The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-06-23

The interview wiih H NJ. Flint, spe-
cial agent Of the Postofice Department
published on another page OF to-day'E
Republican. shows that Honolulu must
awake to some Of her pressing needs.
The old days Of sleepy iethargy have
passed away, though some Of her resi-
dents are not yet aroused TO fun re-
alization Of the fact
The Republican called attention a
few days ago 10 the fact that Honolulu
was at a stage in her history which
might we'll be termed the parting OF
the ways; a change from the old, easy
going methods to those OF live, pro-
gressive American city. There are so
many things that need to be done
which have been utterly neglected in
the past that IL seems hard to deter
mine what should be done first.
There is no doubt. however. that the
first thing to do now towards making
Honolulu an up-to-date city is to pro-
vide uniform system OF house num-
bering The antiquated methods Of try
ing to describe where anyone lives is
simply abominable How such an en-
terprising body OF people. as the ma
jority OF residents of Honolulu are
composed OF. could have allowed such
an lntolerable condition TO nave exist
ed all these years is most puzzling.
Honolulu should have house-to-house
mail delivery but, as Mr.. Flint ex-
plains. this cannot be secured until the
houses are numbered. The system OF
numbering which ne suggests, provid-
ing for beginning the numbers with
the even hundred at each street inter-
section. is known as the Philadelphia
system, from having been first used in
that city, and il has been adopted by
every modern city in the world. Old
cities like Washington, Baltimore, Gin
cinnati. New Orleans and other Ameri-
can cities which had in use the old
system proposed by the City Engineer
beginning with No. l and following
along consecutively have abolished
that system and remembered the
streets on the Philadelphia. or, more
properly speaking, the William Penn
plan.
The beauties OF this plan is that
when you have certain number TO
find you can. by glancing at the num-
Der where you are. tell Just how many
Uiocks you will have to go. For in
stance. IL Nuuanu avenue should be
made the dividing line of all the
streets running east and west, No. SIT
West King street would be in the fifth
block west from Nuuanu avenue. and
SO on. Streets running north from the
waterfront could begin numbering at
the waterfront and run by consecutive
hundreds for each block clear to the
mountains. Nuuanu avenue would be
the most logical street for the dividing
line east and west.
A question presented to The Republi-
can yesterday was, What would you
do with the little blocks on Hotel
street. between Fort and Union streets.
and on Beretania. between the north
end OF Union and Alakea?' The prae-
tice has been in the old cities OF the
mainland which changed their system |
from the old style to the hundred-to-a-
.-ock plan to not count such little jogs |
a block. but count Hotel street from
Fort 20 Alakea, anu Beretania from
Fort To Alakea. block
In the absence OF any statute law
upon the subject. cannot the Terri
torial authorities direct the Superin-
tendent OF Public Works or the Health
TO proceed with the num-
bering Of houses upon the same gem
sral authority as the street signs were
ordered erected at the various street
Mr. Flint does not minee matters
bout what must be done bafore the
eople of Honolulu car hope for free
aai delivery. Take hold of the house /
and take hold OF IL at
nee.