The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-21
STREET REMAINING IDEAS.
Some Citizens Commend the Plan,
But More Oppose 1t.
In Their Respective Localities They
object Strenuously to Any Innovn-
tfons, But Regarding other Sec
tons They Do Not Rebel So Much.

object Sfrenuously to Any Innovn-
lions. but Regarding other Sec
| tiOns They Do Not Rebel So Much.
| The mails of the Commissioners are still
| filed with letters relative to the proposed
| plan of remaining the streets. Some of
| them are cornmendatory. but for the most
part the letters are protests against the
| proposed changes as being unnecessary
| and useless
II. B. Taylor. of 1893 Staughton Street
northwest. CONNIE nds the plan and con-
graduates the Commissioners upon being
upon the right track to give Washington
| a splendid system of street nomenclature.
He says that In the general expression of
opinion in letters from the people he ven
lures to send a word of commentator
and possible encouragement
Your aim seems to be- he says. TO
introduce comprehensive system where
no system now exists; to reduce the num-
Der of names of streets. and to distinguish
between streets and places, all to facili-
tate the finding of streets and to do away
with the necessity of memorizing a pure
ly arbitrary arrangement. Surely this is
commendable. and should have been done
before 1 assume that you have the legal
right to make the changes. and, If you
have not. you ought to have.
While I am heartily IN favor of the
proposed change, I think it susceptible
of Improvement For instance, / think in
some cases there might be more felici-
tious choice of names. Short streets run
ming north and south, might to avoid
confusion be given the one-half numbers.
for instance, Fourteen-and-a-half Street,
instead of Fourteenth Place, and that
each letter be used but once-not Hooker
and Eamiin. Indeed. If the Commission
ers had the power / think an ideal ar
rangement for both city and suburbs
would be to call all streets running east
and west numbered avenues. and all
streets running north and south numbered
streets leaving the diagonal avenues to
be called after the various States as at
present. This would be simple, capable
of indefinite extension. and would do
away with the necessity of any discrim-
ination in the choice of names.
But. as I understand. your jurisdiction
in the matter is confined to the suburbs.
Don't. beg of you, be discouraged. Don't
abandon the project because you cannot
please everybody. President Menden-
halls work in defence of the metric sys-
TEN applies here In speaking of the pre-
judice attached to human progress he re-
fers to it as an obstinate conservatism
which makes people cling to what is or
has been, merely because. it Is or has
been, not being willing to take the trouble
to do better, because already doing well.
all the while knowing that doing better
is not only the easier, but more in har-
mony with existing conditions.
You are on the right track. Improve
the system of street names if you can. but
do not abandon it Beautiful names and
old associations are important, but they
are not so important as a plan by which
streets can be readily located and easily
found. especially by strangers and future
generations of residents
DR.. A Z. Jameson, of 3223 School
Street, has written a protest against the
proposed change OF the name of School
which S. L. Lee has added his endorse
ment Mr.. Jameson says:
Herewith 1 wish most earnestly to add
my name to those who have entered their
protests against the changing of the
name of School Street northwest, to
Fourteenth Street Place, as am inform
ed is contemplated under the new nomen-
clature for streets of the city. OF all
misleading names for streets, and diff
cult to find, that of place is most con-
fusing. School Street is exactly on the
line of where Fifteenth Street will come
when it is extended, and has been SO
marked on all maps prepared by the Com
missioners for the extension of st, eets
Fifteenth Street now terminates at kene-
saw Avenue. School Street ends within
less than 100 yards of kenesaw Avenue,
and there is a public necessity for it's
opening to kenesaw Avenue for the con-
venie nee of those attending the johnson
School. located on School Street lin a
pocket. L have no doubt it will lie open
ed in the near future, ard anticipating
this action. permit me to suggest that the
made Fifteenth This will give US the
full number OF numbered streets, both on
Park and Kenesaw. and can be easily
found. whereas Fourteenth Street Place
would be most difficult to find. / therefore
most respectfully urge that the new nom
enclature be so amended that School
Street be changed to Fifteenth.
S. l.. Lee. of 3222 School Street adds:
Il most heartily concur in the protest
of DIR. Jameson against the change of
school Street to that of Fourteenth Street
Place. L wish also to urge, with all ear
nsstnesS the adoption of his suggestion
Street. There is now no Fifteenth Street |
beyond kenesaw Avenue Pine Street will |
be obliterated by Sixteenth Street. and |
School Street is located between the two |
numbered streets and its most natural !
name is Fifteenth Street
Mrs. G.. \. Oswell, and Miss Harriet |
both of whom are property |
owners on Washington Heights. have |
written the Commissioners protesting |
against the change of the name of sew
eral avenues in that section of the city:
we. as property owners and taNpay-
RS, decidedly object to changing the !
beautiful names OF the following avenues
IN which some OF our lots are located:
Wyoming. Vernon, Kalorama, belmont; |
because, first, it will cause great conflls-
on. annoyance, and inconvenience. not |
,nly to ourselves, but to friends mer-
,hants. and others, who will be unable
;ioners subdivision. i
Second, there will be an unnecessary !
outlay of public money in changing prop
rty records. maps, tax lists. etc, in the
district offices; also, an expense to re-
,lace new street signs in lampposts; be-
ides, many other expenses to real estate 4
men for plat books, maps, etc.
Third. we prefer the money. which |
would be uselessly expended in this way, !
o be used in improving and beautifying
he city in general.
Fourth, surely the names of Belmont
[alorama Wyoming. Vernon. and Cali
ornia Avenues are much more beauti-
nj than Zane. Vail, Writ, etc"
J. NJ. Bishow has written the Commits
toner's urging that in the remaining plan
he name of John Sewer be used. Sc
Ter. states MIR. Bishow. was a famous
indian fighter prior to the Revolutionary |
var. He also took a conspicuous part in
hat war. and was afterward elected Gov
rnor Of Tennessee, and served two terms
"A Congress- |