The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-28
Large Delegation Appears Be-
fore Committee to Urge SITS.
Nomenclature Be Unchanged
FURTHER HEARING
SET FOR DECEMBER IL
Postmaster Thornton However
Urges That Present System
Produces a Situation IL hat
Is Horrible"

Many voices were raised yesterday
afternoon in opposition to the pro-
posed remaining of Richmond streets
when the matter came again before
the Committee on Streets for action.
A delegation of visitors. including a
number of women. representing local
organizations Of historical character
appeared before the committee to ask
that the city streets, many of which
bear the names Of Yirginias foremost
sons. be left as they are named.
Commissioner Beck. who assisted In
drafting the remaining system. gave
his reasons for ravoring the move.
He stated that the number OF con-
tiicting names OF streets now In ex-
istence gives rise TO a great deal OF
confusion. and that the new plan
would eliminate all this. Postmaster
Hay T. Thornton said that from the
postohlce standpoint the present
system OF street names produced q
situation that is horrible" and thai
for the good OF the mail service, and
aside from sentimentality. he advo-
Gated the adoption of the remaining
plan.
f s. Valentine strongly opposed the
proposed plan. and insisted that II
was illogical and unnecessary. 'Ha:
any trouble ever been found anywhere
but in Philadelphia p he asked "Ha,
there been any in New York. Boston
Paris. London. or Vienna l. Fl
Jenkins. OF the Hermitage Press. sec.
onded Mr.. Valentines views. and
urged that Richmond Il not so bis
the streets can't be found" He de-
ciared that the names OF Richmond
streets gave to the city a certain IN
dividuality, and that when yov de-
stroy individuality, beauty Is gone"
Mrs. Peasants Protests.
An appeal was made by Mrs. vyr-
ginia NJ Peasants. representing tht
Colonial Danes, who dwelt on the
effect OF Virginia's historic past which
should be preserved to her Mrs, II
w. Judd from the Dorothea Paynt
Madison Chapter asked that II street
had been named for Woodrow Wilson
would the committee consent to its
being changed. and protested, in view
OF this 10 change in the stree
named for Robert F.. Lee.
William r. Johnson. representing
Rradstreet's told the committee that
the proposed change would cause such
confusion that the city would be years
recovering from II, and that from 8
purely business standpoint It could
never benefit anybody. Edgar r
English eioqueutty defended the old
system. claiming that the names OF
Richmond's streets. shedding lustrs
about her history, should be cher
ished by her citizens as a priceless
heritage from the past He said that
II was n matter OF sentiment. and that
this was sufficient reason for leaving
the names as they have been. "Senti-
ment after all" he said. lis a large
portion of our lves-there IS more IL
life than the material side" He
held firmly TO the contention that SC
far from gaining from the change
Richmond would always regret wha,
she had done in case the streets were
renamed and that the confusion which
wonld follow would never end.
Hear Matter Again December II.
John W. Moore moved that ths
matter he held over until the mex
meeting OF the committee, In order
that other citizens might have a voice
in the discussion, This was agreed &c
by the committee, and the proposition
called for another hearing December
IL This hearing will be open to the
public, and large number Of citizens
favoring both sides OF the question. are
expected to he present to present their
claims.