National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-09
OUR GROWING CITY.
SOME NOTES ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS.
Talks with Real Estate Men, Architects, and
Bailders-A Grand Opers-House Looming
Up in the Future Folks Who Are
Buying and Building.

that there is like activity among the architects
| and builders. Nearly all the investments made
have permanent character. The record of sale
| of building lot is generally followed immedi-
| ately by an application for building permit.
| Many fine residences are now in course of con-
struction and under contract, and the Architects
are busy drawing plans for new residences, which
viii soon be put under contract The real esfale
men are all well pleased with the present aspect
of the market.
THE REAL ESTATE NEy.
Mr.. Brown, of the firm of Fitch, Fox & Brown,
said to REPUBLICAN reporter, There is mueh
activity, and a great many mcre pur-
chases than at the same time last year. Ana
these purchases are not speculative. People are
coming here and buying ground to build on"
Mr. John Sherman, the real estate agent in the
ST. Cloud building said that the real estate market
had decided upward tendency. There had not
been so much building in Washington since 1873.
and even now the supply of houses was not equal
to the demand. What was most needed here are
small buildings of seven eight rooHs, suitable
for families, and no need fear that this class
of buildings would be drug on the market.
Ground was higher than ever before, and owners
of improved property experienced no difficulty in
disposing Gift at good rental.
Mr.. r. o. Hoffman was found by REPUBLICAN
reporter yesterday up 10 his eyes in business but
agreed with the statements of other real estate
agents that business in his line never so good
as at present He favored the building Of houses
for families at moderate rental-S25 or $50 per
month. This would not come hard upon Gov
eminent clerk at 81 200 per year and he had under
consideration several plans for property of this
description. A first-class house of eight to ten
rooms could be built at cost of 5000, includ-
ing the ground, and would be found good in
vestment. The class Of buildings now being put
up were at once an ornament and credit to Wash
ington.
THE BUILDERS AND ARCHITECTS.
Mr.. John C. Hardness, the well-known contrae-
tor, stated that the building boom" bids fair to
eclipse any previous effort in Washington and
especially in first class structures. He was opposed
TO the for houses of the Queen Anne STYLE in
which the windows were made too small, and
thought that their owners would tire of them in
few years and put in more sensible patterns.
Washington was rapidly building up, and in the
course of few years would be unriyaled for the
splendor of its dwellings and public buildings.
Mr.. W. J. Kenderdine, of the firm of Robert Da-
wilson & Co., said that in all his experience he
had never seen building SO brisk. He had recently
visited number OF other cities, but nowhere had
he witnessed such building prosperity as in Wash
ington. His firm were estimating for several new
buildings in the West Eud to be built Immediately,
at prices ranging from $4,000 upward. The class
Of people now building houses here are among the
most substantial in the country and they were in
vesting their money with view to having good
returns.
Mr. William NJ Poindexter the architect, who
has several buildings on hand said that the season
had opened well, and there undoubtedly would be
great deal of building.
Mr.. John Frazier also testified TO the general ac-
tiyity among the builders.
THE BOON" AND THE woRKMEN.
prominent architect and builder said to RE-
PUBLICAN reporter who was making inquiries
These publications viii have bad effect in one
way. Journeymen carpenters and others will get
it into their heads that there is to be great deal
of building and they will strike. The result VII
be that the cost of construction will be increased
that men who have intended to build will button
up their pocket-books. These wOrkmen get poor
pay enough, and am with them, but they IN
reasonably expect to advance prices suddenly
twenty five or thirty per cent and the trade cannot
stand any such jump. If they were reasonable
they would advance prices q little at time until
they received what they thought was fair"
PEOPLE WHO ARE BUILDING.
Messrs. John Sherman & Co., st. Cloud Building,
have recently built N street, ct the corner OF
Connecticut avenue at total cost of $4,000 four
fine residences the corner one of which they have
sold to DR.. Evans, of Paris France; the adjoining
TO General f. J. Lippitt, and the third to Mrs
Saxton. Among other properties they have sold !
for the Messrs. Cammack the lots on the north |
east corner of Fourteenth and Corcora1 streets on
which they are building for the owners six three
story and basement buildings, all in modern style
making very attractive and desirable residences |
The cost will be $4,000. They have also sold to |
James G. Payne, esq auditor of court, for $780,
that eligible property at the southwest corner of |
and Corcoran streets, on which he |
proposes at an early day to erect fine resi- |
dence, for which plans are being prepared.
Among the residences which Mr. C. y. Dutton, the |
architect, has Just finished, or which are near |
is residence on Q street, between |
Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets, for Mr.. Bene-
dict, passport clerk of the State Department. The
house is of pressed brick and brown stone, con-
tains fourteen rooms is finished in the most arts-
tic manner and cost g. 900. Mr.. Dutton has also |
finished two residences on Rhode Island avenue, |
between Fourteenth and fifteenth streets, for a |
French lady, at a cost of $4,000; for Mr. D. b. |
Croft corner of Eighth and streets, row of six |
dwellings, containing eight rooms each and every |
sanitary convenience perfectly finished and de- |
signed to meet the greatest want-snian houses |
well planned. This cost Sl4 ,000 and ncarya all
the houses have been sold or contracted for. |
Mr.. Dutton has also commenced the erection for |
MI D. B. Croft row offive houses on Sixth street,
between and N streets This row. which will |
cost about s25,G00 is designed for clerks resi- |
Also residence Of pressed brick and brownstone |
for Mr. Edward Harper, on Vermont avenue and |
I street. to cost 5000. For Mr. d. B. Croft a !
dwelling of thirteen rooms at the corner of Eley- |
enth and 7 street, to cost 81 000 Mr.. Dutton will |
also erect handsome dwelling for Mr.. William H !
Clagett, on Sixteenth street, between K and L |
streets. The house viii be in pressed brick and |
brownstone, finished in hard wood; IS by 20 |
feet, and cost $4,000 He has made plans for |
r.,
The Washington bar, and for residence for Mr.. |
Jensen on street.
Messrs. J. L. Smithmeyer & Co., the architects |
are erecting two residences On Connecticut ave- !
nue. TO cost 600 to s1s0OO and three residences
on street. between Sixteenth and Seventeenth |
streets, to cost $500 or 5000.
MI. S. s. Hoover is about to erect three two-story
and basement houses on Fifth street, between o /
and streets northwest. They will be of brick, |
with bay windows in the 'front.' fiat roof and wood !
corniciDg, and are to cost s, 500
A PROPOSED GRAND OPERA HOUSE
Every year adds something to the metropolitan |
character of Washington. One of the greatest pro-
jects of improvement for the present year is the /
erection of grand opera house, which will be in
keeping with the general character of the Capital
and with the spirit of the times For several years
there has been talk about the possibility of such
an opera house being erected, and proposition
has been made to build one by subscription.
4 number of gentlemen have now interested them
selves in the matter and there is probability that
will be accomplished speedily. Mr.. W.
W. Corcoran has made liberal offer, with the view
of having the opera house built on the ground at
the corner of Vermont avenue and street, adjoin-
ing the Arlington Hotel. The Johnson Mansion,
now occupying the site named, would of course
have to be torn down. Max Strskosch, the we'll
known manager, is interested in the pro-
ject The building, it is said, will be erected
entirely by New York capitalists Plans for the
building have been perfected by Architect J. L.
Smithmeyer. Il is TO have an ornamental front,
with porte-cocberes on both Vermont avenue and