Smyrna times., 1883-04-25
Flush Times in Washington.
THE COSTLY HOMES OF PUBLIC SER
WANTS WHO HAVE GROWN
RICH ON SMALL.
SALARIES.

ms is period OF unequalled pros
perity for Washington. At no pre-
vious time has there been so much a
building. The structures, which are y
largely private residences, indicate the ;
solid character of the population. a
Many of them are expensive. Business
although they have increas-
ed and are increasing, do not by any =
means keep pace with those of homes J.
for the growing population. =
In the first place there are the So
called political mansions, built by per-
sons who have either grown rich in !
the public service or were rich when ,
they entered it, such as Blaine's, Win. {
dom's, Robeson's, Van Wyck's, Pendle- !
tons, Camerons, and others. OF this
class Mr.. Blaine's house is at present
the finest. But it will be strange if it (
long remains so, for what excelled last
year is excelled this year, and what
this year is the finest will be cast in
the shade next year 1t is difficult to
fix the limit. At present there is no
positive rage for out-doing all previous
attempts. The externals go for good
deal in Washington as we'll as else
where. At the capital, to entertain is
to get on the track of fashion and into
society.
1t may be said that the fine resi-
dences, built and building, are from
long purses we'll filled. How the
purses were filled this is no place to
inquire.
After the class Just considered, CON-
posed for the most part of persons |
either lately or now connected with |
the Government in some form, but |
| largely of Senators, ex-Senators, Con- |
gressmen, or ex-Congressmen, comes |
another and more numerous set, peo-
pie from almost every quarter of the |
country, who, for variety of reasons.
have selected Washington for a resi-
dence. but mainly because they like
the kind of life they find here, and
because here, without much trouble,
they can get into good society. With
money enough to do as they choose,
they build or buy houses here, and
spend literally in adOrning them.
This is numerous class. 1t is yearly
increasing. Fine dwellings, generally
at the Court End" denote it's pres
ence. Within. its circle are professional
men, who have come hither to practice
at the courts; retired capitalists, who
want to enjoy life; ex-members of
Congress, who either had no fancy to
return to their constituents or for
whom their constituents had no
} further yearning, and who chose this
as the place for enjoying the fruits of
| good luck in Office If Washington
society is made up of layers, these form
: one'of the layers, and constitute con-
t siderable part of the whole.
Then there are department people
2 who, OE salaries ranging from s. 900 to
50, 500 and even less, have managed to
f save enough to own handsome houses
: in more or less fashionable quarters.
t The number is considerable. The
t ability to save enough to build hand
Il some house, on salaries ranging as
e above, while not, perhaps, one of the
t arts, is rare. The number who develop
S it has lately increased so noticeably
n that it is not surprising that bright and
o capable men should crowd to Wash
u ingtOn in search of places under the
e Government.
a OF the ten or fifteen thousand de.
Partment employees, very considera-
r. BILE part own houses. Among the con-
d spicuOus new buildings of the city are
e dwellings for persons of this class
h They fill the vacant spaces on oul
r finest streets and keep the boarding
If houses from being oVercrowded.
Ie While dwellings of the costlier sor
is constitute a decided feature of thu
present flush period, houses of nearly
u every class, except the positively poor
III are going up in nearly every part o
Of the city in about equal proportions
III | Thara ic oaipoofioY, h1,f fhora su xyapY
ID little of the spirit of mere speculation
The present growth of Washington
ly which is undoubtedly ahead of any pre-
" vious experience, is believed to be on
re solid basis, and in point Of style fa
re ahead of anything yet known.
S, A noticeable feature is the influx O
st capital from the large cities for invest
ment in structures of the more moderl
Id and expensive sort. Anumber of flats
Up or apartment houses, have reCentl
ift been projected. Experiments in thi
lis line tried within the last few year
ly have proved so successful that capita
if from New York, Boston, and othe
Ou cities is going into this kind of invest
er ment to very considerable extent
Home capital, which may be said to b
k aecumulating rapidly, is taking thi
nd direction, and the prospect is ths
Or. Washington will soon have some {
rs the finest apartment houses in tn
in country.
on OF course, the more costly improve
he ments are in what is intended to be th
'ut fashionable quarter: but there is a di
is position to seek other directions. Re;
ur estate everywhere is receiving an in
,xt petus natural and healthy. The breaC
up regular and well-kept streets, wit
'ur their tens of thousands of shade tree
nd go great way toward making life wort
ng living in Washington. There is Il
one great park, but there are hume
nd Gus small oRe-gems in their way.
nd a certain sense, Washington itself is
-ou park. One need not desert the city
'ok find miles and miles of drives whiC
int have many of the attractions of Orn
nd mental grounds.
ley Surrounding the city is a countl
our which, in extent and kind, affor'
to scope and opportunity for the ample
and the greatest variety of improv
y ment. That the surrounding ridg
and slopes within the District, an
ou across the Potomac in Virginia, will
oor no distant day be the seats of palati
W. residences there can be little questio
iii, -NesU York Sun.
tire