Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-19
CHANGE IN NUMBERING.
Explanation of Notice Given Massa-
chusetts Avenue HOuseh OIder.

Mr. Edward A. Oldham of 1903 Massa-
chusetts avenue recently wrote the District
Commissioners that representative from
the office of the inspector of buildings had
called at his house and announced that the
people We're to be shortly notified officially
that there is to be a complete change in the
numbering of the houses on Massachusetts
avenue. Mr.. Oldham entered an emphatic
protest against the proposed change, ask
ing by what authority and at whose request
it would be made. The matter was referred
to Mr.. John B. Brady the inspector of
buildings, who submitted the following re-
port, the substance of which has been
transmitted to Mr. Oldham, with the ap-
prevail of the Commissioners:
THE reason for making changes is the
law passed by the board of aldermen and
the board of common council, November %.
1869 The changes, as proposed, were not
requested by any one. Our attention was
invited to conflict of numbers on the north
side of square 1913 by one of the residents
in the square, but no request was made for
change on any house but his own. l regret
the expense attendant upon such changes,
but have frequently called attention to the
fact that many squares have been incor-
rectly numbered in the past At the pres
ent time a house number cannot be per-
manently applied until the entire frontage
of the square is built up.
Il beg to urge the necessity of a def
cheney appropriation, as requested by me in
my annual report in July. 1899 for index
ing the house numbers and permits issued
from 1876 to 1897 The present card sys-
TEN was adopted in January 1898 There
are over $4,000 permits and house numbers
given previous to the adoption of the card
system. which should be indeXed to dis
cover the discrepancies and duplication of
house numbers. l think this task can be
done with an appropriation of $1,000.
THE trouble arises from the fact in this
case, that the houses on Massachusetts
avenue between 10Th and 18th streets south
east, are not numbered from the corner of
the cardinal streets or coordinate lines
from which the numbering of the streets
commences or, in other words. the num-
bers on Massachusetts avenue have been
started, incorrectly between 18th and 18th
streets, and not at 18th street, as required
by law, thus duplicating numbers on the
north side OF the same square, 1913. For
example, the numbers have been broken
near the middle of the same block and not
at the corner where the numbers COM
mence. 1t is true that there is an angle on
the north of this block formed by the in
tersection of Massachusetts avenue and
East Capitol street, but it is not cardinal
street, as referred to in the law for 18th
street is the coordinate street with East
Capitol, and therefore the numbers should
begin at the intersection of 18th and East
capitol, or Massachusetts avenue and 18th
and extend in unbroken system to 18th
street.
Numbers must indicate, according to the
law, the relative position on the square
with respect to the number giving street:
therefore 1t will be seen that if the wishes
OF the protestant are complied with the
number of his house, 1903, will indicate that
while in reality it is 275 feet OF more from
the number-givfng street 9th street, I
1nclose a plat, with the points where the
numbers should begin, marked"