Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-04
REAL ESTATE AFFAIRS.
Some Of the Tendencies Of Architecture
i'm this CITY.

REAL ESTATE AFFAIRS.
Some Of the Tendencies Of Architecture
in this City.
THE VISIT OF THE JAPANESE COMMISSIONER OF FINE
ARTS TO THIS CTTY-wINTER ACTIVITY IN REAL ES-
TATE-rHs EFFECT ON CONGRESS OF NEWSPAPER
sToRIEs-NEw HOUSES ERECTED.
Mr.. K. Okakura the commissioner Of fine arts Of
the japanese government, is in the city. and is
giving his attention to the subject OF house arch
lecture and interior decoration He finds that this
climate is very similar to that Of the most popu-
lous portion of his own country, and for this
son our style OF house building might easily be
adapted to the requirements OF japanese life He
finds great variety OF styles in this city, and in
the multitude OF designs he sees much that he adj
mires both from the standpoint Of effect and that
Of utility. He has been surprised, he says, in the
course of his inquiries To learn the cost Of build
fngs here, and he has come to the conclusion that
very effective results are obtained with small ex-
pend1ture OF money. Having seen in an illustrated
article On Washington architecture which re-
houses designed by Mr.. W. Bruce Gray, he natri-
rally called upon that gentleman to obtain his aid
In learning about the method and cost OF building
in this city. In this way he enabled to see the
interiors of many OF the finest houses in the city.
He is especially interested In the interior arrange
ment OF houses, for while he is Of the opinion
that there are many features OF American
architecture which can he introduced into Japan
with good advantage, yet naturally he is in
tion. He is therefore studying the interior as well
as the exterior OF house architecture and from the
great variety OF styles and fashions now prevailing
here he Will be able TO obtain good many ideas at
least. The contrasts in the style OF architecture
as exhibited in Washington residences will no
doubt attract the attention OF this Observant
eigner while with those who have been familiar
with the city for a few years past these changes
are not SO noticeable. The mansard roof was the
ay lrphj
Ing the years following the board OF public works
and the construction was not, as a rule. OF sub
full shapes and odd forms OF the queen Anne style
combined with a style Of construction which was
light and pleasing. The influence OF the Queen
Anne architecture still exists, although its use Is
not quite so general. ROmanesque forms are be-
ing used quite freely, but there is nothing suffic-
iently distinctive to mark it as an era. The style
OF the future has not been fully developed but it
is thought that there are tendencies which point
to heavier and more ornate style OF architecture
more money, it is thought, spent in house con-
structioa, and that fact Will tend towards the
massive style OF construction.
THE HIDgOUs CHIMNEY POTS.
Whatever may be said about the types Of archi-
lecture prevailing in this city, there can be no
doubt, but that the chimney pots and jacks adorn-
ing the chinneys are perhaps the most striking
feature. These hideous inventions are uni
yersal that IT seems that no description OF a new
house can be complete unless there is some men,
ton made OF the graceful shapes and forms of the
chnney pots. The ridiculous part o. ii all is, that
these things are placed Oh the chinneys OF bran
new houses. for il they not there is smoke Ill
the house coal gas and a badly burning fire. Ii
the Chimney fiues We're constructed right in the
first place there would be no difficulty about
the matter, but 1T seems that there is hardly an
architect or builder in the city that knows how to
construct chimney. They all make the tiues
straight up, the same SIZE instead ol having taem
come nearly TO point ut the fire place and then
gradually expand something like the neck OF a
bottle.
THE MARKET STILL ACTIVE.
The presence of winter weather does not seem to
check the buying and selling OF real estate, which
is going on with great activity, although consider
ably abated as compared with Il few months ago
The real estate men are kept busy and The daily
record OF transactions is very large showing that
a good deal OF money is being invested The
sales as daily recorded, are printed each day in
THE STAR. and during the past week num-
activity in the land i'll Columbia Heights
noted earlier in the season still con-
tinues and the suburban operations go on, al
though winter weather has never been considered
favorable for diSpoSng of suburban property Prices
continue high, and there is marked tendency
among owners to put fancy prices on their prop
erty which, rule, has the effect OF delaying
sales. The large amount of land On the market,
both in the city limits and outside, has the ten
dency TO keep prices down for the reason that ii
investors are not satisfied with the price in one
location they can go elsewhere, and so the high
priced property remains unsold. There is a good
deal of talk about street property because
OF the high prices asked by the owners 1t is said
that at the prices asked most OF the property on
the street would not pay more than three OF Jour
per cent at the present Scale OF rentals. 1t is
thought that this may delay the progress in the
improvement OF that street which is rapidly he
coming one OF the leading business streets in the
city. The future OF q street is regarded as very
promising one and it is thought that before many
years it will be devoted largely to business pur-
poses. Many are buying there now with that
! Idea.
THE EXPERIENCE OF A SENATOR.
! The representatives in Congress who are obliged
to make their homes in this city subjected to
great deal of annoyance as we'll as more serious
! evils by the which is made in the newspapers
OF the fact OF any purchase Of property here. Ii Il
member OF the House or the Senate finds that it
will be more economical to buy house than to
rent one Tor the term Oh the residence here, the
character Of the transaction Is apt 10 be very
much exaggerated, and his constituents are given
to understand that their representative is rolling
in wealth. A case in point is that OF the very
cent one OF Senator Vest, who to the cOnclu-
sion that ii would be cheaper Tor him to buy a
modest little hous. on street, near 18th street.
He paid IS 800 for the hO,la", 800 VI which was in
/ cash. and Tor the remainder he gave deed OF
trust upon the property. His surprise can be
readily understood when he read in some of
the western papers a few days ago spe-
that Senator Vest had Bought an elegant
| house, which was situated on street. near
Blaines p;,latial mansion; The location it was
| Stated was the fashionable part OF the city and
the senator was credited with having paid $4,000
for this stylish house In fashionable locality. He
/ cApcCtS uOW W near HUH HIS cONStlt u,UlS WHO
| are acquainted with his circumstances inquiring
| how he became wealthy so suddenly. This eXDe-
rience OF Senator Vest is no uncommon one. 1t
was stated at the time that ex-senator Windows
failure to secure reelection to the senate from
! Minnesota few years ago was largely due to
| the fact that political opponents had pro-
| on Scott circle, which were scattered broadcast
Throughout the state 1t was represented that the
house was palatlal residence, costing some hun
| dred thousand OF dollars. When ex-Secretary
Robson ran for Congress the last time In his dis
trict in New Jersey, his constituents were shown
pictures OF the south front OF the new State, War
and Navy Department building, which was the
only part or the building then completed,
pile OF granite was Mr.. RObeson's new
| house in Washington. He had just complet ed
the house which he now occupies on 10th street,
near Scott Circle which is a very nice house. but
! not exactly a granite building OF the proportions
OF the government structure which was presented
! to the astonshed gaze OF the rural voters in New
Jersey. Mr.. RObeson, however, was defeated II
and lived in Il more modest fashion was from The
fear OF the political Use which would be made OF
his living at The capital in such princeiy style
| There is no doubt but that there would be
| q great decrease In the fashion OF sen.
| atOrs and Representatives. living as bache.
lors IN hotels and boarding houses
away from the restraining influence OF their fam
lily life, II there was not fear that political cap
1tal would be made out OF any purchase OF prop
erty here. In spite OF this, however Il considerable
number OF the members OF Congress own thetl
own houses in this city.
! THE HOUSE OF MRS. PHENIx
A fine residences is being erected by Mrs. r. C.
Phenix on the north side OF II street. east of 1Stl
! street and adjoining the Milton r1otr Tho doc;r,