The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-20
HOUSE NUMBERING.
Tie System of Giving Each
House It's Number.
POWERS OF THE INSPECTOR
fhs Need ~ Thsroagh enforcement q
the Ordananes Mistakes Made
BY Bssue Inspectors

Fer long time past there hare been
numerous com paints beard concerning the
irreguisrity Of city house nurn bering. owing
principally 70 the neglect OF the council n
the matter. To pat il mildly. the number
ing 81 houses In the city is IN decidedly
chaotic condition. The lack Of IL. mare
particularly 70 msfs carriers and strangers.
causes no end Of confusion, and the pro-
tests against this negligence seem TO have
no effect This is seemingly such small
matter 70 the city fathers. that once having
elected IA inspector Of house numbering,
nothing more. they consider, IS Il may oe
inferred from their negligence, Is needed.
An excellent system Of street numbering
Is In use and provided Tor BY the city ordi-
nance, but the trouble hes ia the wrong
way Of enforcing Il The streets are num-
bered 100 numbers 20 the block, allow
ing twenty feet 70 each number, and
where the block numbers run less than 100.
as they almost invariably do, the next
block commences on the sacceeding even
hundred. On north and south streets.
between Yesler avenue and Depot street.
the initial point OF numbering
il the intersection Of Yesier avenue
and Broadway. Between Yesler
avenue and Depot streets the initial point
s5s east and west streets Is ct Front street,
including the foregoing thoroughfares.
S0uth OF Yesler avenue, the s.--snhering for
north end south streets commences ss
Yesler avenue, and for the east aud west
thoro1ghfares south OF the above street,
the initial point 10 AZ Commercial street
In North Seattle. the north and south
street numbers commence at Depot street,
and for those running east and west, the
initial point Is at Temperance street. On
the other side Of the main diyi-
aions just mentioned the ordinance
provides that the prefix east. west, north
or south shaII tss used with the above pro-
vision OF the recommencement Of num-
hers. The system could not he improved
upon, but the enforcement Of it il woefuliy
lax.
About three years ago the present city
inspector of house numbering. Albert +.
Gresnus. was elected By the council and
has since been continued In that position.
Ii was the idea 81 the council TO give In
spcctor Greenus exclusive control Of the
city numbering. and without paying sal
arg allow him TO make what he could out
OF his position. But some one raised .
protest. 1t Was said that the city num-
berer could make too much by having
. monopoly OF the whole affair, and
this would never do. The co1n-
Gil had horror Of anything
savoring OF monopoly and evidently OBJ
Iected TO having any monopolists hanging
onto their legislative skirts. Dir. Greenus'
powers were cut deen. RE could be city
numberer. nomiually. but any other fell
low too. could, II be wished, put on num-
bers. This eftectually broke up the mo-
nopoly on TN signs, and il also played par
ticuiar havoc will eorrsct numbering. A
number Of men started in 10 do the work
and &C least two of the seif-appoEnted
officials wore badges signifylng them to be
ecity Inspector OF numbers" aud armed
their deputies with similar insignia OF
Office. Mr.. Grecnus encountered these fell
lows in different parts of the city, but had
no authority TO stop them, and thus
the matter has gone on. NUM-
bers have been put on houses
which have been totally in
correct, aud. in some casas where BULLDOG.
ing tactics worked. extortion has been
practieed. One thing which has prevented
anything like complete numbering has
been the apathy of landlords and tenants.
In cases whore Mr.. Greenus' Deputies have
called ct houses, tenants have tried TO put
the expense. which would not amount TO
more than IS cents. on landlords, aad vice
versa. and the outcome would be that
many houses have remained unnumbered.
The lever which has been the most power
ful wiih these naturally indifferent citizens
has been the irregularity aud delay In get
ting mail, the carriers not troubling them
selves TO any unusual extent in delivering
letters here an extended huns was re-
quired.
Ar. Greenus' method Of correct number
ing is 70 locate the house by It's lot and
block number. The sesf-appointed officials
work upon the hit-and- miss plan. and how
near they generally esne 60 being correct
= case may be cited where the number on
house wss ii2 counts out OF the way.
The city ordinance provides that where
number Is Incorrect, il must be removed
upon notice from the chief OF police, or
any police Officer. This clause has never
been put into effect. and like some other
clauses in city ordinances has sunk into
inaocuous deSaetade.
In speaking generally upon this subject
and suggesting q remedy. Mr. Greenus
said No matter who has this position,
the council should give this matter into the
hands Of one man and he should be paid
. salary. Il is necessary that the city he
remembered aud every house should have
number. tos as The matter now stands
the numbering is aotorsously incorrect. as
50 many incompetent men have worked
upon the houses. Means should also Re
taken to enforce payment, During the
three years ! have had the oflee. the city
has not even gone 70 the trouble Of fnrn-
tshing me with city map. have been
compelled 70 use maps belonging to pri.
vAse parties. I"
PERSONAL