Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-22


vance OF intelligence. II is easy enough
to explain how, in many instances. the
double numbering and half Nos.
were resorteo tn, but 10 us to-day Is
given the task not OF explaining, but Of
rectifying. To our mind, the city should
adopt q specific distance OF Is, IL. or 20,
which should constitute "number"
for street-numbering purposes, and ex.
cept in the case OF streets already built
up or covered with dwellings OF width
less than 1S feet. the required distance
Of l5 or 20 feet should be allowed.
There is also a great lack OF street
names at the corners OF the streets IN
various sections. Many Of the old street.
lamps bore the names Of the streets in
metallic stencil band on the upper part
OF the lamp. These were placed years
ago, and but few OF them are legible to-
day. Progress demands that the streets
OF city like Richmond shall be not
ouly well kept, but well lighted, well
numbered, and plainly indicated. Then.
when the bob-tailed, conductorless car,
drawn by sad-looking mules, has disap-
peared from Broad street, or Broadway,
and has been replaced by an electric
line, as well operated as the line on Clay
street, we shall begin to talk about the
abominably poor sidewalks on most OF
oGr principal thOroughfares.
HoRsRsHoE.
A VIRGINIA SENATOR'S VIEW OF IT.
To me Eiitor Of he DisD0tch:
have read your several articles on the
proposed change of name Of Main street.
In your last you say
" The question quito naturally sug-
gests itself, shall we continue TO call this
great artery of commerce Main street ?
Cannot we find better name for it and
if so, shouldn't We do it?'
My answer to both questions is, Yes
That is, would both keep the namo
and change tho name. This may seem
paradoXical, but 1t is easy to do.
For instance, suppose you retain tho
name of Main for all tho business
portion of the street. say as high up as
Sixth street or Fifth, and there let it
cease and new designation DO given
for all the western or residential por-
ton. This will be nothing new in street
nomenclature. as l will show presently
For the new name [ would suggest
Cleveland avenue, i'll compliment OF the
greatest American, who would rather be
right than he President or Virginia
avenue would be an appropriate and
pretty name.
By this compromise the views and
preferences OF both sides would be met
that is, the business and more conserva-
tive portion Of the community who OBJ
iect to change and tho progressive and
| fashionable, whose ears will be tlckled
| by high-sounding and modern appel
| latiOn. would both have their wish. For
all the purposes OF business the old title
would remain for euphony and style
the new and prettler would come IN
vogue.
Now, in regard to precedent in this
matter | would call attention to few
instances in point. The bouleyarcls OF
Paris are only one grand continuous
/ street with changes of namo at different
/ points. such as the Boulevard Italiens,
/ Boulevard Capucines, Boulevard Mont
martrc, &c., yet they are all as much
one continuous thoroughiare as Main
street, Richmond, would be with two
names. SO it may be said OF many other
famous streets one or two OF which
recall at this writing. The great
/ Praterstrasse of Vienna runs into and
becomes d part OF the Ringstrasse,
one of the finest streets OF Europe. The
Inter den Linden OF Berlin changes Its
name at the BrandeuDerg Gate some
Of Londons principal streets have diff
ferent designations at different points
and, to come nearer home, this good
city Of Lynchburg has straight, con-
tinuous street with two nsmes-Com'
merce end Elm ayonue. Many more
illustrations of the point | am making
could be furnished, but it is unneces-
sary. Enough TO say that Richmond
will have abundant precedent and be III
good company should she decide to part
her leading thoroughiare in the middle
and give it dual names.
And now ! come 10 another sugges-
tion. The point OK junction Of the two
streets, or rather, the two names, might
be marked by an imposing archway
across the street to designate the change
Of name. On it / would have sn in
scription denoting the end of one street
and the beginning of the other. There
are many such historic structures in the
world familiar to travellers. The great
Brandeberg Gate marks the entrance OF
Unter den Linden into the Thiergarten
the finest street of Munich, the
Ludwigstrasse, is spanned by a
massive archwsy Of victory the majestic
Arc do Triomphe strides like q colossus
the avenue Of the Champs Elysee, while
the avenue dc Rom and the avenue
Grand d Armee come up and make re-
spectful obeisance TO It. Arches IN all
times have been favorite styles OF monu-
ments and memorials TO commemorate
great events or great names They
have often, too, been imposing and
enduring works Of art, and Rich
mond could try her hand IN
that direction. she might build her
arch of Virginia granite and make it a
standing tribute and witness 10 Virginia 4
sons, illustrious in war and in peace,
and TO tue notable events in her history
from Jamestown to Appomattox. And
with appropriate artistic devices, entable.
ments. and embellishments it could
be made highly ornamental as well as
historic, and become one Of the proud.
est sights and spots that Richmond
would have to exhlbst 10 her visitors.
Or 10 adopt another idea-One which
believe originated with the DIsPATcH-
this archway could be made a monu'
ment to Pocahontas, the gentle but
heroic mnden, who, born barbarian,
became an ornament to tho ways and
walks of civilization and 10 the sanctities
and sanctuaries OF religion. Crowned
with her bust or statue or represented N
the act of saving John smith, the
"Pocahontas Arch would be unique,
attractive, and Gttingly perpetuate the
fame and virtues of the noble American
princess. And what an excellent oppor
tunity its erection would afford some
rich man OF artistic taste and liberal
spirit to link his name with hers and
transmit them together down the ages,
Richmond has already become in nc
mean degree city OF monuments. HeI
magnificent Washington group, hel
Jackson and Clay and Lee and Wick
ham, her Soldiers and Sailors Monu-
ment, her imposing Confederate pile in
! Hollvwood and hest of all her incOm.