Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-29
STREET NAME RULING
Changes in Georgetown Only
for Sake of Conformity.
LEGAL ADVISERS OPINION
North" and Mill to Become 26th
and 9th Streets.
LONG KNOWN BY NUMBERS
But No Record Made in Surveyors
Office of Abandonment of
Old Titles.

That the District Commissioners have
power to change the names of streets in
Georgetown only to make them conform
to the street nomenclature of Washing
ton is the substance of opinion of
Corporation Counsel Thomas, submitted
to the Commissioners today.
The question as to the changing of
street names in Georgetown came up in
connection with an order of the Com
missoners to change old North and Mill
streets, respectively, to 26th and 2Ith
streets.
These streets have been incorporating
under their numerical titles for several
years; but when new street signs were
put up recently their old titles were re-
stored, because the official records In the
office Of the District surveyor shows their
names to be Mill and North streets.
Persons who lived on what they thought
were 18th or 9th streets had difficulty
in finding their own homes under the
revived names. a prompt protest was
filed at the District building.
Names Can Be Changed.
Corporation Counsel Thomas has decid-
ed that North and Mill streets can be
changed now by the Commissioners to
o6th and 9th streets, respectively. be-
cause those names are III conformity
with the street nomenclature OF Wash
ington city.
ION October 4, 1880" says Corporation
Counsel Thomas, discussing the power
of the Commissioners to change the
names of Georgetown's streets, 1.-The then
Commissioners passed comprehensive
order changing the names OF q majority
of the streets of Georgetown, evidently
for the purpose of making them conform
to those of the streets In Washington.
The names of North street and Mill
street were changed to 18th and 9th
streets, respectively IN the order re-
ferred to; but the changes with respect
to these two streets do not seem to
have been recognized in the surveyors
Office, although nearly all the other
changes have been since made q matter
of record III one form or another In the
surveyors off1ce-for example, = street,
formerly West street, and nj street, for
merly Bridge street.
Doubt as to Validity.
Some doubt seems to have been en-
tertained as to the validity of this order
For the act Of Congress Of February II,
1895, which abolishes the city Of George
town as separate and independent city
and made it part OF the city Of WASH
ington. contains a provision directing the
Commissioners to cause the nomencla-
ture Of the streets and Avenues of George
town to conform to those Of Washington
as far as practicable.
No action seems to have been taken
by the Commissioners under the author
ity OF the last mentioned act with respect
to changing the street names of George
town, but in 1905 the names OF certain
Georgetown streets were changed, to-
gether with those OF q number Of streets
outside of the city OF Washington, under
the authority of the act OF February IT,
1904. which authorized and directed the
Commissioners to name or rename streets
avenues, alleys, highways and reserva-
tons in that part of the District of Co.
lumbia lying outside OF the city of WASH
ington.
Authority for Change.
Answering the reference specifically, l
am of opinion that the authority of the
Commissioners changing the names of
streets in Georgetown is derived solely
from the act of Congress of February IL,
1895. and is not unrestricted. but the
changes must be in conformity with the
street nomenclature of Washington.
Il am of the opinion that the act of
February IT, 1904. does not authorize the
Commissioners in their discretion to
change the names Of the streets in
Georgetown"