Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-06
An Example of Trouble.

ing may be cited:
"A widely-known lawyer of Boston. who
attended the last inaugural ceremonies of
President Mckinley. arrived in Washington
on the previous evening about $50 o'clock.
He had previously accepted an invitation to
share the Inequalities of a friend on 18th
street northeast On leaving the train he
hastily engaged carriage and instructed
the coachman to drive hurriedy to a GER
tain residential number on 18th street
To which 18th street?' inquired the
driver.
The accomplished attorney, who had for
gotten the letters indicating the points of
the compass, was inclined to be, verbally,
somewhat unceremonious with the coach
man for attempting silly joke in such a
question.
There are four 10Th streets in Wash
ington, sir-12th street in the northwest
part Of the city, another 18th street In the
southwest section, another 18th street in the
northeast section, and still another 18th
street in the southeast section-some of
them more than a mile apart replied the
coachman.
Carriages were scarce and expensive on
inaugural eve, but the aStOniShed visitor
directed the angered jehu to drive to a
residential number in the nearest 10Th
street, which was southwest. OF course 1t
was not found in that locality. He then
hurried away in search of the same num-
Der in 18th street northwest. After long
drive he found the house number, but not
the host, who was anxiously waiting for
somewhere In the northeast or southeast
sections of the city, and the tired and be-
wildered gentleman, with maled1ct1onS on
the system of naming streets In Washing
ton, decided to give up the search for an
other 18th street until the following day.
A Confusing System.
1T would require a genius In the crea-
ton of eccentric schemes to invent more
confusing, incomprehensible, and, appar-
For har ing
and designating streets having a north and
south direction. 1t seems strangely in
congruous and belittling the nations capt.
tai when applied to the admirable system
under which its streets were originally
laid out so as to make their location easily
determined by any one.
"Why not begin with 1st street some
where on one side of the city and proceed
alb initio, toward the other side, with con-
secutive numbering, with, perhaps, an oc-
casonal intervening street bearing the
name of it's historical location. as in New
York and other great cities? The num-
Der of the street would then always indi-
cate It's exact locality. 1t might be con-
venient, under some circumstances, to have
a division numbering in the same street, as
north and south, but not desirable.
These simple facts seem to exhibit
surprising degree of poverty or resources
within the control of the ruling powers OF
the city of Washington, who were reSpon-
sible for providing d system of street desig-
nations which would be simple and in dig
nifed harmony with the practical, compre-
hensive and intelligent generosity with
which they were originally laid out.
1T is doubtful If the world presents an
other example of planning avenues for a
great city which so completely and scien-
tifically provides for all conditions of nu-
nicipal life. The wise and broad-minded
thinkers in Washington's early days, in
their work and planning. did not copy the
disastrous mistakes of nearly all the early
founders and governing authorities of large
cities in providing and legislating only for
the visible needs of the present and pass
ing hours"