Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-28
LETTERS FROM rHB PEOPLE.
The Real Estate BOOM,

Efstor S7ar:-Judging from the large and
n saes OF unmpr0yed real estate lately
portion, It Is evident that the real ESTATE .hoom-
has at length reached Washington. The pur.
those made for speculative purposes BY narsses
unwilling to accept the per cent interest paid
by Government bonds and even having to nav
70 get AND those maSe for
tafnly our wonderful climate and the innumer-
able and growing attractions OF our city are
iainly has experience shown that no Investment
In the end is so secure and remunerative as real
estate. Ia view Of these facts we may consider
tass ae ana aST real %
apropos to this subject let me say
that 1t strikes residents Of other cities with
surprise that our beautiful suburbs are not more
i ry made use OF by gentlemen OF means. In
Montreal. Canada, the finest residences are on
the mountain, and In Hamilton, Canada, they
are on the hill side. There could be no finer site
anywhere for residence than on the side or
summit OF the hill running from It'll street to
Rock creek. Buyers are evidently awakening to
th,s TACT, 1t IS true, as we are informed that
plans have been prepared for three fine resi-.
dences on the college Hill Grounds With
ground Obtainable at from twenty five to fjfty
cents per foot as against 81 per foot Just paid
for ground in the northwest section, almost as
far from the central portion of the city, we may
soon expect to see the city skirted with fine
residences. +.
Night Accommodating Reservoirs.
Editor star: II is stated In THE STAR that the new
printing building will consume 50 much water
as to seriously decrease the quantity for general
use IN south Washington: to remedy which it Is
proposed to dig we,l, at a cost OF 5000 or to
lay large pipe nom the building along Virginia
avenue TO the Inch main at the Observatory,
which helped to lay 81 yeaIS ago, this last 10
cost 900. The well would perhaps be the
best plan, or large tank could be bullion the
back part Of the building to Pc ed a.
Ing to be filled at night from the main and
pumped In the day time, to supply the building.
Either of these plans would not decrease the
water for general use; but man to ObseI va
tory hill would, as it would take this quantity
of water from the general circulation in the day
time, when it was the most needed in the higher
parts OF the CITY, 1t would be the same as the
recent connections to supply Capitol HILL which
has increased the water In that locality but has
decreased 1t to the northwestern part OF the
city; that is, 1t has paid Peter but robbed Pau.
The fact is that all such plans including the
stand-pipe will not increase the quantity OF
water, but only change its locality, and then they
are costly. There should be night accumulatng
reservoir of two to three acres on one OF the un-
graded high squares east Of the Capitol, and one
of five to ten acres on the heights to the north OF
the city, into which the water would run OF
night when the pipes are full and unused, to rum
out during the day when the pressure was with
drawn hr use, and thus to supply an abundance
OF bettf settled water and at cost of onlyT5 900
for each of these reservoirs. The fact Is that
full two-ffths of the present power of the acque-
duct is now lost. by not utilizing it at night by
ultdIS VI TeSeTNOlf3, ana Lnen tlle
water is muddy full one-thrd of the time, which
the reservoirs would help to SETTLE And when
the Observatory Is removed, a night accumula-
ting reservoir should be put on this hill to help
supply the city, in place Of cutting 1t down to
I'LL "a the flats, as proposed, as the river is FILL
Ing up too fast already for the navigation. have
proposed this plan OF two night accommodating
reservoirs to the Senate committee ON the water
supply, in place OF another large main, ID cost
100000, at the present high prices Of iron, or
In place of the Meigs plan to extend the conduit
to Washington Heights, at a cost of 81 500, 900,
including reservoir, and dam at Great Falls.
Ard my plan, to cost so much less, will be ne
ceSSary with either Of these plans, In order to
keep the water in constant motion in the pipes,
night as well as day, to keep mud from settling,
and the fire hydrants and small pipes from
freezing and bursting In winter. with great cost
for plumbing, and damage to goods and furni-
ture. And, lastly have proposed this same
plan for free swimming bath, OF half an acre,
on Armory square, the bath to be drawn of
and filled from the mains late at night, so as
not to decrease the water for general use In the
day time. New York has eight free baths, Bos-
ton three, Philadelphia has just ordered two,
and should not Washington have one?