Peoria, Ill., has just completed a project which involved changing 21,140 street addresses and 126 street names. The International City Managers' Association describes this operation in the July issue of "Public Management," its monthly journal.

The new system is a grid pattern, with 1,200 numbers assigned to each mile, measured from streets designated as starting points. This plan improves on the old system, where most streets had been numbered from their own beginnings, so that corresponding blocks on streets running parallel would not have corresponding numbers unless they happened to begin at the same point.

About three-quarters of the city's streets were renumbered according to the new plan, the exceptions being chiefly those streets which were built along the edge of the Illinois River. These run at a 45 degree angle to all other streets, and retain their old numbers.

Peoria County began the renumbering in 1952 in the areas surrounding the city. The new numbering was later adopted by both city and county, and in 1955, 7,000 city house numbers were changed as part of a pilot project. Time was allowed for the Post Office to process all of the address changes before the Christmas rush. Also, both the telephone and city directories will carry all the new addresses. Lists showing the changes were given to utility companies, governmental agencies, and businesses.

Costs of making the changes total $23,500, including engineering, notification, postage, supplies, and follow-up calls. This comes to about 90 cents per change. Before the addresses were altered, the city's street name system was simplified by eliminating duplications and reducing the number of different names. There was a net reduction of 100 names.

As part of the entire program, 4,700 double-faced, one-piece porcelain enamel signs have been installed. These cost about $3.25 each, with the total for signs and materials coming to about $25,000, and an extra $5,000 for labor. Utility poles were used wherever possible for posting the signs, saving about $27,000, which individual new sign poles would have cost.

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For the past four years the University of Illinois through its Extension Division has provided a three day short course in waterworks management. The fifth course is now scheduled for November 14, 15, and 16, 1956 at the beautiful Robert Allerton Park near Monticello, Illinois.

This annual course is designed to improve skills in applying principles and techniques of management specifically for the waterworks industry. It is conducted by the University Bureau of Business Management and is sponsored by the Illinois Section of the American Water "Works Association.

In this day of rising costs of operation and growing demands for water it is a refreshing approach to one of the vital municipal administrative problems.

The course is unique in the give-and-take cooperative atmosphere built into the presentations, which promotes a very real and powerful problem-solving desire. Very rewarding associations are developed by friendly and cooperative competition, in this non-competitive profession. Problems are dissected and integrated by stimulating lectures and work-shops. No one has attended this course and left without absorbing thought provoking concepts and new ideas tor improvement in his management practices and problems.

Topics important to waterworks utilities deal with growing pains in the utility, work simplification, human and community relations, public speaking, self and organization appraisal from a management standpoint, motivation techniques and inventory control procedures. Other topics are discussed from year to year according to the

demand expressed by the group in their annual appraisal of the course and its presentation.

The course is designed not only for management at the top level but also for supervisory personnel. The latter are benefited by this in-service-training when later promotions demand greater executive responsibilities. For experienced management, many of whom have returned regularly each year, the course serves as a stimulating refresher.

During 1955, 9800 adults in Illinois have attended extension courses in many fields provided by the University of Illinois Extension Division, of which 2200 have been in courses conducted by the College of Commerce Bureau of Business Management. The effectiveness and popularity is attested by the fact that the number grows each year. This service has reached individuals on every community for extremely modest fees as a State supported service for the growth of individuals, industries, municipalities and the State as a whole.

No community, however well governed, can afford to neglect this opportunity to improve the quality of their career personnel in administering the vital water works utility.