American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-21

selves, and mighty apt to DO It.
Cry IMPROVEMENTS rage for building
/ is unprecedented in Washington, and notwith-
standing the advance in the prices Of all labor
and materials, more and better houses are going
up than at any previous season. We noticed
in short walk, day or two since, at least
dozen fine residences in course of erection, and
now remember N
Mr.. E. Swann's elegant four story mansion,
on Louisiana avenue, near Judiciary Square,
| about twenty-seven feet front by forty deep,
of the best materials and most costly workman
ship, rich marble lintels and stills, superior
pressed brick, laid with perfect neatness, strong
walls, and faultless timbers. 1t is designed for
the residence Of Mr.. s., and win be q splendid
and commodious one indeed, worthy of the skill
of its builder, (Nlr. Walker,) and the enterprise
of its gentlemanly proprietor. Long may he live
to "revel in its halls"
On street near Seventh, Mr.. j. A. Kennedy,
for many years connected with our city post
office, is building beautiful house, in much
the same style, though not SO large as Mr..
Swann's, and which will be very tasty and
convenient home, in which a frugal and faithful
public servant may spend the evening of his
life in ease and prosperity The location is in
every way desirable, and all property in the
square must command ready tenants and good
prices. 4
Passing the Patent Ofice-the east wing Of
which is fast assuming its elegant proportions
and majestic appearance, under the energy of
its contractors, Provost and Winter-we reached
Ninth street, and noticcda beautiful structure
rising on the spot so long devoted to the noble
mission of teaching the young idea how to
shoot" Familiarity known to us all as McLeod's
Academy The building is commodious mod
ern cottage, empowered in trees, on COM
4 manding elevation, and will be precisely the
spot on which to "live cottagely," as Bishop
Taylor expresses it. "a
On reaching II street (by-the-by, one Of the
most desirable for private residences in our
city, we observed q row of houses in course of
erection, at the intersection of Tenth, which,
when finished, will present very handsome
appearance, and add greatly to the beauty of
J this pleasant neighborhood. The row will con-
tain four houses, each with front of nineteen
feet, depth of thirty-six, and four stories
with an attic) high; the entire front seventy
six feet, to be ornamented with balcony, the
. rear to have double porch the whole length,
! containing bathrooms store-rooms &c.; els
tern to each house, verandah on Tenth street,
and the dwellings to be lighted with gas in every
part. The location is high, healthy, and desi-
rable; the fourteen-inch foundations resting on
the most rock-hke clay viii prevent the walls
aft al; Il ha;c -
battened must effectually exclude all dampness.
The gable and partition walls are sustained by
/ twenty-two-inch ohimneys, leaving but little Of
' the original thickness exposed, and that little
is securely tied into the well-laid fourteen-inch
: front wall, or rear one, and the heavy chimney
: stacks; thus rendering the whole structure Of
, hard brick and adhesive mortar, when bound
together by joists, Orders, roof &c., perfectly
i secure. The row belongs to Mr.. j. +. Brown,
is being built by those enterprising contrac-
tors, Ager s. McLain, and viii, we learn, be
ready for tenants in November next.
Near by, ON the corner of ninth and streets,
three very pretty dwellings, erected this season,
: are being finished; each seventeen feet front,
thirty -four deep, with stair towers, and two full
stories, basement and attic high, every thing
conveniently arranged for labor saving and
pleasant homes. The walls are the same thick
; ness as those in Mr. Browns row, and being
; built and owned by that most experienced and
practical mason, Mr.. Thomas Lewis, (the con-
tractor for the brick-work on Browns hotel. J
No one questions his assertion that they fully
equal to any weight, pressure, or storm to which
= they can ever be subjected.
|, But we must defer to another day the pleas
ant task of noticing the many other fine build
ings which met our sight and excited glad hopes
of the growth and destiny Of our city
We experienced a strong blow and copious
shower in this neighborhood on Saturday last,
and cool and pleasant Sabbath followed. That
excursion was of course postponed, although
| multitudes, we are assured, were assembled on
the bridge to see us pass by. Indeed, we saw
, one poor half-drowned old gentleman-the sub