The Washington herald., 1909-03-28

Avenue Of the Presidents is the choice
Of name for Sixteenth street OF large
proportion OF property owners on that
thoroughfare. They are OF opinion that
1t should be an avenue instead Of a street,
and a proponderance Of sentiment is in
favor CT the name
This was clearly developed at a we'll
attended meeting OF the Sixteenth Street
improvement Association at the home Of
Mr.. John JOY Edison. on Friday night
Not only did the meeting vote 20 adopt
the name. but decided with practical
unanimity 20 begin the use OF the name
at once on visiting cards and stationery.
Mr.. Edison Speaks
Mr.. Edison was called TO the chair. and
in brief Introductory speech he COM
mended most strongly the work done by
Mrs. John 3. Henderson for the develop
ment and Improvement OF the thorough
fare.
Mrs Henderson then submitted the fol-
lowing report:
We found through Mr.. MacfariaDo that old
maps at the District Once the narac Of sixteenth
street is Avenue Of the Ambassador II appears
that many yeaS ago our government planned u
present 20 foreign governments sites On this street
in case they would Immediately construct legation
budings upon then Governments are unf0rlu-
street has since continued without the honor cf
came. This has not been, however, without re-
peated efforts the part q Sixteenth street resi-
dents to give our fine thoroughfare an avenue
name.
Met with Vieissitudes.
For many yrRrs many q Us preferred the name
Executive avenue" dgnided and appropriate.
~ al -f-F
ever Congress was approached with requests for
the Executive sEen1e name. that long-sdIeTTE body
invariably met with protests from resident on
cais Of the street. Executive avenue" not 20
their choice. and. moreover. they neFcr united In
the choice Of any ether one name
Now Congress has always been willing and anxious
l h give street avenue name. They only ask
that Sixteenth street residents. along with the Com
missioners a the District. VII show sonething lke
unanimiiy regarding the choice 0f a name.
For the purpose q settling this question a.
| Unanimity a careful canvass made last year
! ~ THIS committee We found that al but fouT
individuals wanted the name q Sixteenth street
charged. and changed as soon as possible Almost
with the Presidents Of the United States al but
one having lived az the head q cur street. over
looking Il Ike psiron sentnels
Decided TO Drop Name.
Out of difference 10 the protesting Sixteenth street
olcais. they decided 20 drop the name Executive
avenue" They next dropped the name White
House avenue" on ACCOUNT of the initials When
written Nv. Il and ~. H." New Hampshire
aTsnue are similar enough 20 inevitable con
fusion al the post-ocsce- As cur avenue usmss are
senerslly written Ia abhrsTistion Il e. cf course
most important that the ahhreviatious Be quite IN
| Ike and distinctive.
/ The large majority settled mon one Il three
names Presiden-s avenue. Presidential avenue
and Avenue of the Presidents with a decided
I preferences fer the latter name The majority y
Z the majority felt that Presidents avenue or
I Presid initial ATenus' might refer % one Prrgi-
dent. while the name ~Avsnue of ths Presidents
/ has & broader mesning-refe-ring unmistskabfy 20
I all. Democrats ard Repuhlicals alike: slss that
/ the aohTeTiztion Ave Pres" IS shor,, distinc-
tive. and unlike that 4 any other avenue in
/ the city. While many nav regret the loss Of the
nane Areuue q the Anihassad0-s.~ we may yss
feel that the name Avenue Of the PreSidents'' Il
equally digntned Personally. I Ike the names
| Presidential aEea,e' and "AVenue q The Presi-
dents equally well.