National Republican., 1883-04-28
A REAL ESTATE BOOM.
What the Dealers Say in Regard to the Con-
ditiOn Of the Market
Some Brief Interviews in Which May be
Found Considerable Information
a New Church 10 be Built Distinguished Promoters
Of the Scheme
Some New buildings TO he Erected In Va
rious Parts OF the City.

The activity in the real estate market still
continues, and all the real estate men are full
of business. Mr.. ]. V. N. Huyck told RE-
PUBLICAN reporter yesterday that he had just
been making up list of sales which he had
made within the past two months. 81 find"
said he, "that have sold nearly 100000
worth Of real estate. That don't look as if 1
had been idle does Il? The market has a
moro healthy tone than for years People of
means from abroad have heretofore had
an idea that the real estate market Of WASH
ington was more of q fancy institution
than asolid affair. They believed that money
put into real estate was difficult to get out
that il could not readily be turned over, but
now they recognize the fact that the market
ia bona fde matter. have had three differ
ent gentlemen from Brooklyn TO see me this
week with money to invest in real estate, and
have applications from gentlemen Of means
and high standing from all sections Of the
country. The market Is firm, and, in my
opinion, on tho rise. There isa great demand
for both improved and unimproved property.
Besides the sales which have already men,
toned / have given the refusal for thirty
days of property to the amount of over
100000
Messrs. Ryon & Tracy, No. 513 Seventh
street northwest, said that sales had been
active, and there was quite demand for
Nuplbul lhclo
more active demand Tor property on the HILL"
said they, "if the commissioners would ex-
tend the improvements which that section
needs. There is necessity for sewerage
up there, for now there are many eligible
squares where If man wants to build he
must extend the sewerage for some distance
at his own expense. Still there is q great
deal Of building going on in East Washing
ton, and the houses are readily taken.
Capitol hill affords tho best opportunity for
investment in real estate, for the ground can
be bought at q figure reasonable enough to al
low a building to be put up which will yield
fair percentage by renting"
Something Of the same nature in regard to
the Capitol hill property was said by Mr..
Charles Handy, who stated that he had had
more inquiries for Capitol hill property this
spring than for the past five years. He, how
over thought that the northwest was the
location most sought Those who were
wealthy went there because they could afford
it, and those in moderate circumstances
wanted to go there so as to bo near wealthy
neighbors. These persons are decidedly per-
sistent in their inquiries and want to get q
$4,000 lot for $4,000. Mr.. Handy was found
to be as busy as young, energetic man of his
weight had any right to be.
Messrs. Tyler & Rutherford had had many
inquiries in regard to property, principally
in the northwest, and everything betokened
In reference to building they thought that
the high price of labor operated somewhat
against the extensive erection of houses, as
the best bricklayers get $5 day, and those
less skilled "a. They also referred to Capitol
hsll, and said that there had been some talk
of building an apartment house in that sec
tion, and that two or three sites had already
been examined.
Messrs. w. p. Young, Thos. J. Fisher & Co.,
John Sherman & Co., Danenhower a. Son,
B. II. Warner and l.. NJ. Saunders q Co.,
all testified to the activity OF the market, and
stated that the inquiries which were made
were not confined to residents but that
wealthy men from eastern and western cities
had come here for the express purpose of in
vesting their money in real estate. Many OF
these gentlemen propose to build handsome
residences here, and to occupy them during
the winter; but that in many instances the
purchases were made as investments, which
1t was believed would yield good returns.
Mr.. John A. Prescott was found indus
triously talking real estate with wealthy
gentleman from Boston, and after The Re-
PUBLICAN man got show at him he con-
frmed the statements of other real estate
men as to the great demand for property in
this city, and, referring to the incident of the
large rise in a certain piece of property in
the northwest mentioned in last Saturdays
REPUBLICAN, said, "I can tell you of a
larger rise than that. You know where the
Church of the Holy Cross isP Well, that
triangular piece of ground was originally
purchased for $500, and now have standing
offer of $4,000 for it,"
A NEW CHURCH PROJECT.
An enterprise of considerable importance
TO the northwestern section of the city is now
under way. The initial steps have been
taken for tho erection of a Presbyterian
church at the corner of Eighteenth and
Rfrapta The mOynmaut iuallpurutal hy
n number of residents of that locality who
are remote from any church of the Presbyte.
rian denomination, and 1t has received
the sanction and support of some
members of tho New York Avenue
Presbyterian church, who recognize the
crowded condition of that parish, and who
are willing to assist in the new enterprise,
Whether thoy themselves shall worship in
the IA ~ church or retain their membership
in the New York Avenue church. There Is
not the slightest dissatisfaction with the
church or its pastor on the part of any who
have entered into the new enterprise.
At the first meeting there was present
among others Mr.. Justice Strong, Mr.. Justice
Matthews, Chief Justice Drake, Hon. James
q. Blaine, Gardner c. Hubbard, NJ. w. Gait,
William NJ Gait, Admiral Colhoun, Admiral
Carter Judge Snellaberger, James H. Fitch,
Otis Bigelow, William Ballantyne, Reginald
Fendall. A subcommittee was appointed
CONSISTING Ol MI JuStlCe SlrOuBj IlOu. James
G.. Blaine, Gardner q. Hubbard, William M.
Gait, William Ballantyne, and James H.
Fitch to solicit subscriptions and to secure
the lot which had already been selected.
This lot has a frontage of 79l feet on
Eighteenth street and l15 feet on N street.
It is proposed TO erect n stone church edifce,
complete in every appointment, and capab G
of seating 1000 persons. There will be suf-
ficient room for parsonage in the rear OF
the church. The whole cost of the improve
ment will be about 100000.
The promoters of this enterprise have no
particular man in view as pastor, and that
Important matter will be left to the decision
of the majority of the parties joining the new
society.
NEW BUILDINGS.
Among the recent improvements may be
mentioned that of the National Union Insur-
ance company, which is entirely home in
stitution and which deserves great credit for
the handsome improvement of their Office
building, No. CAB Louisiana avenue, and ii
their example should be generally emulated,
the business portion of the city would soon
rank as the resident part, at present. as high
for artistic beauty as any city in this country.
Tho work was designed by and the con-
struction carried out under the superintend-
ence of Glenn Brown, architect 6O7 Louisiana
avenue. The work under Mr.. Browns man
agement was completed for less than the
amount appropriated for the purpose An
instance of this kind happens so rarely that
IL seems worthy of notice.
The front is built of press prick, orna-
mented with Ohio stone and nodded terra
Gotta and brick. The brick work is laid in
red mortar, which forms pleasant contrast
with the gray Ohio stone, and bronze green