Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-08
OFFICIALS PUZZLED
Over a New Name for Thirty
Second Street.
A MIX-UP In: NUMBERS
FORMS FUNCTIONS WITH OTHER
NUMBERED STREETS.
Capt. Newcomer Favors Calling It
Wisconsin Avenue Through
out It's Course.

The District Commissioners are just now
wrestling with the problem as to whether
or not the name of 32d street, in George
town. shall be changed. The northwesteriy
direction taken by this street brings about
a junction of 32d and SD, BOD and saith ana
SOD and 35th streets, and has caused much
confusion in the numbering of houses IN
east and west streets west of the thorough
fare in question.
Thirty-second street and 33d street join
at street. Houses in street are west
of both 32d and $50 street
The same is true of houses in street,
the square above. The question has arisen
as to whether or not these houses should
be numbered in the 32OOs, some owners
desire, or in the 33OOs, as others desire.
The houses at the corner of T street are
at the corner of 32d street and at the
same time at the corner of 33d street The
houses on U street are west of 33d street,
although not touching it, and the nearest
street east of them is Bed street.
Formerly High Street.
Thirty-second street was formerly known
in Georgetown nomenclature as High
street Now it is officially designated 32d
street out to a point beyond the naval OBJ
servatory, where it becomes Wisconsin
avenue.
Some persons with whom the Commits
sioners have spoken In regard to the matter
are in favor of changing the name of the
entire thoroughfare back to High street,
while others claim that to designate IT
Wisconsin avenue throughout the entlre
length would be the best plan.
If the street were given name instead
of number then the houses to the west of
such converging streets as 33d, Gath and so
ha n
from the streets Immediately to their east
One proposition made to the Commission
ers is to call the thoroughfare Sd street
from the point of it's beginning at the river
northward to N street, where the north
westerly turn is made.
The Commissioners do not look with espe-
cial favor on any plan requiring a double
name and would like to hit upon some
plan that would prove satisfactory and
simple all around.
Mrs. okie's Application.
The matter first came up on the applica-
ton of Mrs. Susan P. Dixie, presented to
the Commissioners by Attorneys Lambert
& Baker, for permission to number four
new houses owned by her on the north side
of L street and west of 32d street in the
32oos, despite the fact that they were also
west of 33d street.
She said the gas lamps at the corner bear
said that many years ago the city author
tiles authorized the numbering of a house
at the northwest corner of 32d and u
streets No. 1901. She says the owner de-
clneS to change it.
Il care nothing about his number Mrs
Dixie wrote, but decline to perpetuate an
annoying and an injurious designation to
my new houses next door. only ask
simple and abstract justice in this matter.
upon which depends the comfort and con-
yppience of the OccuDantS of four new
dwellings in L street Immediately west of
SD street"
The papers in the case were referred to
the various officials of the engineer depart
ment who have such matters in charge
including the building inspector, the assist
ant engineer in charge of streets and the
first assistant to the Engineer Commits
sioner. The latter Capt. H. c. Newcomer
is in favor of naming the street Wisconsin
avenue throughout it's entire length In
his report upon the matter w. P. Richards
the engineer in charge of Streets says:
Engineer Richards Report.
1.-The present names of streets within the
corporate limits of old Georgetown were
established through an order of the Com
missoners October 4. $780, This was done
without any authority of law, but was
acquiesced in by, the people and resulted
in the dropping of all the old names except
that 32d street is sometimes designated
as High street. -...'
THE act of February II, 1896 making
Georgetown a part of the city of Wash
ington. authorized the remaining of streets
in Georgetown, but no action was taken
under this act l believe, therefore that
the Commissioners have a right to desig-
nate what is commonly known as 32d street
by the name of High street, and l think
this designation should extend from N
street to Schneiders lane. where 1t merges
into 9th street and Wisconsin avenue
Attention Is invited to the fact that this
street runs about parallel with Connecticut
avenue between the limits just named
and should not, therefore, be a numbered
street but should have some special desig-
nation as the avenues OF the city of Wash
ington have"
Captain Newcomer, in forwarding this
report to the Engineer Commissioner, says
Capt. Newcomers Opinion.
II believe it would be unfortunate to
designate by different names different por-
tons of the highway extending from N
street to the District line, as would be the
case under the proposed system Of nomen-
clature which would involve the use Of the
name High street from N street to 81 street,
37th street from this point to Cleveland
Park and Wisconsin avenue from Cleveland
Park to the District line. 1t appears to me
preferable to use the name Wisconsin ave.
nue. throughout"
Here the matter rests. The Commission
ers will not act until they have obtained an
idea OF public opinion on the question from
the people most directly interested. 1t is
probable a hearing may be granted before
the matter is finally disposed Of