Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-11
REAL ESTATE MATTERS.
lined by Real Estate Dealers and the
Building lnspectOr-The Assessment
Of PROPERTY.

"The market is dull,p observed a r,al estate
dealer to STAR reporter "out there is more doing
now than couple Of months ago. The prospect
Is that the spring business will be fairly good. 1t
is rather early to make prediction as to future
operations but the Indications point to an i'm
proved condition and greater activity Prices have
not sagged and no one Is Offering property at a
sacrifice. You can't buy any cheaper now than
you could last spring. People who have invested
their money In real estate are holding on. There
Is no lack OF confidence. While every one would
like to have business more active stin they al
satisfied TO wait for a better market, confident
that II Is bound to come. There are a good many
inquiries from persons who have money to invest,
ana there Is some talk OF building enterprises. 1t
Is PROBABLE that during the coming season num-
S per Oh important improvements viii DE begun
know or one architect who has two large commits
sons 10 execute as soon as the spring opens.
There may not be a building boom, hut there Is
going to be great deal OF work DONE"
FROM THE BUILDING INSPECTORS OFFICE.
There are no evidences OF a building rush this
spring. In fact, so far as the records 60 the in
dications are that the season will open in dull
way. This unpromising aspect Of the records
may De due 10 some extent TO the bad weather
IN, mat on has prevailed for weeks Some years
Saidns HaspectO9 Ens ssn 0Rs!e&.
ming of che building season. The humber Of per-
inlts issued since the o ginning OF the y ar fall
2O snort OF the record for same time last year.
new buildings and duing January, 1885,
: |. rue the number Of permits issued
says that the outlook does not promise anything
Ike bull ing "boOm." Usually at this date, and
was notably the case last year. there are many
enable the officials there to Judge Of the probable
extent OF building operations for the year. Arch
Aa Ia M nr n mi sl1lf
with the Inspector to privileges that Will be ac-
corded TO them In building. This year there have
Deen rev such inquiries
THs METHOD OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENT.
The District commissioners have not yet formu-
lated bill to correct what hey represent
In the last annual report to be the evils
growing out OF the present law regulating
assessments OF real estate In the DISTRICT They
urged then that the existing me:nod providing
0nty Ior trennial assessments and making no pro-
VISION Tor change and correction alter the assessors
nave completed their work, Ii Unsuitable to the
wants and interests OF large and rapidly grow
Ing community. Last fall Commissioner Webb
visited several Eastern cities and made somewhat
ex ended inquiry into the methods OF assessing
real estatt. His conclusions were that the law
should be so changed rs 70 require assessments TO
be made annually, and to provide means by which
assessments shall DO at all times subject to revis
ION and correction by some authority constituted
IOr the purpose. He found tnaJ provision for ire
Quent assessments and facilities for revision at
any time existed in other ciLleS. The assessor OF
tne District, Mr. Fish. prepared bill providing for
the division OF the District Into six assessment dis
tricts, and the appointment OF six sub ssess-
Ors with annual salaries TO make an assess
ment every July OF all real proper, y In the Dis
trlct, and 10 compose permanent board
powered TO MAKE changes or corrections In as
sessinents at any tin0 during the year.
one or the Commissioners told STAR reporter
mat this bill had not received the sanction or the
commissioners. Mr.. Webb has been authorized 10
draw up bill providing for the changes that the
commissioners deem desirable, and 1t Is expected
the bill Will go TO Congress soon.
1De subcommittee on assessments and taxation
OF the Citizens Committee of One Hundred In re-
port now pending oppose the proposed change to
anhual assessments, on the ground that such fire.
quent assessments would create too great IA di -
turDance or values, excite dstrust, and keep the
minds OF the people continually harrasSed by
Tue apprehension of an Impending change.
The report, however. favors the establishment of
board or appeals, TO sit at stated PERIOD ann,-
ally, 10 revise assessments uron appeal being
made This report also criticized the plan OF the
commissioners on the ground that six subassessOrs
wOul not be enough to accom- iish the work sat
is1actoriiy In the time specified This Is the num-
Der provided for IN the bill drawn by Mr. Fish the
assessor, but which. As one OF the Comm ssiOners
stated, mas not received the approval or the CON-
missioners.