National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-08-16
THECITY'S PROGRESS.
THE MARCH OF IMPROVEMENTS

Massachusetts Avenuc-'" /
mcut, tarn.--Piat- and Feefwnihs-r"o
New Ur,de.-Thc Louise Home-scna-
-. s,.,y,r,,s ,ten-ion-N street North
.p,,Jc Island Avcnue-O and y
streets.
=, opr notes OF the improvements recently
m.Ie IN this city, Published In the RxrrBLichN
last Saturday, we traced the footprints OF ouI
modern civilization through l. and Nj streets
from Georgetown eastward to their Intersection
with Fourteenth street. At the point wnete tut
aforementioned streets meet we found inc RESI-
dence OF Senator Morrill,, Of vermont, anu ,no
reservation secured by ex-Mayor h"''' 'o' III"
future palatlal home. ---,,
Intersectlng Fourteenth street here, and meet
ing NJ street at q triangular point, Is
MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE,
one Of the widest aud most attractive OF our |
modernlzed streets, stretching from New jersey
avenue, on which the Baltimore and ohio rail-
road depot fronts, to Georgetown. From Four
,eenth street to Georgetown this avenue Is sup
plIed with a concrete carrlageway OF about NIFTY
feet In width. Between this and the footwalks,
OF tho same material, Is a grass plat OF about nv
feet In WIDTH In which at short intervals distan'
one from the other Ia q row Of linden uees,whil'
on the side OF the pavement nearest the build
ing line IA grass park OF forty feet In width, on
the pavement edge OF which another row OF lin'
dens gracefully bow to each approaching
wind. when these trees shall have attained
their mature growth the concrete pavement will
he arched by their overhanging branches, ano
wrapped In constant shade. Bat few OF OUT
streets have been flashed In this elaborate man
ner, with a double parking and double row o
shade trees on each side. Provided this parking
Is kept In proper order, the plan will prove well
worthy Of the expense.
Ga the rlght-haud side OF Massachusetts, ave-
nue., just west OF fourteenth street, are the ele-
CANT homes OF Nj. Fox, Of the arm OF Fitch
Fox, and Thomas u. Bryan, president OF INT
Fidelity safe Deposit Company, OF chicago, b.
whom the entire Enclosure was purchased In 1867
OF the estate OF Charles Hill, well known TO
washingto niaus As a prominent citizen OF Mary
land who resided here during the winter. lie
hid the entire tract OF lani incio'cd by "a high
brick wall as far a. tho corner OF n and Four.
tcenth streets, where his stables stood.
The Hill residence has been entirely rcmodeleu
apd enlarged by Its present occupants anu own
ems, and converted into two spacious dwellings.
These, with the four-story and Mansnrd ROOF
residence Of Commodore II. A. Amy, OF the navy
stand upon hill several feet above the street
grade, and perhaps seventy-nye feet from the
building line, the front space being carpeted Will
rich growth OF lawn grass, the sosey-cut sur
face OF winch Is embowerei meath the close
shade OF ornamental trees, which AID greatly 70
the attractions OF these beautiful homes.
The house owned by Commodore Almy Is Tor
sale by Messrs. Fitch 4 Fox, At a cost OF about
$1,000. Il has every modern improyement,with
ample stable accommodations In the rear, APP
preached By an alley from Fourteenth street.
Theso gentlemen also have for sale the aijoin-
ing unmproved grouad west OF the Amy resi-.
dence, anl In the SANE square, which Is held a.
50 per square foot.
The Board OF Public Works reduced the grad
OF the square over ten feet, to make It conform
to the uniform grade Of the aycnuc, and LETT INT
building lots and residences on the square Toe
elevated for convenience and beauty. stone
wall OF an average height OF six feet has JUS
been built on the inner edge OF the pavement
along the whole square, TO whose top the BANK
several feet higher will be gracefully sloped 10
the terrace style, while at the top OF the slope b
carriageway has been made, approachable MON
either end OF the square for vehicles by an up-hil
grade, aud convenient OF access for pedestrian
at several points In It's length by massive granite
steps OF ten feet In width leading from the pave
ment below.
While this improvement has caused much
complaint against the Board OF Plollc WORKS
from the owners OF houses In the centre ant
highest portion OF the square, 1t has besutined
this square as well as enhanced the appearance
OF the entire avenue. Thc spirit OF accommoia-
ton manifested by the board In providing the
upper carriageway and ready means OF approach
toit-before described-ls In tn highest degree
commendablc as illustrative OF desire to MAXI
the changes In our city as far consistent with TIT
interests OF individual property-holiers as the
general welfare will permit.
On tho next square westward OF Massachusetts
avenue we Ind the southern side entlrsiy occu.
pied by tae
LOUISE HOME,
which Is one OF the many munnccnt charities OF
WV Corcoran, esq, after whose only daugh
ter, the wife OF Hon. Mr.. Eustlcc, OF Louisiana
It has been called.
The building which this Institution, bette
known to the public Us the wldows Home, &C
cuples Is four stories and basement, with NJ an
aard roof, centre portco and turret, with spa
clous rounded bay window and porch frontlnI
east, which IA entered from the elegant parlor o
the hom3, In which the beautiful features o
Mr.. Corcoran's daughter look down smilingl!
from the canvas as II In appreciation OF the es
tabllshment OF this blessed monument to he
memory. The inside construction and arrange
ment OF the building Is peculiar, but doubles
convenient. Tho rooms are arranged aroun
the four sides In the form OF hollow square
and are reached by IN sans OF galleries. or veran
das running round the entire inside ono abov
the other for its several stories, from whc
doors lead direct TO the apartments occupied b
the ladies. The entire interior Ia lighted frof
the roof by means Of glass covering to the top O
the hollow square referred to, somewhat ate
the style OF the Ca pltol library.
The institution, while bearing the charitabl
title OF the Widows Home, Is not such In th
general understanding OF the term. Indulgence
ob.curlty or misfortune constitute the mean
of entrance to the bOunties OF this elegant home
Preferment OF Mr.. Corcoran, and designation b!
him or the majority Of q board OF trustees con
slsting OF twelve OF our most prominent an
opulent citizens, and entire acceptance to a
the inmates Of the home, are the only guaran
ices OF admission. These are known to depen
largely upon pedigree, personal culture, an
long as well es favorable acquaintance with tn
founder and supporter OF the home or majorit
Of It's trustees. Its comforts may thus be re
garded as a charity prescribed by such rules an
restrictions rs to make It rather the inheritance
of misfortune in fashionable life than the pos
session OF the needy. Thus far, since Its organ
izatlon, not over twenty-five OF the many appli
canta have ever gained admlttance to the home
one OF whom died while an inmate Of II, an
another, we learn, was dismissed, or requeste'
to leave, for not complying with its terms OF oC
cupatlOn, namely, entire acceptance to Its othe
inmates. Thls Institution Is supported In tn
most munlncent STYLE having appropriated 70
this purposo the rent OF the Arlington house,
$4,000 per annum together with other end0w
meuts for the purpose by Mr.. Corcorin. II Ia Al
elegant Improvement for this section OF the city
and its attractive walks and gardens are condu
Give 10 health aud pleasure, as well a. benencia
to the advance OF real estate In this section o
the city.
West OF this, from Sixteenth street to Con
nectlcut avenue, which intersects It at Tween
tieth street, Massachusetts, avenue Is as ye
unlmproyed, being occupied only by the fra
tenements OF some OF our working people VIII
were fortunate enough to secure building lots I
1t some years since when ground could be bough
along this part at the most reduced rates. RI
Gently, however, the entire space which was 70
sale ha, been secured by enterprlsing specu
lators aud our wise real estate agents, and Ia noN
held at figures ranging from two to three dollar
DER foot according to location-those portions 4
liz Immediate vicinity OF the Sixteenth au
Twentieth street circles-improyed Goyernmer
reseryutions-belng held az more advance
figures than the remaining parts.
Fronting southeasteriy upon this avenue,
the Twentieth street circle, Is the
MANSION OF SENATOR STEWART,
which Is a building OF very extensive size, bul
=, .ol hrIrt IN ba finished In Imitation of stone