Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-27
REAL ESTATE MATTERS.


TIE LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT FOR BUILD
ING IMPROVEMENTS LAST YEAR-soxE NEW HOUSES
WHICH ARE NOW GOING UP IN VARIOUS Parts or
THE crrY-orHER MATTERS OF INTEREST.
Capitol Hill, as the eastern portion Of the city Is
known, Is rapidly losing its old-time landmarks.
These were mainly mud streets and dreary squares
OF vacant ground. At least that is the way an
old resident expressed himself In talking with a
STAR reporter The streets are now being paved and
neat attractive houses are going up In all direc-
tons 1t Is surprising TO the evidences OF rapid
growth all through this section. Not because
there Is no reason for IT, but because it hard to
realize that the city is growing so rapidly. From
the Eastern Branch to the wooded slopes OF Ken
DAN Green the streets lined with shade trees are
being built up with great rapidity. "There are a
good many pioneers In this locality" observed Mr.
Charles A. Shields, who Is largely interested In
property there, as he pointed to rows OF houses
along some Of the outlying streets 1.-THE authori-
Ties for long time seemed to be unconscious OF
the needs OF this section but In recent years they
nave awakened TO the fact that this is a
desirable residence locality, and that people want
70 i've here.' The pioneers referred to are beyond
tine car lines, but after all they are not very far
cut. The eastern limit OF the Avenue cars is Sth
street, while the Metropolitan line only extends
one square further east. Then there is the II
street line, which runs to Boundary street. It Is
true, but 1t Is practically the northern boundary
OF the city as well as the eastern. Still further
north Is the new electric road The pioneers how
e,'H can see INA. CITY improvements are gradu-
expended for street improvements last year than
ever before, and this year the appropriation has
OF houses are not attributed entirely TO
improvements The residents are doing their
snare. During the past three q four years in
Vestnent associations have been formed. These
are stock companies, the stockholders paying In
certain amounts monthly on their stock, and
the money is employed in buying ground
hal va
been 30 successful that there not less than
eight In active operation. They not only have
paid the members at least ten per cent upon the
money invested. Then there are the various build
ing associations and the temporary companies OF
persons with small capital VINO, by uniting their
means, are able to buy ground and erect houses
which sell and rent at moderate figures. These
residents have also been active in bringing to the
attention Of the authorities the claims or their To-
canty and 80 altogether the people OF Capitol Hill
may De quoted as good illustration OF what can
ACTIVITY AND ENTERPRISE.
1t would hardly give a fair idea OF the march Of
Improvement In the past few years by stating how
many thousand houses have been built Figures
In such connection don't mean much. 1t is more
10 the purpose 10 say that schoOl-houses and good
ones have been erected ali through the eastern
section and now II Is thought that High School
building Will be the next move. More buildings
Then there are the churches. The handsome stone
edince which the congregation OF st. Joseph's
SatnOLC CHURCH are now building and the 1ne
large church building which the congregation OF
ST. Marks Episcopal church recently began are
both evidences OF the growing population. In
ADDITION 10 the churches already erected, several
denominations have secured building sites which
they propose soon 70 improve by the erection OF
cnurch buildings When houses and schools and
cnurcneS are beiEg built, there Is need to look
Tor further signs OF prosperity. All these things
may Dc found on Capitol Hill, and the prosperity
which they Indicate Is not alone dIe TO the grad
ual pressing out Of the city population. Houses
must be found for the men employed at the navy
yard, where the extent OF the work Is now being
greatly Increased by the erection OF large
building for the manufacture OF ordnance
The Washington Gas Company has duplicated its
present plant by erecting near the Eastern Branch
large gas receiver and several immense brick
buildings. The brick-yards In this locality are
constantly enlafglng their output, while the old
Juenneman brewery has recently added to the
present faculties for carrying on business All
these industries give employment and homes are
needed Tor the new population. Such, in outline as
given TO a STAR reporter by a well-pOsted citizen
are the reasons for the new life in the
eastern section OF the city. This explains why
1t Is that ground which could be purchased five
years ago Tor 3 cents per foot Is now held at 4S
cents. 1t accounts for the temperance In the
market OF the land which has praclic been Out
OF the market for the past twenty odd years
Many cltlZenS Will remember the row Of dwellings
on 11th street east, near East Capitol street. il
was known as Philadelphia Row, and is an
exact counterpart OF the brick houses with marble
trimmings so common In Philadelphia. This row
was built by number OF Philadelphians and for
many years proved TO be an Improbable invest
|
squares OF ground in the immediate vicinity
which are still owned by this syndicate are held
at figure which would have seemed preposterous
at the time the investment was made. There viii
be pavements out there before long, ana street.
car lines, and the residents Will cease TO be pio-
neerS new poiice-station and new flre-engine
house have been erected In this locality and tnus
provision Is made for its further growth.
MORE MONEY SPENT IN IMPROVEMENTS
There were fewer buildings erected in this city
last year than any year since 1885. The high
water mark in the number OF new buildings erected
was reached In the year ending In June, 1857
During the year ended IN June, 1885, according
TO the report OF the building inspector the new
buildings numbered ,595. The value OF these
however, was considerably over &, 100000 While
this falls short OF the amount expended In brick
and mortar during the year 1857, yet 1t exceeds
that OF any other year during The past decade.
Each year from 1885 through 1887 there were more
new DuldlngS erected than last year, but it seems
that While the number was greater the total ex-
pendlture was less. IL appears that the houses
Quilt during the past year were OF a more costly
character than during previous years.
A handsome home is being built for Mrs. Leoni-
oaS COylS on street, east or 18th street, The
house Is OF brick with stone trimmings ana at the
entrance there Is an open vestiDule spanned by an
arcn OF brick IL Is being built by Mr.. Charles
Edmonston who Is also bulIding fine house for
MIS- Casey On the opposite side on n street. This
square has been built up 80 rapidly that now there
are but lew vacant lots left.
GROUP OF THREE HOUSES.
n PfSsey SIoVP VI uOuocS - gong up on street.
just west OF 10th street. They are built of the
gneiss rock from Rock Greek, which resembles the
Potomac blue-stone, but differs from 1t In having
grey-back color instead OF blue. The undressed
stone Is used which gives a bold and rugged
effect, and this Is Increased by the deep
set windows One object of the Design
which was drawn by W. J. Marsh, was TO
give the entire group the complete appearance
OF one house. This has been ACCOMPLISHED With
out lmpaIring the individuality OF the three
houses The stone work OF the front has not been
weakened by the Introduction OF wood. There Is
stone cornice supported on stone brackets re-
neved with stone gargoyles. The roof and dormer
windows are covered with red tiles, with curvinR
ends, which will soften the straight roof outlines
oy giving Wavy eject. Rounded bay windows
finished Win open balconies are at the end
houses, while the central house has a SQUARE pro-
)ecuon terminating at the second story with an
open balcony. The interior arrangement OF the
houses has the picturesque feature OF a central
hall with rre place This hall separates the parlor
from the dining room, and Is also adapted ror use
as sitting room. There are corner fire places in
the rooms. and the halls Will be finished in oak
IA the dining rooms there are projecting bay win
oows with seats, and there are also window sears
| Ia the front bays. one OF the houses has the
| kitchen on the same floor with the dining room
and separated from IL by pantry. The bedroom,
nave alcoveS and there are large closets In an tine
houses. The bath rooms have the floors and vain
scoting OF white tiles These houses ara UuilI and
| VIII DC occupied by Messrs. Theodore +, Moves.
/ Frank b. Noyes and Clarence b. Rheem.
G. =. FOSTERS NEW HOUSE
| House-buiiding as diversion does not rank very
high 10 the estimation OF the average citizen. MI
Charles Z Foster mas found 1t to be a relief from
L hos r.Gfv