Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-20

nary conversation of the street predictions OF a
coming crash in the real estate market
prices are too hign," says one, land have
been going up steadily for the past three years.
There must come setback. 1t is always the
case. ! have noticed 1t for years. There is a
period OF great activity followed by time of
depression. and believe that the latter period
is near at hand"
"lou say prices are too high" fnterposes
another. "There is no doubt but that property
has advanced within the last few years; but so
has the city, both in population and wealth.
But We have had no grea, boom here which
Las sent prices up hity and one hundred per
cent In single sea>O3- The app eciation on
the other hand, has been gradual, and has
this is plain enough. There is So .,e much land nd
inside the city limits that is on the market and
np PioPedty Is constantly being
and in this way investments are spread over a
large area, aud if investors are unwilling TO
pay the prices asked in one section they have u
chance OF going elsewhere. You can see this
readily in most any part Of the city. There is
ABLY beyond the market prices, and you find
That such property is not sold and improve
nents go beyond and around it, There is =
Siue dinerence between asking a certain price
for property and getting it, Inc latter is what
generally regulates the value"
IN support of this view reference IS made TO
the large extent OF land brought quite recently
on the market in the mort seastern section and
east OF Lincoln park. II is said that the squares
known as the commons, lying between the
bult-Ep portion OF the city and The District Jail,
has been all sold over during the last year. This
property, as wei as that To the north and south,
has practically been out OF the market for III
teen or twenty years. The Improvement OF tine
Potomac flats, now in progress, has also had the
erect OF orin@i ng TO public attention the large
tract of available building land which lies west
OF the State department building, in one OF
Inc Oldest sections OF the city. where for years
there has actually been sale for the prop.
erty. The development Of suburban property is
so well known that it Is unnecessary TO refer to
extent been carried
the acres upon acres of city lots which are
available for Investment.
One OF the most conservative real estate men
In the city, when asked his opinion of the
future of real estate here, said that he could
more valuable each year. The present activity
has been largely due To the fact that "a great
deal of capital mas been brought here for invest
nent. There seems to be no doubt but that
the city will grow. and as the improvements
go on, OF course, values will advance. There
has been more or less speculation, as might
naturally be expected. and this will continue
10 be one of the features of the growth of the
city. But the large speculative deals have been
made By men of means, who are able to wait
for some time before realizing on their invest
ments. lie thought that there might come a
period when the e less activity than at
present. but he d not anticipate any great de-
cline In prices, be auSe the present prices could
not property be Ca led imitation prices.
STONE IN HOUSE BUILDING.
The more general use OF stone in the construc-
ton OF houses in this city has recently been
noticed in TIE STAR, and this tendency is still
more marked. Instead of introducing stone
sparingly IN the shape of courses through the
brick work OF the front of the house. il is now
very common 10 see houses with entire fronts
OF stone either the green stone or the more
mon brown stone. The combination of stone
and brick In houses where the first story is of
stone and the rest of the 'front.' brick is perhaps
the most popular style prevalent in this city.
In many Gases the stone work is handsomely
carved. While the use of stone in connection
with brick makes very effective appearance
and gives substantial, solid AIR 10 the building,
MI
this item Is moi as great as il formerly was. The
oiHerence IL the cost Of stone front as COM
pared with brick Is about $500 but this does
not Include the carving, the cost of which varies
With the character oi The designs to be carved
Senator Paimer's house, on X street, near 10Th,
Is nne specimen OF a brown stone front, and
with its massive blocks and tine carving resem-
bIeS In appearance the mansions which are so
plentiful IN the upper part OF New York city.
Anoiher style Is SHOWN in the house at the
corner of 18th and streets, which Mr. Lucius
Tuekerman is building. Here light brown
stone with carving effectively introduced is
used in com oInatIon with brick, and the result
Is extremely rich. One OF the last designs of
the late Mr. Richardson, the architect, may be
seen in the large house which Mr.. b. III. w arder
Is erecting on b street, between 18th and 10th.
The light stone from the quarries OF Qpip is
used exclusively, and II promises to be - of
The Quest specimens of stone architectnee in
the city. MIR. Warder is also building a row OF
houses on r. street, between Connecticut avenue
and 21st street. some OF which have fronts OF
Inc white Mary land marble, and the others are
constructed OF Connecticut brown stone. There
showing bow general the use OF stone is getting
70 be in this city.
STAINED GLASS A DEPARTING FASHION
There is another change which may be noted
IN the fashions for house building, for in this
this respect, as Well as in others, fashion reigns
supreme. Stained glass seems to be going out
OF style, and the Use OF the plain glass is com
Ing back. One reason for this, explained by
an architect, Is the manufacture OF SO much
Cheap Stained glass used in cheap houses The
eneets OF the coiored light, however, is obtained
oy the use OF sash and iuii window curtains of
fancy eoIors, which are the rage. OIL lamps
with fancy colored shades, which are now so
fashionable, also contribute 10 the same end.
AHISTORIC OLD PLACE.
The recent sale OF kalorama Heights and the
annou nceinent BY the purchasers of the inten-
ton TO suodivide the land into streets and
building sites, is the last chapter in the history
OF one OF the most famous OF the suburban
homes of Washington To this generation the
pace has only been known d neg Elected spot
possessing some attraction from the natural
beauty of the scenery. The entrance at Bou.,-
Diary aud X streets is marked by double iron
gates. @nich swing on massive stone pillars.
Ciose oy Tue gate is a porter's lodge of stone
anu then tie drive Way Which winds along be-
tween rows OF massive trees up the steep to a
plateau where the old house still stands From
this elevated position q view can he had OF
Georgetown and Washington, with Rock Creek
wandering around the base oil the hill The
house with its white succeed walls preserves
some traces "a its former grandeur, although IT
nas passed through the yicissitudes of the late
. as NscO d. u smallpox hospital.
~ Was also IN recent years nearly destroyed by
nre, although the ravages made by the flames
were repaired III Was built by Joel Barlow in
The year 1905. He had already published his
poen-Coium biad-which he believed was to be
The national poem OF tine future, and there were
not lacking those who believed il to be one of
tne Rnest productions ever written. The large
loAlo edition OF this poem, with tine engrayings
was eagerly bought up, and copies may vet he
IOonU on The shelves OF Old book stores. He was
AN intimate friend OF Robert Fulton and il is
stated tntt some OF the IatterS fist ventures in
navigation We're launched upon Rock Creek.
Mere uitOn tested his JOTpedoes and persuaded
Congress To consider his schemes. Hir Barlow
was sent as minister to France in 1872 and
olsd- whlie OIL a journey. at Craeow, in Poland,
where ne was baried. He DeuUeathed kala-
rama 10 his niece, Mrs. BOnIiJTd, and during
Tie many years residence there OF Col. and
Mrs. BoInIOr0. the old place was the scene OF
much iaEisn hospitality and social gaiety
Doring the period o: their residence here the
Ne, atGT-BslEron duel took place. and the body
" becatur Iounc temporary resting place IN
The tomb which may still be seen nearthe en-
trance To t1e grounds. THIS vault with am acre
% ground surrounding -, was reserved by the
1o4l OE1 isAill4iS "neu tEey sold the place. After
the death vi Eer husband Mrs. Decatur took up
hsr Residence there, and il line scene or
many sTahu social entertainments. the old
place came into The Possession oi the Lowell
fainlly, WHO Te tanned possession ill a few C;,ys
ago. when ii WAS sold, "a stated in The SrAg 10
2syndicate OF Philadelphia gentlemen Mrs
lovett and her Children Sill retaining . one
NTH interest
ME- JUSTICE HARIANS RESIDENCE.
one oil the prominent objects of the landscape
70 those driving out 18th street and along the
northern range OF hills is the house which Mr..
Justice Harlan i having built for his own use.
line slte selected is Inc of he hin,