Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-26
Washington Home. and Parks.

Ii ii.
The thanks OF ali the BostOnese.
c. BUNCoMBE L-G.
Washington Homes and Parks.
Washington Correspondence New York Times.
The national capital has become one of the fav-
ored winter resorts of the country. Wealthy gen.
tlemen from all parts of the United States come
here during the session of Congress to spend a
few weeks, and many of them bring their fam-
lies with them. This season has brought o
larger number Of visitors and sght-seers than
any past winter. The social attractions of the
capital are great. and all that is necessary to
gain admission to official circles is an introduce
ton by a Senator. Representative. or a member
of his family. There are select dinner parties
ard afternoon teas which require little finesse
to get invitations to- but they are by no means
exclusive.
There has been large investment of outside
capital in unmprOyed real estate during two
years past. All thai section of the city west of
18th street and north of Pennsylvania avenue
has Improved wonderfully since 1876 The CEN
ter of the fashionable quarter for private resi-
dences is Dupont Circle at the intersection of
New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts
avenues. This point is about three-quarters of
a mile northwest from the Executive Mansion
In 1871 the avenues and streets i'm this section
were scarcely marked out. The ground brought
a few cents square foot Now the greater
portion is covered with fine and costly resi-
dences. Vacant lots fronting on Dupont Circle
on e in the market at that price
The greater part of the land i'm the neirhbOr-
hood OF Dupont circle was bought in 1872 and
1873 by syndicate of Pacific coast capitalists,
among whom were Senator's Stewart. Sharon.
{. j. Hifyer and Judge Sunderland The manic
of 1878 crippled some of these spectators. and
they had dlfficulty In carrying their load John
B. Alley came to their assistance and made them
large loan on very peculiar terms He was to
be paid six per cent interest on the entire
a until rl,nIn
was to have entire management OF the property
with privilege to sell and retain 20 per cent of
the profits. The advance in value has been so
rapid and enormous that the original share
holders have profted largely by this arrange
ment. Mr.. Alley of course made great deal
of money. The loan has been entirely repaid i'm
all cases but one, believe. | know one parti-
cular piece OF ground which was bought in 1872
for 10 cents square foot. 1t sold in 1878 for 81
asquare foot. In 1880 it brought S1.25. and in
1881 $50 per square foot. The last purchaser
will not sellit to-day for "a a square foot
The British government. in 1915, bought the
lower hall of a triangular square of ground
bounded by Connecticut avenue. 18th and n
streets and erected stately quarters for the
English legation This gave an impetus to i'm
proyerients in this locality. which has not spent
Its force yet. When Blaine began his big house
in 1881. it vas located on 10th street, Just north
OF Scott Place, in the rear OF Senator Don Came
rOn's residence ana near by the house Secretary
of the Treasury Window shortly afterward built.
But Blaine changed his mind when the fOunda-
tiOns were dug. and bought a plot of ground
facing east on Dupont Circle. Here he built. 1t
was good investment for the Maine statesman
His house and ground cost him about $500
and he has rented the outfit to z. l.. Letter late
of Chicago, for five years tor :l5. COO per annun
He bought great deal more ground than he
wanted. and he can sell the surplus to-day for
nearly twice what he paid for it.
gentleman from New York happened to be
in WASHINGTON 1879 and attardpd IN onofion
sale of ground on 10Th street, near Dupont
circle, He bought lot containing about 1900
square feet. for IS cents a foot. He went away,
and shortly afterward sailed for Europe. He
sold his lot then for 50 so a square foot. and
immediately invested 100000 i'm unmproyed
ground two squares north Of the same circle
Casino which is to cost $3.50 600 is in course
OF erection on Connecticut avenue. midway be-
tween the Executive mansion and Dupont circle
grand park containing about 5000 acres of
land will at an early day be laid out along Rock
creek. north of the city. Massachusetts avenue
is to be extended across Rock creek to the
TenleytOWn road and the park will bepin inst
north of this extension and extend I'M Rock
creek three miles. The stream is beautiful
one, winding among the hills which are covered
with heavy growth of noble trees In time it
VIII he one of the lOveliest and most attractive
pleasure grounds in the world
Taxation is light in Washington Real estate
Is $50 on the hundred. The United States
pays an amount equal to that paid by the citi-
Zens.
All avenues and streets are parked. man
who owns lot fronting on an avenue has
grass plot in front Of his house ranging in depth
from - TO 40 feet. The sidewalk is still beyond
this. II he is fortunate enough To have corner
lot this Parking is On two sides. He can inclose
ii with d low iron fence and beautify il as he
chooses The ground is not his in fee simple.
bat he controls it and enjoys it all the same
The Improvement of the Potomac flats will
add about COO acres to the mali, which now
extends from the Botanical Garden at the foot
OF the Capitol grounds, to 18th street, west of
the WhiteHOuse Tie Misunderstanding marshes.
which have made the city unhealthy during the
months of August and September will be re-
placed after this year by a beautiful park. The
outlook then from the south front of the White
House will be very pleasing. The government
by filing up the old Washington canal south
east from the Botanical Garden to the Eastern
Branch of tine Potomac. obtained wide strip of
ground two miles long. This will within q wear
or two be converted into a drive shaded with
trees There will then be park with several
miles of beautiful drives in the limit OF the CITY,
They will extend from the arsena, grounds, at
the junction of the Eastern Branch with the Po-
tomac. to the old Observatory with more than
two miles frontage ON the river.
The national capital is fast becoming not only
the fashionable center during the winter. but the
home or many literary and artistic people. The
National Library, under the intelligent direction
OF Mt. SpOIOrC. has the richest store OF material
for historical writer's to be found i'm the United
States. The COrcOran Art Gallery has the only
complete set of casts from the antique i'm the
country. If Congress will appropriate the money
to purchase site for, and begin, cOmmOdiOus
and appropriate building for the library, the ad-
altions to the literary colony at the national
capital Will be large within few years. Now
the facilities for using the great library are SO
meager that students labor under many disad-
vantages The prospect for the appropriation
this session is fair.
The drives and rides about Washington in
the spring and fall are varied and very attrac-
tive. The roads as rule are good The road
to the Great Falls Of the Potomac, eighteen
miles from Georgetown, is replete with charm
ing scenery. The pike from the navy ward
bridge TO Marlboro, twenty miles to the north
east, is not SO attractive in scenery but the
roadway is always good; and in the spring and
fall the marshes along the Patuxent river are
the paradise OF the spOrtsmen. Jack-snpe are
found there in great numbers in the spring
months, and in September sOxa can be killed by
the hundred on every high tide by q fair shot
The Potomac, forty miles below Alexandria.
Is famous for its ducking shores. From the mid
die of November till the LIST of April canvas
backs red heads. black-heads, and whistle-wings
feed on the wild celery beds which line the
shores. The great forests OF Stafford county,
Va, are alive in the fall with wild turkeys, and
the bottom lands along the river with quail
The bass fishing of the upper Potomac can't be
excelled. The finest wOOdcOck ground in the
wOrld-the glades of Garrett county, Md-is
within few hours ride A fair days sport is a
dozen brace of as fine birds as ever delighted
the eve OF tickled the palate of an epicure