The Washington times., 1901-09-06
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT.
Letters Relative to
Suburban Street Nomenclature.
Commissioner Bench Arranging
Municipal Affairs Preparatory TO
His Transfer to DetrOit-COmplRin

| I
Municipal Affairs Preparatory to
His Transfer to DetrOit-Complnin
I Against the BrightwOOd Railway.
| Upon their return from Buffalo the
Commissioners found awaiting them sew
eral communications relative TO the pro-
posed remaining of the suburban streets.
! In these communications there is little
! objection to the main outlines of the plan,
| the writer's for the most part confining
| themselves to protests against the change
! of names that have acquired certain as
sociations fer them. There is also a ten
dercy to get humorous at the expense
of the Commissioners a few writers max
| ing sarcastic references to the plan
| and suggesting outlandish names
! Gilbert Thompson offers certain sugges-
! tions relative to the use of the name
| "Michler" in honor of the late Brig. Gen.
! Nathaniel Michler of the Corps of En-
! ginoers, u. s. A, and at one time Super
1 intendent of Public Buildings and
! Grounds. Mr.. Thompson says that it
would be difficult TO state the obligations
due to this man for his services to Wash
/ ington in many ways. Mr. Thompson
states that it was from his office that the
| first plans for the parking of the streets
! came. 1t is stated also that General
! Michlers report upon the then proposed
! Rock Creek Park was the chief inspira-
! tion for the realization of the magnif-
cent grounds now called by the name.
Donald Mcpherson has offered certain
suggestions by way of gaining better re-
suits than in the proposed scheme. He
| thinks that all north and south streets,
|, , as now, should receive the numerical
names. in so far as they correspond to
I
w Street or Florida Avenue Mr. Nc
Pherson is of the opinion that 1t would
be better to employ names of natural
objects than those of individuals He
suggests the words Pacific" Atlantic"
Hudson Bay. and others, appropri-
ate names Mr.. Mcpherson states that
many mems names are associated with
acts which do not rebound to their credit.
and that he does not approve of giving
immortality to infamy in the way pro-
posed. He thinks that the names should
be chosen with view to what he calls
utility, rather than with reference to the
initial letter. For example, he is of tine
opinion that the names should be easily
pronounceabe easily written, and such as
can be understood. He also thinks that
the matter of association should not be
entirely lost sight of.
John +. Crowell protests against the
entire plan, thinking it barbarous and out
OF place. especially within the city limits.
Is. f. Warner suggests that School
Street be changed to Fifteenth Street
Capt. Lansing II. Beach the Engineer
Commissioner, returned from his leave
Wednesday evening and took up the du-
ties of his Office yesterday morning
Captain Beach spent considerable time
in Chicago, and went 70 Buffalo to at
tend the District Day celebration at the
Pan-American Exposition, returning to
Washington from there
By order of the Secretary of War. Cap
tain Beach will finish his work as Engi-
neer Commissioner on November ! next,
and will then go to Detroit, Mich, to en-
gage In the supervision of the river and !
harbor work at that point.
During the two months he will remain |
in office Captain Beach expects TO arrange |
matters so that the induction of his sue |
cessor will be as easy as possible There |
are several pieces of important public |
work under construction and others in |
different stages OF preparation. There are
also certain changes proposed, such as
the remaining of the streets to which Cap
tain Beach will give particular attention
The plan for the competition by which it |
is expected to secure suitable designs for
the several buildings of the proposed mu-
nicipal hospital will be completed while
Captain Beach remains in Office. II is |
also expected that the scheme for the re-
naming of the suburban streets Will be
decided by the Board before Captain
Beach leaves