Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-22
u,srou,C srREEr NAMES.


whose letter is published in yesterday
issue OF that pager. says ne docs no.
know of any other American Guy
than Baltimore which traces 'he
ner,ods OF It's history so Closely
in the naming OF it's streets ana ave-
nues He believes this to be character
stic' OF Baltimore.
W. do ,o, know that the periods" OF
R,chmonds history are accurately "SsoN
In our street nomenclature yet Mo
toric names have been given 10 most VI
stree.s. Thus. we have Byrd. named III
honor Of the founder OF the city; Cary'
after a sterling Old Revolutionary pa
,rlo,. Franklin. after the philosopher
and natrlot; Marshall, after the great
Chief Justice; Clay. after Harry OF inc
West: Leigh. after Benjamin "ath'hS
Leigh. and Duval, after Revoluuoifli'
soldier.
our Jackson street was named, DOT
after Andrew j., nor Stonewail' out al'ei
a very worthy gentleman who owned
much land in that section. and was ior
dfty years a clerk in the State Capito''
go. TOO our Adams street was not hanieu
after either OF the Presidents Adams
but after one Of the early mayors OF our
citv But Jefferson, Madison, Monroe
Henry s,nythe. and Gilmer streets, ana
Floyd avenue, were all named atter VIZ
g,nians who had won places in our MS
tory =,
washington has been honored py
having two streets named after hinl-
10Th uninportant thoroughfares-one IN
the extreme northwest, the other run
ming from Thirteenth street TO the ME-
cban,csvine turnpike. SO, too we nave
,riunortant streets named after Calhoun
clarke. Lewis, Mayo, Cabel. Caring
ton. Coalter. Meade. Moore. Mun'otu'
preston. Randolph, Roane. Scott. Steven
son. Taylor. Webster etc.
Whether Harrison street was h"'ieu
after the presidential family OF thaR
name. or after other Harrisons' we W
NOT know. So, too. We don't hho"
vbether TYLER street was named aiter
President Tyler. or after the Tyler iaini-
" who were property-owners IN tha'
vicinity jackson Ward fifty years ago
Eoushee street was named after gen
,,e,nan OF French descent, who' great
many years ago, was wealthy ana III
euential citizen OF Richmond, and VINO
held several public positions Oh hish
honor. ~
It will be observed that. while hich-
mond has attached many historic names
n her streets. the work has been zone
,,,,bout system. and without due resarI
~ proportions Il we may use tha'
evnression. Thus, Washington should
have q great thoroughfare named after
him. instead OF having his hlustrious
name connected with two streets tha'
are unknown 10 the majority OF Ken
mond's population. But this has result
Oh as n consequence of charging our
corporate limits by additions laid OF
into streets by the owners Of the afore-
said additions.
And we have also TO deplore that the
numbering of our streets-as First street
Second street. etc.--began where II oiu'
IN what was then the West End. instead
Of in the remotest part of the East End.
Now we find west Of First street a popu-
lation Of probably 800 or 9O,ooo people,
| and the probability IS that the time VIII
come when the bulk Of our population
will live in that section Of irregular 'aa-
ditions" and meaningless street names
such as Pine, Cherry. Beech, etc. Nari-
Gus expedients have been suggested tc
cure the defect, and to secure an equiva-
! lent for numbered streets; but so FAR In
vain. The difficulties are great One has
only 10 look az a map of the city TO sec
how few Of the streets west Of First
run between parallel lines out from the
rivers bank TO our northern limits.
Indeed. II is the rule for these street;
to have one name south Of Main, OF
south Of Broad. and another north Of IL
we doubt if these troubles will ever be
cured; but they are not likely TO cheek
the growth Of our city much. London
Boston, New York. and Baltimore are
proofs that a citys growth is not to be
checked by such small obstacles. But
we may well exercise our forethought as
to the future.
The suggestion. made by City-Engineei
Cutshaw, that we should secure the righ
to plat streets for miles beyond oul
present corporate limits. IS good one
This done, when new territory is TO be
taken in It would be found 80 laid off as
to harmonic in street-plans with tina
part OF the city with which 1t would b'
most closely connected.
This is matter 10 which we hope the
City Council win give due attention be
fore long. Posterity will thank us fol
It. and Richmond will thus be made Z
much more beautiful city than II could