Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-14

nETAIyED-How II Is PROPOSED TO PROVIDE
FOR ExTENsIoxs-THE SUBURBAN ROADS
The committee which was appointed by the
Archaeological Society, consisting Of James
Mooney, chairman; VIM. II. Babcock, W. Fl.
Holmes, W. Hallett Phillips and Lester F.
Ward, to decide upon the best system for the
nomenclature of the streets and avenues Of the
District submitted their report at q meeting Of
the society which was held at the Cosmos Club
last night. Though the night was q very I'M
pleasant one upon which to venture out the
meeting was fairly well attended. The report OF
the committee had been furnished to the men,
bers Of the society in pamphlet form previously,
SO that each one was acquainted with the pro-
visions II contained.
The report discussed In an informal way
for about hour before Chairman MCGEE put
the question on its adoption. Not dissenting
voice was heard and the report declared to
be that Of the society. Among those who par
ticipated in the discussion were Commissioner
Douglass. Prof Goodfellow. Mr.. Mooney. the
chairman Of the committee; Librarian Spofford
and Mr.. MCGEE. All commended the result Of
the committees work and only made q sug-
gestion to some minor detail.
The report said, after discussing the matter
at considerable length: The committee would
suggest the retention Of the present system of
duplicate numbered streets running north and
south and Of the present existing duplicate
iettered streets running east and west and that
all streets running parallel with the present let
tered streets be known in future numbered
avenues, beginning with LIST avenue and con-
tinuing in regular succession.
II would be unwise to change the names of
the present lettered streets Besides the con-
fusion which such wholesale change would
necessarily entail for q long time. the present
simple letter names are the shortest that can be
devised. and any other series would require a
constant additional expenditure of valuable
time in addressing letters and indicating loca-
tions. The difference to a business man be-
tween writing a single letter Of the alphabet
and writing a whole word of eight OF ten let
tiers every time be has occasion to address a
correspondent Is something considerable in a
few DAYS or a week. and when we extend this diff
ference to a whole city. with its population of a
quarter of a million. it becomes enormous
II the adoption of a system of numbered ave-
nues beyond u parallel with the present lettered
streets should appear impracticable the COM
mittee would suggest as an alternative dnpli-
cate alphabetic series Of names for such streets
running east and west beyond W street, the first
series to consist of names Of American cities,
the second of American rivers, lakes, &c, and
the third partial series) of names Of trees and
plants. This is sufficient to furnish names for
the District and the system may be extended If
circumstances in time TO come should demand
it The duplicate system conforms to the pres
ent method in for both numbered and let
tered streets and abbreyiates the necessity for
too great multiplicity Of series. In a system of
CITY nomenclature based upon the alphabet
there is a logical reason in beginning with the
alphabet itself and proceeding successfully to
cities. then TO natural geographic features and
then to natural productions.
We NAV now consider the essential requisites
of the names to be selected. The chief require
ment Is that they shall be such as can be read
lily pronounced or written upon letter adj
dress. without unnecessary labor or loss of
time liability to error; therefore they should
be smooth sounding, reasonably short. and the
spelling should indicate the pronunciation
according TO the ordinary rules of English
photography. This last proyiso would bar out
such names as Agassz Des Moines and LEN
FAINT however much we might desire to COM
memorate the originals Double Names such as
New Orleans or st. Clair. are also to be avoided.
X. y, z and L are always difficult letters to fill
in an alphabetic series. and consequently there
is little room for choice where they are con-
cerned.
The following lists of names are submitted
for the several series proposed:
FIRST sERIEs-LErTERs OF THE ALPHABET.
The present system of letters of the alphabet
from to W, emitting ], to remain unchanged.
SECOND sEKIEs-AMERIcAN CITIES.
In 1889 the following series Of city names was
prepared in the engineer department Of the
District oSice:
Albany Newark.
Baltimore. Omaha.
Cincinnati. Philadelphia.
Detroit. Quincy.
Emporia. Richmond.
Frankfort. Savannah
Galveston. Trenton.