Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-18

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SOME REAL ESTATE TALK.
lexington. the Famous Country Rssi-
dence u MI. Gales, Sela.
THK MOVEMENT IN PROPERTY TO THE SoRrmAsr
OF THE cTY-s0NETHNG THAT A RRPRRsENrA-
TIVE COMMITTEE OF CITIZENS CAN DO no ADVANCE
DISTRICT INTERESTS
lexington" as the country home OF the late
Joseph Gales the senior member OF the arm Of
| Gales Seaton, publishers OF the National Intel
Hgencer, was known has been sold by a recent
| decree OF the District court Mr.. George Trues-
dell is the purchaser, he having paid $4,000 for
the eighty-Seven acres which is comprised within
this tract. The sale. OF course, includes the
house, where. for many years, the genial hospi-
taty OF Mr.. Gales attracted the best people Of the
CITY, The exterior OF the house is not pretentaous
but, on the contrary, is very plain 1t is however
very conveniently arranged inside, with wide
hall through the center Of the house. It contains
twenty-five rooms, and there are several buildings
near the house which were used for servants
quarters. The house Will not be torn down. and
for the present at least one OF the famous houses
Tor which this city Is noted will remain as
Mr.. Gales died about the breaking out OF the war;
and the place has not been kept Up. For num-
Der OF years past It has been used as q summer
AS is wen known this old place lies to the north
east OF the city, at the head OF New York avenue
portion Of 1t touches upon Boundary, where in
former days the driveway to the house began
rns a n then ascsnds until At dis
city, and is With ne rx Ser re 90
the onoes in sss Ssni as Of one
city. On both sides, for some distance, the land
was, was devoted to private residences, and many Of
n
Chief Justice Chase lived, is In this vicinity, and
SO Is the old place formerly occupied by Carlisle
the locality has witnessed few changes except
the gradual decay and deterioration Of these coun-
try homes. The march OF improvements seemed
10 nave abandoned this section, and the prop
eIty has practically been out OF the market.
Ihls Is attributed to many causes mainly, how
ever, to the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, which
mas also anected in the same way the property
within
THE NORTHEASTERN LIMITS
OF the city. Within the past few years the growth
of the city has made itself felt In this vicinity and
In spite OF disadvantages, the unimproved land
within the bounds OF the city and also the prop
erty outside has come into demand. Improve
ments are gradually Transforming the wastes and
commons into well-built streets and now this in.
1uence is being felt beyond the boundary Mr.
Truesdell intends to subdivde the property as far
as possible In accordance with the streets OF the
city and place the lots on the market. MIR. James
L. Barbour and others, who own the land TO the
west OF Lincoln avenue, also propose to place their
property on the market, and the remainder OF the
land lying between LIE Droit park and kendall
green, along the edge Of the citys bounds, now
held In small lots, will no doubt come into the
market in the same way. While all this land may
not be subdvided and built up at once, still it Is
plain that in the near future the needs of the grow
Ing city will cover this vacant ground with houses
city are already subdivided, and now the move
ment, begun along Rock creek and advancing
SSme astanee pm tine city Is also extend
1STAR that this fall Mr. B. H. arder purchased tn
tract of land containing 43 acres known as
tse 7S sse road sdo anS sne sss
Home and on the north and south side OF
Whitney avenue, which is the entrance to the
out in villa SITES Directly north of this land is
farm, and beyond the latter Is the place of Mar
6 lsS Which 1 has
and SALE The tendency In this direction OF recent
Investments Is still more clearly shown in the
Metropolitan branch OF the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad. Six miles from the city, this road is
the station formerly known as BrtghtwOod, but is
now Takoma Park, nOur1shing settlement OF
Washington people. The Park contains some LOCO
acres. Farther up the road is Forest Glen, where
tract OF land was purchased last summer by a
company OF gentlemen In this city, who are now
erecting large hotel Above Knowles, which is
the next station, another Washington company
has purchased recently some 500 acres along the
line OF The railroad, which they intend to call
Garrett. They also propose to cottages there
and encourage Others to do the same Washington
camp-meetings are held, is really little village
where people live the greater part OF the summer.
In tact ali along this railroad there are Washing
ton people who occupy their own houses.
DISTRICT INTERESTS OF GENERAL IMPORTANCE
The formation OF representative committee of
citizens to represent the interests OF the District
before Congress is the subject OF or less con-
versation among the citizens, especially in view of
the recent meeting that was held for that purpose
Some citizens with whom q STAR reporter has
talked seem to be diSinclned to take any part In
such movement, because OF the attitude OF a
class OF persons whom they characterize as ire
understand II " said ell-knOwn citizen sis not to
advance any speculative schemes, whether in land
or otherwise nor is it to act in the interests OF any
one section. l have reached this conclusion
from conversation with gentlemen who were in
strumental in calling the meeting which was held
last week.. There are various matters which at
feet vitality the interests of the people OF this en-
tire District which ought to be urged upon the at
Of To 70 he
what mean will mention few incongruitfcs OF
these laws. II a man living in Baltimore, Tor In
die, having made a will which is according to the
laws OF Maryland, his heirs would find that his
property In this city would be interstate They
would be compelled to proceed in regard to his
District property in the same way as II
he had left no will, although his devtses
proceedings would have to be Instituted. an ex
ecutor appointed with his 5 per cent commission
and safe effected, and the heirs finally would
cent, which these proceedings would probably
cost. Congress ought To enact a law by which
wills made in any part OF the country, according
to the laws in force at the place where the viii
was made, should be operative in this District.
Then take the case OF a man who owns property
and Is resident here. lie makes a will, which,
as q rule, men are not very much inclined to do
and Ii he should acquire property afIer the date
OF the will, that property would be inteState
although his will might in words cover all his
property OF which he should die possessed. The
law as it now stands makes 1t necessary for man
to make new will every time he acquires q new
piece OF property. The late Mr.. George w. Riggs,
although he left will also left large amount OF
his property inteState in this way. You can read
fly see that this is an important matter requiring
the attention OF Congress. Then there is the law
relative to property Tor which no owner appears.
Enclosed possession for period OF twenty years,
unless an infant heir appears is necessary before
a title can be acquired l think that the time
tax title can be claimed by the owner, and II the
taxes have been paid by the holder or the title,
the owner can take possession without paying
cent OF the back taxes.
"YOu can readily see, +" he continued, "that 1t is
not necessary for committee in representing the
interests OF the District to have anything TO do
with JOBS or private and speculative schemes, and
TO my knowledge that was the purpose In the
movement started for the organization Of q conn.,
mttee. II there is any object other than con-
serving the general and public interests OF the
the committee"
I'm Pursuit Of n MiScFeant.
SEARCHING JERSEY WOODS FOR TIE ASsAILANT OF
WOMAN.
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