National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-03
DISTRICT REAL ESTATE.
GREATLY ENHANCED Value BY RE
CENT IMPROVEMENTS.

GREATLY ENHANCED TALUE BY RE-
CENT IMPROVEMENTS.
REDEMPTION OF PROPERTY BY SEWERAGE
AND SANITARY REFORMS THE OLD
NORTHERN MARKET-ELEGANT RESER-
VATIONs-BLoCKS OF MODERN RESI-
BEECEs ADoRNINGT THE FORMER swAMPS
AND MARSHES.
The record Of the operations in real estate in
Washington for the year 1873 IL complied would
constitute book yoluminous and interesting. 1t
would develop the activity Of business hereto
Tore meagre and unimportant, and show to the
public how real estate agencies have stepped into
distinct and lucrative branch Of business, en-.
gsging the more prominent professional talent Of
sur city, and locating themselves in business
tres with Offices and appurtenances, representing
lucrative trade, involving constant change and
mterchanse of properties and interests illustra.
tive Of the security and desirabilty in which real
estate Investments have been held.
4 H. AZ Sis;T:i s%s IS the s
most potent argument and substantial basis upon
which the enviable record Of the grand system of
improvements inaugurated and prosecuted by the
ten in characters chiseled deep and skillfully
upon the sepulchre of the now dead year, SO that
opinions NJ and can Se their
opponents, vscillate and frequently die by their
own unaided weakness; but facts, like noble
deeds, live in the limitless future. and gathering
strength with age constitutes an ever-speaking
eulogy to the memory of those who brought them
Inc Of hs IN
the future can point with confidence to gainsay
much Of cavil and malice expressed by disap.
into an insignificant few before the heavy cannon
ade in which the red-hot shot and shell OF stub
born facts have silenced the puissant batteries Of
Q Would-be enthusiastic enemy.
The most snowy features Of the Improvements
made in the District which seen in the beauti-
stretch in inviting beauty through the central
Portions of the National Metropolis, are not alone
those upon which encomium SHOULD oe Lreeiy
passed. There are many sections Of tine city
REpEENEp FROM ABSOLUTE NoTHINGEEss,
10 far rs regards the uses of civilization, by the
COMPREHENSIVE system of sewerage now being
finished by the skillful engineers Of the city
been turned into these conduits Of art and led
noiselessly away to the river bed at our southern
boundary, and private residences, riyaiing in
now grace the spots where two years since the
foot Of man scarcely dared to venture. Avenues
proach them from every direction. and charming
reservations unfold their emerald beauties. while
limpid waters break in rainbow hues and diamond
spray from artistic fountains
This is no fancy sketch, but is more than proven
rs q fact by the march Of Improvement along
Massachusetts and Connecticut avenues, Six
teenth and Seventeenth streets and other thor
oughfares in the northwestern section of tho city,
where palaces Ike those of Senator Stewart,
Governor Shepherd, the English Minister, Mr..
Oorcoran's widows home, and the Sumner school
building, stand as the speeches. yet convincing
witnesses to the fact that useless portion Of our
efty has become its tavorite spot for modern ele-
gance. Ground along the lines indicated, worth
Ewo years since about the equivalent of nothing,
Vs %
during the past year. at values ranging from one
dollar q foot upwards.
This is no startling exception. Go to the
NORTHEASTERN SECTION OF THE CITY,
where two years since the foul breath of the Tiber
and the poisonous fumes from tine slaughter
houses which dotted its area were the powerful
barriers to the approach Of civilization, and you
form and sk;llful engineering they have given
way TO modern Streets adorned by landscape
gardening and blocks Of handsome residences,
occupied by the most substantial of our metro |
sSioIiy settled PORTIONS Of our city, where lately
berries. It now has real estate value rivaiing |
the central portions Of the city, while unimproyed
ground is scarce until you approach the boundary
In both Of the sections referred to street rail-
roads have carried their conveniences, and con- |
nected them with any and every remote portion |
estate along their routes has justified its owners
in becoming large stockholders in these roads, |
small dividends, while behind the mcagrc sum |
derived directly from the roads, the stockholders
have realized Overcome hundred percent per an |
nun in the rise of their real estate.
Even in the
CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE CITY
he abatement of nuisances, and the Introduction
If the elegances attendant upon the late improve
nents made by the Beard Of Public Works. has
wrought an entire redemption for the purposes OF
esidenees, with corresponding rise In renl es-
One noticeable instance of this is the removal. q
n
Market house, which spread its dcformities over
most spacious reservation formed by the inter
Iection Of three streets at given point, and Dor
dering on that business thoroughfare, Seventh
street.
So radical was the change and so fierce the an
provcment, that to accomplish the grand design
our present Governor was forced to undertake the
benefcent work by night, and by the employment
Of over a hundred laborers made speedy work Of
II. The chapter that this Improvement forms in
the great record Of our advancement is too fresh
their couches by applicants for fnjunctions, the
courts were bcsieged and the legal acumen and
Of the city exhausted in behalf of com
planning huckstcrs. pork butchers and vendors of
butter and eggs, but all to avail. The genius Of
our advancing civilization had done her work of
destruction, and now her corps Of artisans with
moved tie debris and to-day the distinctive i'm
provement of the District is TO be at this spot
prominent in all its beauties, chaste as we'll
in all its finish.
sprinsing to the inspiration of this improve
n,ent, the surrounding
REAL ESTATE HAS ADVANCED
perhaps not less than IS per cent on former values
and he who gains q residence overlooking the
beauties Of this most beautiful reserve is consid
cred q favored child of fortune.
Unable to close their eyes to the unprecedented
rise in real estate consequent upon the genius and
efforts Of those charged with the municipal az
fairs, many croakers have styled these advances
Il Initiated, temporary too rapid to last, !"
hc, while each day confirms the fact that they
IRE permanent, only changing in the enhanced
figures which can adequately represent them.
But to note these special cases is only to illus
trate the general rule which prevails throughout
The entire limits of our now regcnerated city The
real estate upon the District registers to-day is
worth in the aggregate one hundred per cent. in
Excess of its value under the municipal form of
government. IT'S true that this is not proven by
The assessed values but these in very exception |
lble cases, If at all exceed fifty per cent OF the
real values by which mean the prices ut
which property is held by its owners when pur-
chase is talked of. The real value Of property is
not, as assumed by many, what it will bring
under the hammer; far otherwise, for very many
chuckle over the bargains obtained ut forced
sales when the competition has been beneath ex-
pectation and the property sacrificed
In no one respect is the history Of Washington
for the year just passed more cheerngly signih-
noEt than in the rise of its values N real