Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-30
THE GROWTH OF WASHINGTON
Half Million or More Dollars in Buildings
Than Last Year,
The Northwest Section-The Central Part-The
Northeast and Southwest Portions.
A Great Demand for Houses to Rent
T II E UTURE OF THE CITY.

A western "rustler" whom a recent writer
described as a yoluble gentleman employed to
post strangers upon the desirability Of certain
localities as a place Of residence and investment,
would find scope for the display of his powers
in booming this city more varied and extensive
than even the prolific west could afford. His
labor would not be purely one of the imagina-
tion, and there would not be that chilling con-
tact with the actual to cool the impetuous
ardor of his soul He could claim. with little
or no protest. that it was now the
most beautiful city in the world. and
when he came TO speak of the ru-
ture. no rhetorical establishment, nor imagi-
native flightneed dim the luster Of his prophetic
eye without the eminent services of rust
Ter, or of any fastidrus assistance each year
witnesses greater investments of capital and
the erection OF more houses and places of bust
Ness IN this city than the previous one These
statements are an open book. known and read
OF all men that take the trouble to Use their
eyes as they go about the city. In spite of the
fact that there was an advance OF - per cent in
the cost of building last spring. operations were
begun and continued all summer; and the fall
witnesses the finishing touches being put upon
elegant residences cOmmOdIOuS places of buSi-
ness and new churches the enumeration of
which presents an astonishing SUN total of
wealth and magniticence. Yet the complaints
that were SO frequently heard i'm the early part
of the season that
THE ADVANCE IN THE COST OF LABOR AND MA
TERIAL
would tend to check building were well founded,
and are believed to have been fully realized
The facts and figures demonstrate however
that this has not been an idle year. and that in
spite of higher prices improvements have been
pushed forward. The statement OF the building
Inspector is of interest showing that while a
larger number of permits for buildings were
taken out last year than this, yet the value of
the buildings this wear was something like
half million of dollars in excess of that of last
year. The erection of handsome homes here by
wealthy people throughout the country is the
fulfiment of the expectations of those who
have at all interested themselves in the growth
and future Of the capital city. The prophecies
have become facts. as any one can see who will
walk or drive through
THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF THE CITY
The varied and graceful forms of architecture
that are seen on every hand. and the solid and
elegant style IN which the designs are executed
testify, not only to the wealth. but to the taste
ofthe builder There is hardly style of modern
house building which cannot find its type here
and the immense variety is a source of constant
remark from the visitor. The line of habitation
Is being pushed TO the west and north so
rapidly that now the limit is placed by some as
far as the KaOrama Heights
A prominent architect, in conversation with
STAR reporter. said: Where it will end, no man
knows, but what will be the result in beautify-
Ing and adjoining this city any one even with
out prophetic eye, can look around him and
eee- The rows of stately houses the graceful
groups of luxurious homes that are spreading
out on all sides, the ornate and diversified ar
chifeeture, will unite in making this place not
only the handsemest. but the most picturesque
city on the continent"
While the operations that are going on In the
northwestern portion of the city are attracting
great deal of attention to that locality still the
material progress is not confined there Build
Ing il going on
ALL OVER THE CITY,
and many locations which have been neglected,
and in which property has deprecated. are now
looking up and sharing in the general real estat o
advance The prospect, that now something
viii be done to remedy the great evil arising
from the existence of the long stretch of low
lands on the river front, will throw open to
Improvement vast area of land which was once
The aristOcratic portion of the city All the land
south of the Avenue will be greatly enhanced in
value, and will be available for building DUR
poses Even the neglected Van Ness mansion.
0fwhich in JacksOn's time it was said mo Young
lady was considered IN society until she had tai en-
her degree at the Van Ness house." NAV be re-
stored to something of its former glory. and the
dences.
THE COST OF LAND
ID reasonable and, compared with other cities.
much more moderate. Fancy prices for land
seldom reach high figure-s5 or So per foot
being about the high-water mark. which is but
rarely either asked or received While it is not
expected that there viii be very much building
this fall, vet the lveiiest kind of boom Is pre-
oicted in thes spring Real estate men are flooded
with demands for houses for rent and they at
tribute this great demand partly to the influx of
new population brought here by the large
number OF new appointments made in the gov
ernment departments and partly to the promo
tions- The increased salaries have enabled
many TO give up boarding and begin hOusekeep-
Ing. The market for houses of moderate
rental from $50 to $50 per month was never
better, and this increased demand will have the
effect of divertng capital to real estate and
largely adding to the building operations of the
next spring. These building operations will not
be confined to the erection of costly residences
Tor the market for cheap. well built houses for
renting purposes affords more favorable oppOr-
tunty TO investors than most anything else
The. following record of the summer will be
found of interest,"
IN THE CENTER AND NORTH.
The store of Lansbureh & Bro, on 7th street
between ID and E streets at the cost of $50 600:
dwelling house Of C. v. Riley, at 18th and R
streets northwest, S25. eco; Office building of
Mary A. Cushing. F. between 9th and 10th
streets, e, 500; houses Of w z. Particle, Pierce
street, between 14th and 18th, $4,000. house of
Com. +. p. b. Safds, Connecticut ave-
nue., between NJ and streets northwest,
$4,000; residence OF N. l.. Anderson corner
10th and n streets, ga. 600; four dwellings OF
John Sherman, on 18th street, between
street and Massachusetts avenue, 81. 900:
chapel OF the Central Presbyterian church north
east corner Sd and streets northwest $4,000:
residence OF Mrs. Elizabeth v. Luttrell, Massa-
chnsetts avenue, near 10th street 50 OOO:
dwelling OF John L. Lehman corner 18th and I.
streets northwest, $1,000 Universalist church
corner 18th and i. streets northwest. S35 COO
the building for post office purposes at corner
OF Sth and streets, built by Il w Hooe. cost
Ing $4,000; building OF G. Hillyer O. between
10Th and 2lst streets. Sl6300 store and ware
house of Mrs. FitZhugh CoyIe, F. .be-
tween 9th and 10th streets northwest.
$4,000; two dwellings of j. j. Shedd.
O, between 18th and 10th streets. $40. 600:
dwelling of VIM Ballantyne. Vermont avenue.
between and o streets northwest Sill 600:
dwelling of j. III. Plummer III street between
10th and Goth streets northwest $500; stable
OF Jerome BOnaparte, between 10th and nth