New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-03
BEA U1IFUL WASHINGTON.
OLD AND NEW HoUSEs-PLANs FOR THE
FUTURE.

OLD AND NEW HOUSES-PLANS FOR THE
FUTURE.
lFRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRi"'Nf.
WASHINGTON. May May ia the month in
which to sec the National Capital at its best
There Is no city in the United stutcs which
can compare With Washington in spring time;
and every year Improving The growth OF the resi-
dence portion is almost phenomenal. Where six and
seven years ago there nothing but barren waste
trayersed by "Boss" Shepherds asphalt roads, over
which travelled aud which taxpayer ever con
templated without shrdder aud the conviction that
they were the monumental folly OF an irresponsible
politician there Las arisen since thon building after
building each vieing with the other In qualntness Of
construction. originality OF design, freedom from all
conventional form. and tasteful surroundings.
Wealth aud fashion are rarely confined IN
% by 100 foot lots On the contrary the
plan on which the city Il laid out admits OF an Infinite
variety building plots. each differing from the other in
size shape and conformation. Hero the lot IS square.
there almost perfect circle ON one side Of the street
IL may be octagOnal in shape while on the other forms
a triangle. In portion OF Massachusettsnve. tho
cellars the houses fronting the street several feet
above level II Is known Highland Terrace and IL
considered OF the most fashionable quarters Of
the town. private road between the avenue
and houses the summit OF the terrace breaks
the steep ascent and adds another picturesque
feature to tho neghborhoOd. In short the in
which the city laid gives the people oppor
tunty 10 display anu ptI-
mts architects employ their faculties for invention
and TO design houses which can distinguish from
others without having to examine their numbers.
great deal Of building been going this spring
and is contemplated The handsome houses on
Lafayette Square, directly opposite tho White House,
which win be occupied by Colonel John Hay and Henry
Adams. are nearing completion They constructed
rough brick with stone trimmings Their gables al
cOyes turTets and fantastic roofs present striking
trast to the plain o,l-fashioned brick box OF n
house which stands between them and the house
occupied by Mr. Corcoran. Disgonally tho
way sixtceDand-a Is the historenl seleJ
mansion, which was once occupied ny schuyler COlfaX
and also, believe by Mr. Baiuc when lie Speaker
IL used To have glazed yellow brick front which gave
the appearance OF giants kDek knacE more than the
dwelling OF respectable ok The glazed surface, no
tice has Clipped or the steps leading 10 the front
door have been moved, bay windows have been added
IN short the building has undergone thorough change
Ii has been completely DOdcrnized.
When scklcs and Key lived on Lafayette Square the
trees now casting Their shade over he enclosure were
comparatively small You could sec without
difficulty s from sauaro , E,ssOw on ts o6er
The tree around which Sckos chased bis victim before
where stood s pointed out TO curious strangers In
whose memory that tragedy for sone strange reason re-
John r. Mclean. Of The Cincinnati Enquirer. who
year ago has large plot SppTste tine ArnsSn
GO @ naISep uroue S Ne
Abeil Of BoltimOre SUM- has purchased lots
Fss Is the stree. which he late a. T. Stewart once
predicted ould be tho Wall Street Of Washington. IL
the banking real estate and Insurance offices be
found here attracted doubt by the close proximity
the Treasury. Still another newspaper man, Colonel
William L. Brown. OF The Rep YORK Re'os has bought
the OLD Tayoe house on Lafayette Square This house.
by the way, has its little history, too IL was built In
1928 by Oge Tayloe who leased 1t 10 Thomas Swami at
a nominal figure when Jackson became President Mr..
rather than witness lis eneSys triumph, packed bis
The house has at all times been centre
qT oS S Of ryc sS'1 dSS in ONLY last yeS4 pS h
bequeathed to the public collection OF pictures OF ques
tonabe value, which hereafter are TO darkcn the walls
OF some public institution II accepted
Colonel Ferguson who near TweHty-fOurth and sts,
has erected house In the Mexican style, low with
balconies around II and spacious court In the middle
in addition 10 making fortune carried away with him
from there ideas TO housebuidng which he is now
putting into practical shape in WASHINGTON.
MassachusettsaTe. and Twenty-arstst It is
TO be plain but substantal-n0 foolish Queen Ammo
notions about itas BELTS the dignity OF the Vermont
statesman Then there Is Senator Paimer's house on
Mcpherson Square, which Is TO be ready for occupancy
town. and If political rival or the Senator, Six
years hence doesn't photograph as an enemy OF
oE WINDOW d and use the picture no s b e m1 1S
surprised In the meantime the genial mnonalre um-
herman from Michigan may go on giving DIS dners Tor
which he has justly become famous. they arc among
dDnergivers aud dinersOut,
TO mention all the building about TO be built,
erecting house 70 cost $4,000 Mrs. Patten Of Cali
forna, one TO cost 100000; and there are more at
similar hgures This all tends TO show the activity In the
real estate market and the increased favor In which
Washington Is held place OF residence by people az
means and culture The city long left that stage OF
more than being the camp Of oice-hoders, and every
body was compelled to 1--we IN third-rato hotels and
boarding houses.