The Washington times., 1907-09-15

Letters by hundreds have poured into
The Times office from persons IN Wash
ingtoh who are interested In the ques-
ton Of changing the name Of Sixteenth
street to one more in keeping with the
location Of the street. and its distinctive
character. The letters have come from
all parts of Washington, and demon
strate the wide interest the matter has
aroused. Everybody has suggestion
and many Of them will be read with in
terest by others VINO have not yet en-
gagged IN discussing the question.
A number Of appropriate names were
sent In last week. and these have been
added 20 since last Sunday. The general
opinion is manifestly that the name Of
the street should suggest a Presidential
driveway, and with that end in view,
all sorts of names embodying either the
name Of a President or a term signify
ing the Chief Executive office.
In the mail this week were two sug-
gestions that the street be named
United States avenue, and also two Of
fering the title Of National avenue 2or
this popular thoroughfare. There we're
any number Of others. each the thought
suggested by ones patriotism and de-
sire 10 give the street a dignity in
name, as well as in design and loea-
ton.
For Sixteenth President.
One very novel suggestion was that
the street should be named after the
sixteenth President, which would, of
course. prove a memorial to President
Lincoln. This IS one OF the most inter
esting solutions of the problem which
has yet been suggested, but in the same
mail came a plea that the street should
not be named for any one President or
person because one IS just as much en-
titled to such a memorial as another.
The claim is set forth that IL the name
Is 10 be changed at all, it should be
made into one which Will stand as a
tribIte 10 many.
Several correspondents are anxious
that the name of Mckinley should be
perpetuated in this way while others are
equally concerned about having the
name Of some other President or dis
unEuished man woven into the proposed
title.
Wants Distinctive Name.
One Washingtonian points out the in
teresting fact that in all of the more i'm
portant cities Of Europe the principal
driveway has some distinctive name. IN
Ike any other in the same city For in
stance. The writer says. in London the
chief driveway is called Rotten Row,
q contraction Of Route du ROi' (route
Of the king). In Paris, he cities the fact
that the fashionable thoroughfares are
Champs Elysee (Elysian fields) and Ave-
nue. du Boi du Bolcgne, the latter street
being named for the principal park OF
Paris: in Berlin Il is "Unter den Lin
den" (under the Iindens). and in Wen
ns II Is ''Ringstrasse" CRing street,. be-
cause It forms a belt along the line OF
the old walls Of the city.
The correspondent believes that six
teenth street Is destined to become the
principal driveway from the center or the
city. more particularly from the White
House to Rock Creek Park. and should
be 50 named as to make it quite as apart
from other streets of washington as
the celebrated avenues of other cities
are in their relation TO other thorough
fares.
In suggesting that the street be named
Presidents Road or Diplomat
Road" another correspondent believes
it is the duty Of Congress not only 10
make the change but to appropriate a
certain sum Of money each session for
the erection of two statues a year Of
past Presidents. These, hs believes
should be placed at the head Of each
street facing the boulevard that leads
out to the boundary Of the city. In this
way, he suggests, not only would the
Presidents be memorialized but the
statutes would be of great educational
and historic value.
Everybody interested.
Everybody is joining in the movement
and each day interest IN the proposed
change increases. The number Of CON-
munications which have so far reached
Tie Times have demonstrated that the
public spirit of Washington has been
aroused and that the residents Of the
caujtaI are anxious 20 do their part in
any movement that will tend to improve
the city and help to place 1t in the con-