The Detroit times., 1911-06-27
BLOCK system d
HOUSE NUMB[R|N(
PROPOSED
Board Of Commerce L Taking I'll
of Membership ON Proposition an1
Points Out Numerous Adj
vantages Of Scheme.
Would Expedite Delivery Of Hail
and Parcels and Be Great Adj
vantage To Strangers.

Should Detroit streets be re-
Philadelphia. Chicago and other
large cities have adopted the plan
oi iVV numbers to the block.
would mean that parallel "
streets would have correspondinR Y
numbers. block for block r
ANY individual who sends or re-
SaiIS Ss INA maii, parcels or newsPapess
You would automatically be able
10 nnd any street number.
For instance--i200 Forest-ave.
NEST West would be twelve blocks from
Think OF the saving In time Tor
your delivery system. the benefit 10
'orr maii and newspaper service.
Five leading local newspapers In
oorse the movement. likewise the
postmaster and the business men
who have Investigated.
LII Detroit adopts the plan.
Woodward-ave. and Jefferson ave
or the river would be taken as D
foundation for the system.
Piease let us have your opinion
on the enclosed card. yes or no.
Detroit Board Of Commerce.
The above is a copy OF CIRCULAR
being sent to the members OF the
Board OF Commerce today. enclosed
with which Is card calling tor
their ideas and signature as to wheth-
er they favor an effort to be made BY
the Board of Commerce to have the
streets OF Detroit re-numbered. fol-
lowing the 100 numbers to block
system. now in vogue In several OF
the larger cities like Philadelphia cr
Chicago and which has proven very
successful. Not only is II SUE essfsll
and convenient for the citizens. mer-
chants, newspapers and poslofIices Of
the cities named, but also 10, the
stranger. II adopted ii would mean
that the parallel streets would have
corresponding numbers block for
block.
Any citizen who receives mail.
newspapers or parcels at his home
daily, would be benefited. az It would
insure him quicker and safer deliv-
cry at all times. II would enable him
TO find any street number at any time
automatically. For instance, No. 500
lWoodward-ave., and No. 500 Brush or
Beaubien-sts., would be Shs Same
Idistance from the river, 1900 War
ren-ave. east, would be twelve blocks
from Woodward-ave. Where street
starts, say at the boulevard, and runs
north, II would start with the same
number as that given the frat house
north OF the Boulevard on Woodward.
And SO far as possible, Woodward
and Jefferson-aves.. would be taken
as the basis for the system
Six OF the circulation managers of
the leading dailies OF Detroit nave I'M
dorsed the movement in writing. like
wise Postmaster Warren, City Hia-
torian Burton and several busins -
men who have been approached on
the proposition. City Historian Bur
ton is responsible for the statement
that the system at present in vogue
In Detroit grew up with the city u
wholly inadequate and that the lonG-
er the change I'm system is delayed
the greater the cost viii be TO he
taxpayers. M
The attempt has been. made 10
have the 100 numbers TO block syo-
TEN In Detroit two or three times,
but on each occasion the effort has
been single,handed and at no time
was there cooperation. The last at
tempt was made by Assistant POST
master Swan, then superintendent Of
local mail delivery. ,tlo In his pub
lie position could not i?enly fight the
man who took up the other side, Sila6
Farmer. who published many OF De-
troit's maps, guides. ETC.. who gave
as one of his reasons. the huSlfko
condition OF Detroit's streets. This,
in the opinion of those who have
gone into the matter. Is only =
stronger reason why Detroit should
have an up-to-date system. Another
reason Mr. Farmer gave for oppou-
ing the movement, was the way the
streets run into Woodward-av~.. IN
alternate fashion. This could easily
be overcome by numbering Wood
ward-ave., and using the streets that
intersect on only one side OF the
street. t'
The literature being sent out today
by the Board OF Commerce will be fol-
lowed up In other lines. and after
securing the ideas of as many inter-
ested as possible. the correspondenco
will be turned over to the aldermen
for action.