Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-28
SOMETHING ABOUT STREETS,
Facts Which Few People Know
About.
The Number of ThOrOughfares Sur
prisingly Large.
More Streets In Los Angeles Than Most
Persons Think - Peculiar Names
for Them-Their Extent
and Condition.

A city of forty or sixty thousand
people must necessarily have a good
many streets, but Los Angeles, in the
exuberance of her generosity, has given
the way farer plenty Of avenues for busi-
ness, pleasure or curious philosophy.
Streets, like churches or schools, are
often Indicative Of the social, business
and religious characteristics Of pro-
gressive community. 1t is common
occurrence for stranger, or even a Los
Angeles denizen, to inquire where GER
tain street is located, and naturally
expects that everybody knows where
every street is or ought to be. There
are not, probably, one hundred people
IN Los Angeles who have any correct or
even approximate idea of the number of
streets, or how they would be classified
by numbers or in alphabetical order.
somewhat careful analysis OF
the HERALD premium map discloses
some curious, interesting and valuable
facts. There appears to be from this
map, including the western addition,
1102 streets. The western addition is
credited with 152, leaving for the city
proper the nice little collection Of $50
beautifully and some not beautifully
named streets. Subjecting the streets
to closer analysis, the fact is disclosed
that under A there are As, B 81, G n, d
80, r Al, F 33, G 81, II 40, IA. j 20, K
30, S 80, T 40, U 3, w Sc, Y 3, u l.
exercised in selecting the various names,
hOfh of fhnir ry,hnnu and
local or historical significance. Select
recall particular period of Texas
history that people here will associate
with the battle of San Jacinto, when in
remembrance OF butchery, the troops
under Santa Ana cried: "Me no
Alamo; me no Goliad," to
the hot and victorious Texans
under Sam Houston. Then there is
Balboa, that recalls Spanish conquest
and romantic history. Then we find
Blaine, who fortunately by reason OF his
advanced age and feeble political aspira.
tions is practically back number, albeit
he represents what is good or bad in the
old Republican party. The Republican
party cannot conjure by old names, it
must get more lime in its bones. Here
is Bunker Hill, the name of which ought
to arouse patriotism. Also Chestnut,
and how many people that read Jokes
would not wish that Chestnut street had
been left out of the category.
One street is named Cleveland, who
broke the Republican succession and
would have widened the breach had not
a large Hill intervened. Lovers OF fine
music will be glad to know that tie
great composer, Mozart, has been hon
ored by having street named in his
honor. The land of scholars and nurse
of arms has been remembered by
Olympian avenue. The chaste females
of ancient Rome, who fed the sacred
fires, have been kindly noticed by a
street called Vestal, which, with fine
regard for the eternal fitness of things,
is not situated near Alameda. Lemoyne
is partially immortalized in hon.
or of his scheme for quick
combustion of human body when it
can no longer love, hate, fight, or play
baseball. Sheridan and Shenandoah will
recall foaming warhorse, glorious VIC
tory and a devastated valley. Portia
will remind the Shakespearean reader of
the charming person who put quietus
on the Jew who was hot to feed fat the
ancient grudge he bore Antonio. Naomi
is another charmingly named street,
suggestive of great faith and consider
able motherly fnesse. The few names
here enumerated are sufficient to show
what wisdom and good faith governed
those on whom the duty had fallen of
naming 1102 streets.