The Washington herald., 1910-03-20

VIII teAHtaSh nieAout Representation run
riot
"Mr. Smith had purchased a large site
on this supposed circle for building a
handsome residence.
TriangIes Are Lost.
"on new maps a third circle. called
Mead circle. appeared at the intersec-
ton Of three streets at Columbia road.
This would have provided one OF the
most attractive circles In town. for, like
Scott circle. two fine triangles lay along
side. l need hardly mention that later
this circle was taken away. and the rIi-
angles have now been lost for future
embellishments by buildings.
We have also had our grievances
about that long-deIayed and very badly
managed Piney Branch Bridge, begun
five years ago. which, when completed.
will open the way to the most splendid
OF wooded sites beyond Work on this
bridge was apparently stopped altogether
for couple Of years. when last year
Congress took 1t upon itself to say that
It was tired of those long delays. and
asking how much It would take to CON-
plete the bridge, Immediately appro-
priated at once that sufficient sum
Enough extra money was alsc apnroprl-
ated to continue maeadamizing sixteenth
street as far as the old race track be-
yond All that was 10 have been COM
pleted last summer, Very little work
was done during the winter and summer,
and If work in the future Is continued
at the same pace it is hard TO tell Il
the bridge will ever be finished.
During many years of this apparent
neglect the people Of the street became
very discouraged. For ten years not
single residence of architectural imnor-
lance was erected. Sign boatds marked
Tor sale" or for other advertising pur-
poses lined almost continuously the great
thoroughfare During this period and
at our earnest solicitation those desiring
TO erect handsome residences looked over
sixteenth street, but Rfterward declared
that they did not like the name. Thew
preferred to build upon an avenue. Real
estate men all remarked that the cid
name. so associated with slums and
apparent want of energetic management.
was a distinct handicap.
Dtd strenuous Work.
When coming to fully realize that Six
teenth street seemed doomed TO insignia
canoe. l took II upon myself to organize
the Woman's Sixteenth Street Improve
ment Association. I assure you we did
some strenuous work. Just how. along
the whole line of the street broken
FENCES, dump piles. and offensive sign
boards disappeared I will not here relate.
The worst condition, not so easy 10 over
come, was the negro Stun district on
Meridian Hill. II was more than ever
important TO reclaim this wonderfully
fine section of the street. In that i'm
provements otherwise would never jump
1t for the superb sites beyond. Indeed
Meridian Hill was the gateway for the
respectability OF this whole northwestern
region of town.
In beginning this work of retaining
Meridian Hin we had little idea that II
would cost our family so much time and
expense 10 carry il out: but we entered
the contest and have not yet given It up
AS 1t would cost the government moth
Ing TO give US a more respected name
We began working for that advantage.
Last year the three Commissioners who
had been given by Congress the power
to name and rename all thoroughfares
beyond Florida avenue. gave US by a ma
jority vote OF two the name Avenue of
the Presidents. beyond Florida avenue.
BY thus remaining over five miles OF the
street, we felt that Congress could more
easily continue the new name for the re-
naming distance. reaching TO the White
House. This magic name was no sooner
given than a most brilliant new era
opened. For the first time In some
twelve or more years, several important
sites for splendid new residences were
purchased by others than ourselves. The
new Commissioners have now proceeded
to take away our name.
Reasons for Name,
THE reason for choosing the name
Avenue Of the Presidents is as follows:
Several years ago I went about for
names to a petition to Congress asking
for the name Executive avenue In
talking over the matter with Mr.. John
Hay. he said: do not favor that name.
feel that as all but one of the Presidents
Of the United States have lived at the
head Of our street. we should remember
them with the name Presidents avenue
or Avenue Of the Presidents. People
elsewhere said he. thus honor their
heads Of government, and why should
not we honor our Presidents? I did not
heed Mr.. Hays advice at that time. as the
name Executive avenue seemed to be the
one generally favored. II would prob
ably have been given US at that
time had not Justice Brown and other Off
cial residents Of the street opposed the
name, declaring that it might as well be
Legislation or judicial or Execution
avenue as Executive avenue, and so that
name was dropped. Justice Brown wanted
White House road Senator Foraker
wanted White House avenue but the
initials were too similar to New Hamp-
shire avenue
Last year our association took up the
work Of a new name A new petition
was circulated, asking that the name be
one of three: Presidents avenue, 'Presi-
Dental avenue or Avenue of the Presi-
dents This petition has been signed by
90 per cent of the residents Of the street,
the large majority of whom expressed,
alongside their names. preference for
Avenue OF the Presidents I am quite
sure, however, that practically all would
be satisfied with either of the three
names.
Goes to Gettysburg.
Avenue of the Presidents Is g pre-
tentious name. which no other avenue in
the United States could appropriately
adopt; but our great thoroughfare is a
very pretentious one. It is not only