National Republican., 1883-08-04
DISTRICT REAL ESTATE.
But Few Sales Being Made Now, but the Mar
ket Still Firm.
A Talk with n Prominent DoaIcr-yvbnt
the Inspector OF Buildings Says.


comes in the attention to property placed in
their hands, such as collecting rents, &c. The
largest sale of the week was made by Mcssrs
Tyler & Rutherford, who have sold the
house belonging TO Judge Wright at the
southwest corner of Eleventh and NJ streets
northwest to Mrs. Elizabeth j. Somers for
$4,000.
The building is large double house with
brick stable attached, and was built by
Judge Wright under his own personal super
vision and for his private residence. The
ground and buildings cost the judge over
$4,000, but at IL time when everything was
high.
After the death of his son Judge Wright
went to Berkeley Springs and Mrs. Somers
has since occupied the house rs young
ladies' seminary. She concluded that the
building was just adapted to her purposes,
and, therefore, sometime since made over
lures to purchase it, and the arrangements
were concluded this week.
The same firm also sold during this week
Capt. Kenninghams place at Mount Pleasant
to Mr.. Edwin Greer for 5000. This is n
comfortable suburban residence with ample
grounds.
One dealer reported that he had made three
sales last month, closed one yesterday, and
had two more on the tapis, which he expected
would result favorably.
There were also few sales Of lots on CO.
lumbian heights.
There is one thing that you must remem-
ber," said one of the Oldest real estate deal.
ers, "and that is that heretofore there has
practically been no business done at all in
real estate in the months of July and August
This year there was considerable done in
July. and there will be some done this month
Another thing the market is as firm to-day
as it was during its greatest activity in
April and May, so that is healthy sign
A new feature has arisen in this years
business which l have not seen mentioned.
Generally the inquiries for houses to rent
during the congressional season have not be-
gun until September or October, and this
year have inquiries for houses as early as
May and June. Members of congress have
called and written in regard to renting
houses for the next session. " hich will be a
long one, and in some Instances the leases
have been closed"
How do you think prices for rented houses
will be next winter"
Better than ever before. I'll give you an
instance. A member came for house fur
nshcd. We showed him one in the vicinity
of Iowa circle, at 5000 month. He thought
he could not afford to pay over $4,000 per
annum and went away hut soon returned
having found he could do no better, and took
it not only for next session but for the short
one following; that is, to March, 1855 Many
members are also investing in property here,
either buying houses or ground with the
intention of building. l tell you, sir, the
prospects of real estate in the district were
never brighter than ut present, although this
is the dull season and there are but few actual
transactions now"
reporter Of TIE REPUBLICAN, had n talk
with Inspector of Buildings Entwistle on the
subject of the condition of building at this
time, yesterday:
There is steady, encouraging movement
in real estate going on" said Mr.. Entwistle.
"You must remember that in July and
August everybody who can get away leaves
town The real estate men do not expect to
transact any business whatever in their line
during these two months, except the renting
of small houses and collection Of rents. Any
sales that may be made, therefore, are look cd
upon as exceptions, This summer, however,
the transfers of real estate have
been too frequent to be considered
exceptional cases. They are part of
the BOOM and, considering the season, you
will find great activity in the real estate
market, When l speak of transfers of
course have in my mind, primarily, the
building operations. l have just compiled
some figures for one of you newspaper men,
and you will see by looking at them how diff
ferent this year is from previous years at the
Same period. During July, the month just
closed, we issued permits for 10l new build
ings and permits for 81 repairs 155 lineal
feet of vault and awnings. The number of
new buildings shows an increase very
gratifying to those who look upon the
number of cditiccs erected as an evidence
of the city's prosperity. In July, 1850, there
were A permits issued for new buildings
during July, 1851, there were 62; during July,
1S-2, there were SO. and during July, 1888,
there were 10l. This shows, as you will see,
that July. 1885, has had more buildings com
menced for erection than any previous July in
our history. 1t Is rather n singular fact that
July and August are not generally heavy
building months.
The total number of new buildings COM
menced in the months Of May, June, and
July for u few years past shows an equally
surprising and satisfactory result. During
these three months in 1851 there were 2O3
new buildings; in 1882 206, and in this year,
31S.
These figures effectually contradict any
theory that the prevailing high prices, un-
just assessments or anything else cripple the
growth of the city.
The total number of permits for new build
ings issued during the fiscal year 1881 was
$50; during the fiscal year 1882 it was G99
andduring the fiscal year closing June30, 1888,
IL was JiO. huu lltSt DullulnSS arc All, OI
very nearly, Of houses and buildings that are
ornaments to the city.
Mr.. Jacob Wolisteiner is erecting a new
store ON Seventh street, South Washington
which will add decidedly to the improvement
of that neghborhood and section. 1t will be
two stories high, faced with brick moldings
of fancy designs. The lower story will be
used as u business establishment and the upper
two rs n re-ideucG.
Tho inspcctOruf buildings granted permit
yesterday for tho erection OF the Columbian
university building ut the corner of fifteenth
and II streets northwest. The cost of the
building is put at $4,000, but it 10 probable
that when finished it will approximate $780,
600, as IL is the intention of the building com,
mittce 20 put tho very best work on the build
ing. The plans were drawn by Mr.. William
NJ. PoindcXter, architect, and Mr.. w. G.
Morrison is tho builder. A full description
of the building when completed has already
been given in The REPUBLICAN, and nceC
not be given again. The foundation eXcaya
ton, which was commenced some time ago, Il
again receiving the attention of number
of workmen, and everything will be ready
for the masons and bricklayers very soon
The lot measures one hundred and thirty-on
by one hundred and fifty-four feet, Th
building will be l2l feet front by GAY deep
with an annex 33 feet by 80, and both mali
building ana annex will be four stories high
some a. feet. This measurement is from th
level of the sidewalk to the highest part o
the wall, while from caves to sidewalk it will
he G- Ippt This nilnr1s nlanty of rnnn fn