Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-20
DEALS IN HOUSE NUMBERS.
4 Singular Branch of Municipal Science in Which One New York
 Man Finds Profit.

ssIt is piano tuner; see his square black bag" said the suburban's wife, looking out of one window.
 It is doctor; see his gold spec tacles,'' said the suburban, looking out of the other window" relates the ' New York Sun.
 "Sir,'' said the man who rang the bell after he got in, ''I am number man. I notice that the number of your house is on pillar of the veranda. where it cannot be seen at night. I suggest that you have a number placed where it will be conspicuous"
 Are you from one of the city de- partments?" asker. the suburban.
 'sNo, sir," replied the suburban man. s'I am following this as side line to my regular business. I am ready to supply house numbers of every de- scription, and what is more, I guaran- tee that the number I put on house is the correct number of that house. Furthermore, 1 am prepared to do gliding if that style of numbering is desired"
 s'I shouldn't think that the business would pay especially" remarked the suburban.
 Ut wouldn't, unless it were done in the way do it," said the number man. ..For instance, go into a suburban town like this where the houses are not generally numbered and where most people can't find out what the right numbers of their houses are. I map out the streets, get the lots num- bered correctly and am rewarded with quite bunch for numbers"
 ssNow, that's a branch of govern ment had never dreamed of, said the suburban.
 .'It is a very important branch of municipal government, indeed" said the number man. 1T have made a study of if. Perhaps I am the only man in New York who has gone into the thing so deeply. Now, over in Queens county some time ago they consolidated lot Of small places. The result was that the numbering system of eacsl separate place was thrown out of gear. I made a study of all the sys- tems and devised one general system of numbering, which was adopted sub- sequently as the official method there. Again I got quite bunch of orders as my reward. Worked in that way there is some profit in the business. Can I take an order from you?''
 "Why, yes,'' replied the suburban. tsBut where will you put the number ?''
 That is yexed question" answered the number man. Some people like the house number on the front door. 11114 1,,g g% open and screen door is used, the number can't be seen. Again, in win- ter, if there are double doors, the outer doors hide the number when closed. So that if the number is on the door several sets of numbers are re- quired
 "Others like the number on pillar of the yeranda, as in your case; but there the number is apt to be hidden, or, at best, inconspicuous. It is well to have the number on the gate, if you have one, or on the front steps. Either plan I can recommend as making the number conspicuous"
 ''And what style of number do you recommend?" asked the suburban.
 ''The best of all are the blue and white enameled figures on iron. They come also in black and white. But some people object to them on account of their somewhat inartistic appear ance. Next are the various big metal numbers, samples of which show you. You will take these? Thanks. To- morrow will come and put them on- Good evening"
 "Who would suppose there was so much in house numbers?" the sub- urban asked his wife.