Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 279, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1917 — Untitled [ARTICLE]

Where Do You Live? Rensselaer, Dec 10, 1917 Editor Republican, Dear Sir:— The average citizen of this city will answer the above question by saying: Do you know where John Smith lives? If you answer in the affirmative, he wil probably tell you that he lives one block north and one east of him and the third house on the right hand side of the street. Should you be so unfortunate as not to know where John lives, your friend will scratch his head and say; well I hardly know how to tell you then. He might say; go to the third street east of the court house, two blocks north and one east. Why all these indefinite directions in "a city with streets named and numbered? Would it not be better to be a modern resident of a modern city among people who are striving to be up-to-date with and excell sister cities which have like advantage but a much less beautiful city? It may be the expressman at this

holiday season who has an important package to deliver to you. It might be the telegraph messenger with ‘a message of business or death, it may be the coal man or the stranger who asks the above questions. Would it not expedite and simplify matters to be able to answer at once, my number i~ ?03 Park ave., or where ever : t n. . be. It would no nkely be the mail carrier, who would ask such a question for he would refer to the directory or city map showing the location of streets. If his party lived at 225 N. Cullen street, he would know that the number was on the east side of the third block north of Washington street, BECAUSE, the city is laid out east and west and north and south with two dividing principle streets, and with 100 numbers to each" block and the odd numbers on the east side of the street. It is then but to find the location of Cullen street, to immediately locate your party. A former mayor of one of Indianas metropolitan cities, qnce said: “I am a citizen of no mean city,” which quotation was engraved on the corner stone of the city hall, which he was instrumental in building and stands as a reminder of those who read it that they are of a progressive citizenship that has been able to place a once obscure ihland city on the map and in the minds of the world at large. We are citizens of a much smaller city have had modern ideas thrust upon us which we are slow to appreciate and adopt. No traveler from this city need be ashamed to tell that he is from Rensselaer, for we have the rudiments for a future beautiful city. So, would it not be to our advantage to do as the government has asked us? To designate the names of our streets, number our homes and place mail boxes that we, like others, may have our mail and parcels brought to our doors instead of having to go after them in such inclemient weather as we are now having? Would it not be better for those who have to deliver goods td familiarize themselves with streets by name and number that they may deliver without delay? Would is not be better for friends and strangers if we could direct them explicitly and without to any point or part of the city? If yqu wish to familiarize yourself in this way, just observe the following rule hereafter and you will soon be taking an interest in the location of others as well as yourself. When corresponding have your correspondents direct your letters to the number of your house and street. You will get it just the same as usual, but will assist the postmaster in case of a special delivery. When you order from the sjtore, have your goods sent to the house and street number, and don’t forget to ask yourself, “Where Do You Live?”.

A CITIZEN.