The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-11-30
WHO CAN ANSWER IT?
A Question Which Seems to be Too
Much for Many.
WHERE ARE WE AT ANYWAY ?
eff Man IL Walking Down Westmins-
ter street From Msthewson to Turks
Head, VIII He at Any Time be ON
Eddy Street?"

A gentleman writes TO the NEWS ask
ing the following question:
VIII you please answer the following ques-
ton: IL man Is going down westminst er
street from Mathewson street To Turks
Head, is he at any time on Eddy street, or, in
other words, Is Westminster street west
minister street from end To end; and does
Eddy street run up 10 II and end, ana com
mence again on the other side? What would
be the answer IL the same question was asked
of Eddy street?
The question looked, easy at first and
somebody in the Office said that OF course
the man would be on Eddy street in pas
sing across IL, but when he thought about
that for few minutes he scratched his
head and was nonplussed Whether he
would b, on Eddy or Westminster was a
poser. Tne editor couldn't answer 1t and
the city editor referred it to the police re-
porter, who is supposed 70 know all about
the streets, but the police reporter failed,
looked wise and gave it up at once.
Then il was sent to Commissioner OF
Public Work Smith at the city hail. Mr..
| Smith thought 1t was easy. After read
| ing the question, which 1T at first APP
| peared to him that school boy could
| answer, he said that Westminster street
| is estminster street from Market
| square to Cathedral square, and Eddy
| street is Eddy street from Broad street
| TO Cove street. This for moment seemed
| to relieve the mind of Mr. Smith. Tnen
| his couutenance changed and the quss-
| tion looked more serious than the Fruit
| Hill reservoir problem and when for
| further information he replied, I'VE have
not time To answer conumdrums."
| At this time the NEWS man came to
| the conclusion that the editor was just as
1 .st af afsa fat
! us the question went. Somewhat dis
| appointed but not disheartened The NEWS
man left Mr.. Smith aud called upon good
natured Supt. George L. Petts, OF the
department OF street signs and numbers.
| Mr. Pettis WAS good-natured as usual,
as there had been several new stores
opened and of course they had to have
scales and for this Mr.. Pettis was
happy. He. too. read the question, and
his answer was like that OF Mr.. Smith,
and he added by the way OF illustration
that II an appropriation was made TO
| pave Eddy street its entire length. IT
would be passed, and this settled The
question.
This was anything but pleasant for the
NEWS man. Did Mr.. Smith or Mr.. Pet
tis know it all? No. There were others
who perhaps could shed light upon
the subject. but who could it be! Happy
thought, the mayorl Up stairs went the
| NEWS man, who received a cordial gree =
ing from William ID. Walker, the mayor S
clerk and for this reason he was not tor
tured with the question. Was the mayor
in?
'Yes; want to see him"
| "Yes.n
walk right in"
| Good morning. your honor. have a
little question which | wish to have you
answer for the NEWS"
His honor read the document and he at
first thought that 1t was easy. His next
thought was that he did not understand
IL. He finally decided that the two streets
came together In this shape: