Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-27
REPORT
CAPT. EARDINGS VIEW OF RE-
QUEST OF MR.. WALKER.
Says House Number Should Be
Changed-An Old-Time Con-
troversy Recalled.

Mr.. W. H. Walker a short time ago
wrote to the Commissioners. stating that
having recently purchased the house To-
Gated on part of lot 1, square 213. the first
house west of 14th street on the south side
of Massachusetts avenue, he desired that
the number 1909 Massachusetts avenue be
assigned to the house, as it was the only
number that would properly designate the
dwelling. The building referred to was and
is still officially known as part of the
building originally located on lot 1. to which
the addition was built as a bow window.
Its erection at the time was the source of
much complaint by residents on M street
between Thomas Circle and 18th street be-
cause. they alleged the addition was larger
than bow window and that it shut off
their view of Massachusetts avenue.
The inspector of buildings. in reporting
Oil the matter informed Mr.. Walker that Il
request similar to his was made by Mrs.
Cole about two years ago. and that Mr..
Brady. the late inspector of buildings
signed number to this addition" as it is
now used as a separate house. to be known
as No. 10 Thomas circle.
Mr.. Ashford also informed Capt Harding
assistant to the Engineer COMMISSIONER
that the records of his office showed the
building as part or addition to HOO Mas
SachuSettS avenue and that no permit could
be found authorizing the portion of the
building for which number is applied for
as a separate or distinct building. He
stated. further. that there were other con-
siderations. involving the question of pro-
1ections, which would appear to preclude
or prevent the issuance of a permit for
closing the doors or openings connecting
the part of the building under considerati ton
with the original structure. He stated that
he had refused to assign a number to a part
of building that would necesSitate the
change of all other numbers on the same
side of the square, thereby entailing con-
siderable expense and Inconvenience to
householders in the same square.
Capt. Harding's Recommendation.
After carefully considering the question
Capt. Harding states that in his opinion
that HOO Massachusetts avenue Is the cor
rect number for his house, and that the
designation No. 10 Thomas circle would
not enable any one to find the house with
out considerable difficulty.
Capt. Harding says:
If the problem of numbering houses in
this block were arising now for the first
time No. 400 Massachusetts avenue would
undoubtedly be assigned to Mr. Walkers
house The only objection to granting the
applicants request is that it will involve
changes in the numbers OF six houses,
namely, 400 to 1412, inclusive. Section 10
of the building regulations authorizes the
inspector of buildings to assign numbers
to buildings and to order changes to be
made in the numbering OF any building al
ready numbered, where needful.' In view
of the conditions as they now exist, 1 be-
lieve the request of the applicant to he
reasonable, and l move that the inspector
of buildings be directed to assign the num-
Der 400 Massachusetts avenue to No. 10
Thomas circle, and to order the owners of
the six houses affected to make the CORE
spending changes in numbers.