New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
THE NAMING OF STREETS.
A PLEA FOR DESIGNATIONS OF HIS
TORIC SIGNIFICANCE.

Andrew H. Green president OF the Society for
the Preservation OF Scenic and Historic Places
Objects. sent last week TO President Maurice +.
Holahan of the Board of Public improvements
letter regarding the appropriate naming Of
streets, parks and reservoirs in the city. In his
letter Mr.. Green asked the Board of Public I'm
provements to consider seriously the subject. The
letter follows:
The Of HRn D MaqSs DE- Of the
Dear Sir; Al meeting OF the Board Of Trustees
Historic Places and Objects the president and Sec
retary We're requested TO communicate with you.
subject of the appropriate naming 81 new Streets
parks and reservoirs in the city of New-York
The primary object OF the name OF street or
park is the wholly prosaic and utilitarian one of
giving it a geographical individuality by which il
may be recognized in the practical intercourse be-
The first essential is distinctive title. which
within the same city Il is amazing to contemplate
the indifference OF some OF our City Fathers IN the
which they might have applied in place 81 some Of
city maya or Which, Rey mS 6h SHe epyd @
steae OF irduigiHg IN such monot9Tous rsSSdons
Place East Broadway. Park Place. Park Row.
Parss ParR2ye & opsernsur
This evil has been Increased ly the consolidation
reduplication of names by bringing into the limits
of one city similar titles in the various boroughs
and frivolous change OF names only produces
confusion in daily intercourse but It is especially
great vested interests where precision OF designa
value Our society has viewed with great regret
the tendency of the municipal legislatures and
names of our thoroughfares upon some light pre-
has been ee exemped in the substitution Of Park
Row for "Chatham,st: t and and more recently by
hs Pace for & Df o IN IN
favor of other and more modern titles Il is natg-
Ing, SUCH as was aroused by the American Revolt
obnoxious
LED 10 the substitution q st. .ns f8F els-s.
Liberty for Grown and South William for
but & sch Sesgs ag arg 0 tb ann ~
for permanency of designation.
name is the third essential to which cau your
attention namely; propriety BY this w word we 90 q,
few streets parks are derived from their physi-
cal ter But " We @ 1eop na1ne bv ons so &
orc association or by great acRievements Of per-
anen5 value III b as 10 e9 of r e o
such name should be selected with the care. study
erection of a public monument 1t is. in fact.
mon9nent anu tt tte nf ifs bisfop1 or an index
of It's best sentiment 1t costs thousapas-and hum
but it costs nothing but care intelligence and good
judgment TO bestow upon street & PARK
the memory of some great man or eventLscores OK
Wleh; 9i are III not not renresented by a monument or so
much as street name in this vast metrop99ns .r
desirabity of bestowng special attention upon the
sub of the individuality, perInanencS
priety OF our municipal names; ana we heIeuy
lender you our hearty cooperation and pracIlcal
assistance in attaining these desirable ends very
ANDREW III. GREEN. President
EDWARD HAGAMAN HALL. Secretary
Judge Henry E Howland. who is member OF
the Board OF Trustees the Society for the Preser
walton OF Scenic and Historic Places and Objects.
"a greatly interested the subject of appropriate
street nomenclature and the retention OF such old
street names as call TO mind and commemorate
early historical events and the men who had
mart IN them. In speaking concerning the reten-
ton of the cid street names, day or two ago. he
said that he was greatly in favor of preserving
the old names TO which age and historical assoca-
tion have added interest. "One of the interesting
features of London" he said ais its quaint old
street names, recalling much Of the political
and literary history OF the city. In Paris IL Is dir-
ferent The streets are constantly receiving new
names Every time the Government Is changed
many of the streets are renamed The consequence
e that the city loses OF its historical inter-
est 10 the visitor and difficulty of finding ones
vav about is increased To permit constant and
unnecessary change OF names is TO exhibit lam
entable lack of appreciation of the value OF as
sociation and permanence.