Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-17
IMPROVING THE CITY.
THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IN A GOOD CoNDI-
TioN-THE ERECTION OF COSTLY HOUSES TO
CONTINUE.

| number for rent as there has been great num-
Der OF new houses erected during the past sea-
| son. The natural increase in the population
| makes the demand, In spite OF the increased
number OF houses, nearly equal to the supply,
SO that the rent are about tne same Is last
| stiff aud are at the scale which has been
maintained throughout the season. There
| seems to be no indication of a drop in prices,
although there are instances where property is
| sold at low figure when forced upon the mar
ket. The transactions are numerous, but as Q
rule involve the transfer of small pieces Of
| property. The large transactions are excep-
tional. The same may be said OF the erection
OF new houses. The large proportion are small
houses, but still the large houses now being
built and in contemplation exceed In quality
in this city. Among the notable residences now
being completed are those of Mrs. Patton. Sena-
s H EHd anrT sas a. WarneF Col John Hay
Wheeler. The era OF one hundred thousand
dollar houses has now set In, and the prospect
is that next season, one If not two of this class
will be erected.
JoIsrs NEAR THE FLUEs.
A prominent architect, in speaking of the
construction Of houses in this city, said that
there was not enough Importance attached to
the danger arising from having the joists run
into the fiues. He says that he made 1t rule
TO have his buildings stopped at every floor
until he had an opportunity of making an ex-
animation. This ought to be the rule of the
building inspector, but his force was not suffi-
cient to allow this, especially in an active
building season; When the .JOists ran into or
only required slight thing to start fire. He
i mad adopted the plan of using iron plates at
IN 81 @ ana When care was
fire proof.
Mr.. JAMES NEW HOUSE.
A fine residence on the south side of Massa-
chusetts avenue, between 18th and 18th
streets, has just been completed from the plans
and under the superintendent Of Mr.. w.
thu NJ NkSAw
James, of the Bank of Washington. The front
| is of press-brick, with stone trimmings and
struction. The gable that terminates the four
stories is finely carved on the bricks, but the
feature of the front is loggia in the third story
terror finish is in hard wood, With many Of the
sos vRs Wood $see s.
the parlor and library is mahogany
and the mantel in the parlor is fine example Of
separates the library from the stair case en-
trance. 1t is formed of columns and arches,
MED In with tfaeery work in geometric forms
oak, and the feature of the latter room is the
very pretty carved screen near the fire place,
which is an old fashioned Ingle nook. The
chambers in the second story are finished in
California red wood, and those of the third
and fourth floors in poplar; The mantels in the
have mantels of natural woods. The entire
nnlsh OF the house is characterized by an ele-
construction of the modern house.
DIR. BAYNE's NEW HOUSE.
Among the many handsome dwellings
erected on Capitol Hill during the present sea-
son, the house just finished for DIR. John w.
Bayne, on I'd street, between A street and
Pennsy lvania avenue southeast, is notable.
The design of the front is unique and striking
A semi-oval and octagon bay window extends
up two stories, and is surmounted by an open
basket balcony, with a wrought iron railing,
roof il half Serd
and tiled. The interior of the house Is very
elegantly finished. In all the principal rooms
Ties, the dining room. which is finished hand
SOmely, having two Bullets built in the wall,
opens upon broad and inviting verandah.
Inc doors and windows are adorned with
thedral glass of rich hues. Mr.. I. f. Schneider
designed the house, which was built by Mr..
W. r. Baldwin.
TWO FINE HOUSES.
Two fine houses are now being erected on ad-
joining lots on the west side of Connecticut ave-
nue., north Off street. for the use of Mrs. Admiral
Crosby and Mrs. C. A. Stanley. The plans,
which were prepared by Harvey L. Page, archi-
tect, show plain, but elegant fronts Of press
brick, rising upon substantial foundation of
rough dressed brown stone. The feature of the
fronts are the two story bay windows, in one
house square and in the other rounded, sur
mounted at the third story with ornamental
wood. The roof rises to a point in one house
and in the other forms sort OF q tower
protection, the diversity in these details
to the general effect. A Very good fea.
ture of the house is the space LETT between the
with its ample windows provides for free venti-
lation. The house, which will be occupied by
Mrs. Stanley, Is twenty-fOur feet wide and sixty
rary, dining-roOm, hall and buffers pantry on
the first floor, the kitchen being in the base
ment. Mrs. Admiral Crosby,s house is 1858
be nicely finished and will have all the mod
ern improvements: The cost will be about
$4,000 each. William r. Lpscomb is the
builder.
SMALL, BUT PRETTY HOUSE.
small, but very conveniently arranged
and well built house is now in progress of con-
struction on the west of Dupont circle for Mr..
Lewis Belrose, OF Philadelphia. 1t is only
twenty feet front by ffty-two feet deep, and
top of the three stories, which terminates in q
cone-shaped tower. The front is of press brick
with stone trimmings. The interior arrange
ment differs from the usual design in city
houses. The staircase hall occupies the center
OF the house and is twelve feet wide. A parlor
and the entrance hall occupies the front of
the house and the dining room the rear |
buffers pantry is built off from the dining
room, ten by twelve feet, and contains a back
stair case. 1t extends to the second story |
where there Is a bath room. Entrance to the
bath room is by a hall way from the central hail.
front and other rooms in the third floor The
kitchen and furnace occupy the basement
Inc nnlsh Will be In natural woods. The cost
of the house will be $500. w. p. Lipscomb
is the builder.
ELEGANT DETAILS OF FINE HOUSES.
Lieut.. Dicklns, U. s. A., has been making
alterations in his residence on 10Th street. near
Dupont circle, which add to its size and conve-
nience. Under the superintendent of Mr.. w.
Bruce Gray, the architect, the dining room and
library have been extended and another
chamber has been added in the second and
third stories. One OF the features OF the dining
room secured by these alterations is a very
handsome and picturesque fireplace modelled
after the freplaces of colonial times A ma
hogany mantel adds to the effect of the fire-
place.
Mr.. Gray has also designed some alterations
to the elegant residence of Col H L. Crawford
in Mount Pleasant. The front door, which
opens into the side hall, running through the
depth of the house in the generous fashion of
the old time country house, has been set with
stained glass from special designs made by Mr.
Gray He has also designed some large hall
chairs, modelled after the old Scottish Chairs
and also some old colonial chairs which will
add to the attractiveness OF this house. which is
one of the handsOmest suburban residences In
this vicinity, The original designs Of Mr. GRAY
have received appreciation from abroad, and
he Is now engaged to furnish all the designs for
the American Pottery company of Baltimore.
Mr.. John NJ. Young has commenced the exca-
walton on the site OF the old bath house. C. street
between Al and 9th sts., northwest, of fOunda.
ton for his carriage warerOOms. The building
will be fine structure of three stories 81 feet
front, and averaging 12S feet in depth, covering
the neighborhood.