Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28
AGREED ON new NAME
''Avenue of the Presidents"
Approved by Residents.
JOHN HAYS SUGGESTION
18th Street Improvement Associa-
ton Votes for Change.
WILL EXERT ITS INFLUENCE
Commissioners to Be Asked to Exer-
else Authority to So Designate
Upper End of Thoroughfare.
WILL EXERT ITS INFLUENCE


Following a suggestion of the late John
Hay Secretary of State under President
Mckinley. that the name of 18th street
northwest be changed TO avenue of the
Presidents, the Sixteenth Street Improve
ment Association has voted it's approval
and will make efforts to bring pressure to
bear upon Congress and the Commission
ers to accomplish the change of name.
meeting of the association was held
Friday evening at the residence of John
Joy Edison, 1924 18th street, for the pur-
pose of considering the matter. The re-
port of the special committee appointed
last year TO consider the change was
read by Mrs. j. B. Henderson.
The report follows:
Report of Committee.
We found through Mr. Mcfarland
that on old maps at the District office
the name of 10th street is Avenue of
the Ambassadors IT appears that many
years ago our government planned to pre-
sent to foreign governments sites on this
street in case they would Immediately
construct legation buildings upon them.
Governments are unfortunately slow
for such buildings. So 18th street has
since continued without the honor of a
name. This has not been. however. with
out repeated efforts on the part of 18th
street residents to give our fine thor
oughfare an avenue name.
For many years many of us preferred
the name Executive avenue as dignified
and appropriate. But this name also met
with vicissitudes. Whenever Congress
was approached with requests for the Ex-
ecutive avenue name, that long-suffering
body was invariably met with protests
of ha
Executive avenue was not to their
choice and. moreover. they never united
in the choice of any other one name.
Residents at Fault.
Now Congress has always been will
ing and anxious to give our street and
avenue name. They only ask that 10Th
street residents along with the Commits
sioners of the District will show some
thing like unanimity regarding the choice
of a name.
For the purpose OF settling this ques-
ton of unanimity careful canvass was
made last year by this committee We
found that all but four individuals want
ed the name of 18th street changed, and
charged as soon as possible Almost all
wanted the name to be connected in
some way with the President of the
United States. all but one having lived
at the head of our street, overlooking it
like patron sentinels.
Out Of difference to the protesting
18th street officials they decided to drop
the name Executive avenue They
next dropped the name White House
avenue on account Of the initials. When
written w. H. and n. H (New Hamp-
shire avenue) are similar enough to
cause inevitable confusion at the post
ofhce. AS our avenue names are GEN
orally written in abbreyiation, it is. of
viations be quite unlike and distinctive
Three Names Considered.
THE large majority settled upon one
Of three names-'Presidents avenue
Presidential avenue ane Avenue of the
Presidents with a decided preference
for the latter name. The majority also
felt that Presidents avenue or .Presi-
dental avenue might refer to one Presi-
Presidents has. broader meaning-re-
ferring Enthusiastically to all, democrats
and republicans alike: also that the alb
breviation Ave Pres is short, dis
avenue in the city.
While many may regret the loss of
tie name Avenue of the Ambassadors
We may yet feel that the name Avenue
OF the Presidents Is equally dignified
There are two important reasons why
the avenue name should be given us as
soon as possible First. it has been found
that the street has suffered considera bly
lack OF an avenue name. In general
pariance thoroughfare in the country
Is called road. thoroughfare in the
city is called street, while the wider
and more important residence thorough
fares are called avenues
Now real estate agents have already
found in many cases that those desiring
TO build handsome residences have chosen
sites elsewhere than on 10th street for the
reason that they preferred to build on an
avenue rather than ON g street-a reason
they have emphaticaly expressed. The
second reason for our desire for an i'm
mediate change of name is that we wish
to avoid future long delays on the part
OF the government for aiding I'm the prop
er development of 18th street
Original Plan Of Street.
The street was originally planned on
magnificent lines and with every adj
vantage for its future importance-the
same width as Pennsylvania avenue u6O
feeD. seven miles long in a straight line
from the White House to the District
line, like 9Th avenue. the Champs Elysees
and Inter den Linden-the most central
city thoroughfare. leading directly to the
principal city park. perfectly drained and
with surroundings absolutely hygienic.
Such were the perfect conditions for its
becoming the most magnificent residence
street In America.
But its viciSsitudes have been cbiefv
owing to delays and delays on the part
OF the government. In widening and
Strengthening the street above Florida
avenue what might have been accom-
plished In four or five years stretched
out to about fifteen. The first Lydecker
plans for the work were published in
about 1883 and the roadway was not
widened. severed and paved and made
ready for permanent improvements until
about 1893
In the meantime temporary struc-
lures were erected for the purpose of
paying taxes. Public dumping and dis
graceful slums followed, and the attemnfs
TO recover one of the most desirable To-
cations In town have been arduous in
deed. but at last successful. Again the
continued fruitless attempts TO save along
the route several triangles and one OF
the most perfect little park sites In town
emphasize the misfortune of continual de-
lays.
Congress Awaiting Unanimity.
Now Congress is clearly embarrassed
about changing the name OF 18th street.
Members feel that an avenue name should
have been given years ago, but manv