The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-26
Existing Names Will Be Re-
tanned Wherever 1t Is
Practicable
WOULD ABOLISH THE
LETTERED AVENUES
Names of States, Cities and Indian
Names Will Be Used-Twentieth
Street Will Be Dividing Line.
To Have Group Names

The proposed remaining of city streets
was submitted to the commission yester-
day by Walter G. kirkpatrick, city en-
gineer. Pursuant to instruction the city
engineer has mapped out a plan of re-
arranging the streets. No radical changes
We're contemplated, 1t is said, and none
has been recommended in the commune
cation of the city engineer.
1t is proposed to take Twentieth street
as dividing point in old Birmingham
On the east of Birmingham the streets
will be called "Twenty-fifth street east
On the south the avenues now known as
Avenue A, b, c, ETC., will be known as
First Second, Third, ETC., avenue, south
The old names are retained wherever
practical and in some cases new names
Explains Plans
The plan, fully explained, was con.
tained in the following communication oi
Mr.. Kirkpatrick:
Hon. James Weatherly, commissioner
City Hail.
Dtdi N'i oiioWiliS yOul
that new system of street names fol
the entire city be devised, the following
system has been planned and is sub,
mitted for your approval. This report
describes the general scheme, and, if this
Is approved, it will be followed by a de-
tailed statement, with the present ano
proposed names for each street in the
pif y mr. ina for fd1a cSa n
an ordinance. changing such street names
as this system requires.
"At each street intersection the estab
lished street name should be marked by
signs in colored title or other suitable
material, permanently set in the concrete
sidewalk, or where concrete sidewalks
have not yet been constructed, by metal
signs. with enameled or other durable
letters. The house numbers should be
checked up. removing incorrect house
numbers and eventually marking every
house with it's correct number and re-
cording the same. To secure the adop-
tion of the new street names and house
numbers, the poseoffice department
should be requested to order that, after
certain date, mail will be delivered to
the houses plainly marked with the cor
rect house numbers and to no others.
Established Names to Be Retained
''rhe proposed system for naming
streets is essentially an extension of the
system now established in the central
portion of the city and, as far as prac-
tieable, all established street names and
house numbers will be retained. 1t is
believed that the names and numbers
thus retained, will include the houses OF
fully two-thirds of the city's population
including the greater portion of old Bir-
mingham, North Birmingham and Ely
ton. The suburbs eastward have been
but slightly changed; those westward al
most entirely changed because their
street names were generally duplicates
of the names in old Birmingham.
'As far as practicable, all streets are
to be given consecutive numerical names
Streets running approximately east and
west are to be called avenues and those
north and south streets. The present
First avenue is to retain its name ano
be extended westward through Ensley
all avenues north of it will be numbered
consecutively Second, Third, Fourth, etc.
south of First avenue will be numbered
consecutively, the number being followed
by the word south. That street nov
! running north and south and called viii
liams' through Graymont, Broad ano
Square through West End and Gold
wire west of Elyton, is to be calleo
| Center street. All other streets run
ming approximately north and south are
| to be numbered both east and west, be
| ct aat ~
| those to the east being followed by the
word east and the names of those tt
| the west by the word west The num-
hers of the streets in the central portion
OF the city will thereby remain un-
changed.
an districts where the layout of street.
| is irregular, the numerical naming sys
| tenn will be continuous as far as prac
| ticable. In such locations where an extrf
avenue remains, it will be given the les
ser number of the adjacent avenues, fol
lowed by the word court Where al
EXTRA street remains, its name will be tn,
| lesser number of the two adjacent street,
followed by the word place If Still
other avenues remain, each will be giyer
! the name of state in the union, tn,
peosra phical location of which CORE
sponds to the location of this avenue IL
| tbe city, for instance, Florida avenue,
i If in the extreme southeast. Similarly
| the names of cities will be given to extra
| streets remaining unnumbered, for in
stance. Toledo street. if northeast O.
and near the center.
No Change in Roads
! "Old county roads running diagonall.
and not conforming with either streets
or avenues, will retain their old names
followed by the word road Parkway
and boulevard will be names applied
TO only parked streets, especially to thos'
which are curved or otherwise not con
forming. Circular or curved streets will
| he called circle Streets not included
| in any of the above classifications will