be best
not to change the familiar names OF six Of
the seven "cross streets" west OF First.
II Is easy TO memorize not only their names
but their consecutive order, and the house
numbers at the northwest corners-yiz.,
100 at Adams, 200 at Jefferson, 800 at Mad.
isOn, 400 at Monroe, and at 800 at iienry-
am in full Gccord with the object OF the
proposed change, and being so, have this
suggestion 10 offer: As the remOtest num-
bered street in the east end Of the city
(Chimborazo HID is Thiriy-tfth street
and there is no probability whatever OF any
extension OF this numeration eastward,
certainly none beyond "Fony-ninth -
let lis go back to Henry. where the corner
house number is 500, aud call that street
"Fifty-tith street," tho next (Smith, or
Belyidere) "Fiity-sixth street." and so on
westward, al infnitum. This plan iu-
wolves no change OF any house-numbers,
and does not conflict with the suggestions
OF Il reversal oi the present order OF serial
numbers, which suggestion. II is presumi-
bic, will encounter great opposition. The
streets betw cen First and Henry retaining
their present names would smooth the ab-
ruptness Of fresh start with "jJ" at
Henry; but II n thorough substitution OF
numbers Tor names be insisted upon, all
that hiss to be done Is to call Foushee
Fiitieth street, Adams " Fifty first"
and 50 on to Henry, or Fiity-h'th."
Those who favor "west First" "west
Second" &C., might accept the word
FIFTY" as a convenient substitute for
"west.' A large class OF the community
cannot readily apprehend geographical de-
sigDa,iGns, and therefore II would seem
hest 10 have only one Second street." d.
vided by Franklin into "north Second" :"
and "south Second"; otherwise there
would arise the necessity OF calling one
northwest Second" " and "southwest Sec
ond d." and the other northeast Second"
etc., which would impair rather than i'm
prove our present sy stem.
he first numbered street iniersecting
Broadway, in New YORK, is "west
Third: then comes Great Jones" /;
then Fourth" and four "paces "
(sireetsl, before the serial numbers, begin
ming with Eighth are used to desiS-
nate the cross streets, 10 the end Of Broad
way. In New York Flfiv-ninth street j.
the southern boundary OF Central Park,
and everybody there remembers the fact.
II we make Laurel street, which i the
western boundary OF Monroe PIrk, our
Fifty eighth street," we will imagine
ourselves almost as big a. New York; ut
the second hgure, &, will indicate the num-
Der Of the house at the northwest corner
Of Franklin or Grace, etc.. $500" The
New York system does not give a like IA.
ciii;y for locating or Gnding a house num-
Der.
/ am glad that the subject has been re-
fcrrCd by the Board Of Aldermen TO tie
Committee on streets. and hope thai wIse
conclusion will be arrived at.
CLAY WARD.
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