Source:Ridiculous
"'Ridiculous' and 'silly,' a 'huge joke': Changes of street names bring criticism on Clerk Clark; telephones ring—sharp queries keep wires hot: Historical Society indorses the work." Pittsburg Press, July 28, 1909, pp. 1–2. Newspapers.com 141334964, 141334983.
"Hello! Mr. Clark?"
"Yes."
"Say—what did you mean by changing the name⸺?"
Deputy City Clerk Robert Clark, expert in street nomenclature, hung up the telephone receiver with a bang.
All morning and all afternoon the receiver was banged. Clark was a busy man and he never allowed the questions to proceed any farther than the above—some did not get so far.
Later he had urgent business in other parts of the city building.
Yesterday Mr. Clark announced changes in the names of 933 streets in the greater city. This morning such verbal brickbats as "silly," "ridiculous," etc., were heaved in his direction, while from the North Side comes the word that "We won't stand for it; we thought it was a joke."
The names suggested for the four streets forming the old Allegheny Diamond, "Fortitude," "Temperance," Prudence" and "Justice," are the particular thorns annoying the North Siders. Not all comment was adverse, however, Secretary Burd S. Patterson, of the Western Pennsylvania Historical Society, saying that Clark had conferred with a committee from that organization and his labors had been indorsed.
BUT CLARK DOES NOT WINCE.
Word passed along from the North Side, however indicates that when the ordinance calling for the change is presented before councils in September, the members from that side of the Allegheny river will have some caustic and unflattering things to say concerning "cardinal virtue streets," in the old Diamond and others.
As the volleys of caustic criticism pour in his direction, Clerk Clark, who labored intermittently for almost a year with dictionaries, census bureau reports, street directories of all large cities, historical volumes and Smull's handbooks, does not wince.
"You will be criticized no matter what you do," Clark said this morning. "The job was a thankless task; I have done the best I could.
"I have used historical names where it was possible and also the names of old families. I have been condemned for using the name of a ball player—Barbeau. I gave Third street that name, not for "Jap," but in honor of Jean Barbeau, a French engineer, the first to lay out the city of Pittsburg. The name of Highland avenue has not been changed to Bigelow street, neither has Liberty avenue been changed to Independence street.
SMITH SAYS THEY'RE SILLY.
"Those four streets in the North Side diamond now bear the names of the four cardinal points of the compass; I changed them to the four cardinal virtues, and there you are."
Lee S. Smith, president of the Chamber of Commerce, when asked for his opinion of the proposed new names, aid [sic]:
"There is no doubt the change was an absolute necessity, but the ridiculous should have been avoided. Such names as Temperance, etc., for streets, are silly. Historical names and names of old families should have the call."
Secretary Allen T. Burns, of the Civic Commission, said that he favored the numerical system where it was possible.
"We people on the North Side thought it was all a big joke," was the way Magistrate Fred Goettmann expressed himself on the question.
"The people over there won't stand for those names in the Diamond."
