National Republican., 1883-03-03
MORE IMPROVEMENTS.
What is Being Done by Architects and Builders
in the City.
Houses that are Already in Process Of
Erection or are Projected
What was Gathered by "The Republicans" Real
Estate Man During The Week
Interesting Facts Relative 10 the Necessity
OF a New Assessment OF Property.


Che current week shows that the activity in
building operations is unabated, and that the
character of the work already done and of
that which Is projected is much better than
in former years in this city. There is, how
ever a constant demand which seems to bc
unappreciated by capitalists and builders for
houses Of moderate and small size, for sale or
for rent, of the kind that could be purchased
by persons of limited means upon easy terms
in semi-annual or quarterly payments in lieu
of rent or where the rent for respectable
looking house of small size, convent
ont and comfortable, would not swallow
up the principal part of work
ingman's income, or force persons who
are inclined to rear families dccently into
tenement houses, flats, or attics This por-
tion Of the building problem has been solved
in other cities, especially in Philadelphia, and
ii Is believed that IL would be good thing
pecuniarily, and philanthropic act for some
man with the requisite amount Of means to
try the venture in this city.
There are persons desirous of investing in
real estate here who apparently are holding
back, hoping TO see reduction in material
and labor. They prefer to keep ground un-
productive and to continue paying taxes
upon IL to an outlay for improvement. This
is mistaken policy, for the gradual but steady
flow of capital into the city by reason of the
accession of new residents keeps up the de-
mand for modern dwellings.
A HANDSOME RESIDENCE.
Mr. Christian Rupert has the plans pre-
pared for very handsome private residence
on Sixth, near i street northwest, with q
stable on the alley in the rear. The house
will have front on Sixth street of 2S feet,
and depth Of ~ feet. 1t will be three stories
high, with q basement under the entire BUILD
ing The front Is imposing, being constructed
of Connecticut brown stone and ornamental
press bricks, with large bay window and a
portico of brown stone, with polished Scotch
granite columns, The front throughout, in
Guiding the cornice, will be orna-
mentcd with terra Gotta ornaments made
from original designs by the architect.
In the basement will be large billiard room,
laundry, store room, cellar, and heating and
yentilating apparatus, and coal cellar. The
first story will contain large parlor, dining
room, kitchen, pantry, conservatory, Office,
dressing room, and freproof vault. In the
second story there will be four large bed
rooms, alcoves, bath room, presses, and dress
ing rooms connected with each chamber.
Each dressing room will have washstand
supplied with hot and cold water, and all
modern improvements. In the third story
there will be three large bed rooms, linen
room, dressing rooms, and clothes presses
in connection with each chamber. The house
throughout will be finished in hard wood
highly polished. The parlor will be finished
in mahogony and burl amboyne, with hand
some mahogony mantel and large pier glass.
The hall and dining room will be
finished in white oak and fine figured burl
ash. In the dining room will be very elabo-
rate sdeboard, and mantel, and pier glass
and panel wainscotting, all finished in oak to
correspond with tho wood finish in dining
room, of original design by the architect.
The stairway in the hall will be of very
easy ascent and finished in oak, with hand
some newell post and balusters, with black
walnut rail. In the first story hall will be a
handsome hat rack with large mirror, finished
In oak, all of original design, to correspond
with the wood finish in hall. The Office will
be finished in fine striped black walnut and
French burl veneers. The mantel and pier
glass in office will be finished in French wal
nut, to correspond with the wood finish in
office. The conservatory in connection with
the dining room will be finished neatly and
tastily in oak, with tile floor
The second and third stories will be finished
in selected cypress lumber and western laurel
yeneers of new design. The window casing
In first story will be made so as to receive the
curtains, with ornate heads of handsome de-
sign, so as to correspond with the different
style of finish. The heating and ventilation
will be constructed on a new principle. There
are three large heating, ventilating, and foul
air shafts constructed in the center of the
house, and large fresh air supply leading TO
the furnace in cellar. The cold and foul air
will be drawn down under the floors to
the foul air room in the cellar, and there
heated and sent out through the foul air shaft
in the open air. Fresh and warm air will be
introduced in each apartment so as TO change
the air every twenty minutes throughout the
house.
Mr.. ]. G. Meyers is the architect of this fine
residence, who has designed and built some
of the finest and best finished residences in
the city.
In connection with this house on the rear
end of the lot, adjoining a thirty-foot alley,
Mr. Rupert will also build q handsome
large two story brick stable and carriage
house, with all the modern improvements.
In the first story will be q room for four car
riages, stalls for two horses, hall and feed
bins and stairway leading to second story.
In the second story will be large hay loft,
ooachmans room, granary, harness room, &c.
NEW APARTMENT HOUSES.
1t was expected that work would have
begun by this time upon the magnificent
apartment house of Lieut.. f. III. Paine, cor
ner Sixteenth and II streets, opposite Lafay-
cite square, but the plans were returned to
the architect in New York for correction,
causing delay, This gentleman, however,
obtained building permit from the office of
inspector of buildings on Thursday for his
other apartment house on the corner of
Seventeenth and II streets northwest, upon
WnlCn WOfk VIII Do uU once commenced. lnlS
will be building of six stories in height,
3Oby 100 feet. The arrangement of each floor
contains two flats, each flat embracing parlor,
dining room, three bed rooms, bath room, and
tho usual number of linen closets.
The facade OF each front will be broken up
with projecting bay windows. each IA feet
wide and ~ feet high. The corner is tur-
rVtted up with an ornamental circular tower
IL feet in diameter by l02 feet high. The
main entrance Of the building win be ON
Seventeenth street; will be approached by a
wide, easy flight ofstone steps, with handsome
porte cochere. The stairways will be con-
StTuctea in iron, with easy rises and treads,
and short platforms half up tho height of
each story. In addition to the stairway a
passenger elevator will extend to the sixth
floor. The building will be heated by steam,
and TO be completed with every modern con-
vcnienoe. The interior trimmings of the
house will be chaste and elegant, and IL will
cost about $4,000 Messrs. Gray & Page are
tho architects, and Messrs. Langley Il Gittin-
ger have closed contract with the owner for
tho building.
HOUSES IN THE NoRTHwEsTERN SECTION.
On the north half of the square between Il
and U streets on Fifteenth street-p. b. Croft
has just finished a row of eleven Houses, at a
cost of $4,000, Each is three stories with a
two story back building, and all are built
with white marble trimmings and a.win-
d0gs TO roof, except the house at the corner
Of U street. which has galvanized iron trim
mings, and is more olaborately finished in the
interior than the others. This house has
thirteen rooms, two bath rooms aud closets,
and has ON the main floor, parlor, library,
dinning room, and kitchen, with covered
PaEeh. There are three latrobe stoves heat
Iuw the rODma and baIIa thntnuohIsr auA n