Street plan

To the editor:

Confusion (“States of confusion,” April 6 Journal-World) in naming Lawrence’s “state” streets is clarified by studying Searl’s 1854 plan and subsequent historical maps. The streets east of Massachusetts, the designated “main street,” were named for the remaining 12 original states/colonies, arranged in the order of signing the Declaration of Independence (and later the Constitution), that is, geographically proceeding down the Atlantic coastline. His plan started with New Hampshire, then Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, etc. and ended with Georgia.

West of Massachusetts, the streets were named for the remaining states in order of admission, and so Searl’s plan included street names for every state in the Union (31) at the time. The westernmost street named was No. 31, California, correctly located yet today. He did make one mistake and interchanged the admission order for Iowa and Wisconsin, and we still live with his mistake. Wisconsin Street should correctly be Iowa Street.

At first, there was more plan than actual streets, and as Lawrence expanded, they began to deviate from Searl’s plan, completely so after 1887. Feelings toward the South may have led to substituting No. 32, Minnesota, and No. 33, Oregon, for the plan’s Texas and Virginia. But every “state” street today north of 19th and between Florida and Maryland follows Searl’s plan and is correctly ordered.

If Lawrence would have stuck with and extended Searl’s 16-block-per-mile plan, present day Iowa Street should be named for : No. 34, Kansas. Not a bad idea perhaps. And Kasold would be No. 50, Hawaii.

Jim Roberts,

Lawrence