Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-29
ONE OF WASHINGTON,S NEEDS.
a Studio Building and Art Gallery.
A PAYING FINANCIAL INVESTMENT.

The excellent display made by the Washing
ton Art Club during last week. together with
the large number Of visitors attending it and
the very favorable impression made upon them,
may be regarded as concusively establishing
two things. of which advantage should be taken
while the matter is fresh in the public mind
The first of these two propositions is the great
need of spacious and well-adapted Studio
Building in Washington. with an adequate ex.
hi bitiOn room or gallery attached. The second
is the fact that such an establishment would be
fmme diately and permanently profitable as
financial investment. These two points must be
conceded. We think. by any one who has ever
given the matter moments serious attention
The only question remaining is the manner in
which the end can be best accomplished
The simplest way. undoubtedly would be fol
some wealthy person. desiring safe and prof
table investment for surplus means to under
take the enterprise and carry it to completion
lust as hotel or any other business building
would be built and equipped. And with the
amount OF money known to be lying idle in the
city at the present time seeking desirable in.
yestment. there ought to be no trouble in find
ing a person no is not only able and willing
but anxious to carry out the undertaking as III
individual enterprise. Another plan, equally
efiicaciOus but more cumbersome. and neces-
sarily involving much greater delay in prelimi.
nary arrangements. organization. etc, would
be to carry forward the enterprise in the form OF
Joint stock company. To this method nc
serious objection could be interposed. and il
ought to. and probably would take but short
time TO secure the necessary amount of capital
by this convenient agency.
That building of the kind would be at once
financially profitable, a great public conven-
fence, and of real and permanent value to the
city, can easily be demonstrated. The cOndi-
tons are few and simple. The first is a large
and well-situated lot. 1t need not be, and had
better not be on downtown business street
where prices are necessarily high. All that is
required as to locality is that the lot should
have north and south exposure, be situated in
q reasonably pleasant neighbOrhOOd, with no
Objectionable surroundings, and easy of access
10y cheap, frequent and speedy means of convey
ance. The building, though substantially built,
and well finished, especially in the interior,
need not be expensive. The rooms above the
ground floor should be large high and well
lighted and ventilated; the stalrways should be
broad and easy; the halls wide and airy, and the
building amply supplied with both passenger
and freight lifts. The ground floors could easily
be rented for art supply stores, fine furniture
rooms, or other like business and every room
above that for four or five stories. or six stories
II need be: would command permanent and de-
sirable tenants from the start, and at higher
prices than rooms on upper floors usually COM
mand in Washington. More than twenty artists
stand ready to become occupants Of such a
doubt that nearly that number would engage
quarters. if a properly prepared plan were sub
mltted, before the first brick in the foundation
were laid Indeed it is safe to say that every
tenant necessary to It'll it could be secured, if
need be- before expanding the first dollar.
Here is, as it would appear, a most excellent
chance Tor an enterprising real-estate agent or
other active business man, familiar with snch
matters, to do not only good stroke Of work
for himself. but to confer a real benefit upon
the city. That the enterprise. If properly inau-
gurated, would fail, is hardly possible. That it
would be, on the other hand both a safe and
profitable means of investment, is almost as
sure as any business enterprise could be. Who
will set the movement on foot? 1t is no senti-
mental. fancitul scheme for wheedlng money
out of the pockets of unsuspecting people for
the benefit of some far away Quixotc object,
but a cOld-bloOded matter of dollars and cents,
where every penny invested is as sure to bring
a reasonable return as any business enterprise
that can we'll be'suggested The question Is
therefore repeated, who Will inaugIrate the
good work by prompt, decisive and effective ac-
ton.