National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-16
A FRESH START.
GOSSIP ABOUT THE BUILDING BOOM.
Talks with People Who Are Posted-ImprOvements
Contemplated and In Progress-Fine DWELL
ings Now Being Erected-What Real
Estate Hen and Builders Say.

| Estate Hen and Builders Say.
The boom in building still continues,
but no large transactions in real estate have oc-
CURED within the past week Operators report the
market active and number of negotiations now
pending for desirable locations which will shortly
be made public. Mechanics of all kinds are in
demand, and the prospects for busy season are
very encouraging.
A BELIEVER IN THE BOOM.
Mr. William P. Young, of the firm of Young &
Caldwell remarked to reporter that the Garfield
boom in real estate had struck the town. Lots on
| Connecticut avenue, which sold at auction year
ago at 81 foot sold eight months ago at $50 per
foot, and are now sold at 81 per foot
The present outlook, he considered, was
very encouraging. While most of the transactions
| recently reported have been in the way of per-
manent investment there would undoubtedly
be much speculation. People were finding that
speculative investments in real estate paid better
than three and half per cent. bonds. Towns al
ways grew up river and westward, but he thought
the tide would sometimes turn back toward Capt.
toll Hill
THE STONE ESTATE.
Mr.. A. L. Barber has recently disposed of upward
of 100000 feet in the Stone property at the head of
Sixteenth street, the average price per foot being
| ten cents A number of the most desirable build
ing sites have been purchased by army and navy
officers, who propose erecting handsome dwellings
for their own use.
LOTS OF BUILDING TO BE DONE.
Mr.. Gray, of the firm of Gray & Page, architects,
stated to a REPUBLICAN reporter yesterday that
there Wasa great amount of building contemplated.
His firm, he said, had more work on hand at the
present time than during the whole last year.
DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.
You can see how these publications do injury,
remarked an architect toa scribe yesterday. The
prices of labor material already advanced,
and it is apt seriously affect the amount of build
ing. The brickmakers last night agreed to advance
the price of bricks fifty cents a thousand. Last
year there was talk about great boom and
splendid season in February. By September the
season was over"
CONTEMPLATED IMPROVEMENTS.
Messrs. Gray & Page, architects, have just COM
menced the erection of a handsome residence on
Nineteenth street, near Du Pont Circle, at a cost
of $1,000
Mr. Poindexter has completed the plans for
fine residence for Mr. Giles Blaque, to be erected
on K street. between Sixteen and Seventeenth
streets. The handsomely drawn design of the
house is on exhibition at Thompson's drug store.
A permit was issued yesterday to General
4. C. Meyers, owner, to erect three
story and basement brick house on X, between
Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets northwest.
Messrs. ]. L. Smithmeyer & Co. are the architects,
and the dwelling will be twenty four feet front with
a depth of fifty feet. 1t will have bay window
and ornamental wood projections, and finished
with all the modern improvements. Mir. Robert /.
Fleming is the builder, and the residence is estt-
mated 10 cost $1,000.
Colonel Roger Jones also obtained a permit to
build family mansion on X, between Sixteenth
and Seventeenth streets northwest. 1t will be a
comm mir IN bOISp
J. L. Smithmeyer & Co. the architects. The
building will be three stories in height, twenty
four feet front, fifty feet Deep and made of brick.
1t is TO have one bay window, ornamental projec-
tions, finished in the most improved modern style,
and to cost $1,000. Mr.. John Henderson is the
builder
A FINE MANSION.
Mr. Belden Noble, a wealthy gentleman of North
ern New York, is just completing an elegant man
sion and stable at the corner of Massachusetts, ave-
nue. and Eighteenth street, near Dupont Circle
The ground has front on Massachusetts, avenue
of so feet, Ill feet on Eighteenth street. and 100
feet on street, exclusive of the ample parking
surrounding it. The house has circumference
of about 265 feet and elevation of g. feet
from surface to top of mansion tower, showing
four fronts, finished in red brick and brown
mortar Thestyle ofarchitecture is Gothic; three
stories, basement and attic. The principal en-
preached by serpentine walks leading from Mas
sachusetts avenue and Eighteenth street to either
side of massive brown stone steps, ascending to the
vestib ule. A beautiful feature at this point is
small grotto, or drinking fountain, sunk into
front of stair-case A large veranda with steps
descending to d large octagonal bay window over
looking the conservatory. Fronting on street is
" Porte Cochere,' of red brick and brown stone.
On the main roof is a large platform 80 by
Nln n;Sr-
Georgetown, Rock Creek, and the Potomac
On each side of the main door are columns sup
porting series of ornamental arches composed
of moulded brick which rise directly over the en-
trance. The transoms and all the upper sashes of
the principal windows are glazed with cathedral
glass. A round tower of substantial design will
run up the southwest corner of the building, and
small, square tower adjoining it the right,
which is crowned with lookout platform, guarded
by balustrade. On the southeast corner is an
octagonal oriel window supported on heavy stone
corbels This window runs from the first to the
second story, forming balcony on top, affording
a full view of Dupont Circle and Massachusetts
avenue On the Eighteenth street front there is a
triangular balcony carried on an arch, and oriel
window resting on buttress OF stone, with bal
eony on top accessible from the third story. The
east front faces the garden, and presents series
of harmonious angles and curves. The main floor
is to be finished In maple, holly, ebony mahogany,
oak and cherry. The second floor in California
red wood. poplar and pine. The house will cost
si5, 900. Messrs Gray G. Page are the architects;
Messrs. Davidson & Co., the builders Messrs. Hay
wood & Hutchinson furnish the plumbing and
heating arrangements.
ARCHITECT FRAZIER on THE SITUATION
While investigating the extent of the building
boom yesterday representative of THE REPUBLI-
CAN dropped into the Office of John Frazier, esq,
one ofour leading architects, and asked that gen
tleman as to the extent and nature of his engage
ments for the present season. well
replied Mr.. Frazier, 81 have q good deal
of work in hand and projected. B. F.
Grafton, esq, of this city, has recently pur-
chased that eligible lot ON the northwest corner of
Massachusetts avenue and seventeenth streets
and proposes building an elegant and commodious
residence this season, for which have just COM
pleted the plans and specifications. The structure
will be two stories high, with basement and French
roof The outline of the building will be some
what peculiar owing to the irregular shape of the
lot 1t will front Massachusetts avenue IS feet
with depth of 81 feet. The walls will be faced |
the base courses water table, window stones, &C.,
of Hummelstown brown stone. The interior wood !
work is to be of quarered oak. yellow PINE poplar
and white pine, polished and finished in cabinet
makers finish, with the front and yestibule |
doors of cabinet oak. The house win probably be !
and ready for occupancy about the LIST |
of October next and will be in the hands of Messrs
oh nav & n IuIderS