Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-17

| ton" remarked real estate dealer TO q STAR
man the other day. This expresses very gene
rally the experience of all dealers, and there Is
no doubt but that the market has undergone a
change for the better during the past few days.
1t is not expected. however, that there will be
any great activity manifested until next spring.
The winter is always the dull season in real es-
tate. Building operations come to standstill,
and the buying and selling OF ground goes on
| in rather languid fashion. Preparations, how
| ever are made for active work as soon as the
season opens, and negotiations advance in
| a quiet way for property for investment
| and improvement. The great interest felt
by the public in improvements OF all
by the large numbers who may be seen walking
| about the suburbs on Sunday. The new bridge
| across Rock creek beyond Kalorama is thronged
! each Sabbath by sightseers, and this is as
yet outside Of the regular lines Of travel, it is
/ apparent that people go out Of their way not
| only to see this improvement, but also the ex-
| tensiye grading operations which are being
carried on. Similar scenes may be witnessed
| in other outlying sections Of the city. The Of
ficers of the new lexington Electric Street
Railway company state that their receipts on
Sunday are sufficient to meet the running ex-
penses OF the road for the rest OF the week.
HOMES FOR THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.
1t is supposed that Levi p Morton. the new
Neglected Vice-President Of the United States,
will have fine establishment in this city. His
wealth will enable him to make his official DO
sltlon one OF great social prominence, and it il
thought that he will stand to society somewhat
In the same relation as Secretary Whitney.
When Mr.. Morton was here member Of the
House he occupied the Hooper house. on the
northwest corner of 18th and II streets. This
was an old-fashioned but roomy house. and
was the scene of many elegant entertainments.
MIR. Morton owned the house, and having ac-
CURED the property adjoining he began the
erection Of large eight-story apartment
| house. which is now nearing completion. 1t is
| not known definitely what Mr.. Morton's plans
| are in regard to his residence in this city, but
| it is supposed by some that he will occupy a
The first floor has been so arranged
that at least sixteen rooms can
be thrown into one suite. There is no
doubt that whatever plan he may adopt Mr..
Morton will have handsome residence in this
city, and in this respect his example will be
followed to a greater or less degree by the
other members of the new administration. 1t
| Is the fashion now for government officials to
! have their own establishment at the capital
Members of both houses of Congress have
very generally set the example. and the motive
| Is not so much a vain display as to provide
| comfortable homes for themselves while here
and at the same time secure good investment
of their money. The advantages of real estate
investment here are SO pronounced that the
legislators and officials who are here ON the un-
ertain tenure of political favor are very gener-
| ally owners OF property. The proportion of
property owners among this class of
residents is large, and this fact very
| thoroughly dispels the somewhat gem
orally entertained notion that the pur-
chase OF property in this city ruins the pOliti-
cal prospects of the investor. The members of
the present administration well represented
among the property-Owners. The Presidents
purchase Of a home at the capital is conspicu-
Gus because it is so uncommon for the Occu-
pant of the White House to have any other
home IN this city except the official residence
provided for him, or, in fact to own any prop
erty here. The first President, however was a
property-owner and so have been several Others
although to limited extent. John Quincy
Adams owned residence on street near
l4th. and Gen. Grant also held the title to a
house on Iowa circle. President Cleveland
was preceded a real estate investor here BY
Secretary Whitney, who purchased his country
place, Grasslands. on the Tenleytown road
This Proved to be a fortunate investment for
him, and in less than two years he sold the
property, making one of the neatest real
estate turns ever known in the market
here. He cleared $4,000 on this deal;
having bought it for about, $500 per
| acre. MIR. Arthur Barnwell, of Charleston, s.
G., who in connection with Hon. VIM. H.
Ryan. Of the same city, purchased the place,
will probably occupy it upon the termination
OF Secretary Whitney's present lease. The
Secretary rented his house in town and owns
no other property here. The next lar gest owner
OF property among the members of the admin
istration is Secretary Fairchild. who bought
$4,000 bouse on New Hampshire avenue, Just
south OF Dupont circle, where his elegant hos
pItallty has been dispensed. Secretary Bayard
owns his residence on Massachusetts, avenue,
which he purchased some years ago when he
was member of the Senate. Attorney-Gen-
eral Garland purchased not long ago a hand
some house on Rhode Island avenue, near 9th
street. Other democratic officials have their
own homes here. and the changes brought
about by a new administration will not be felt
very much. as the new corners will want houses.
GLEN ECHO HEIGHTS.
Herman h. Viele, the civil engineer, ia en-
gagged in plating a large tract of land living
just this side of Cabin John bridge The prop
erty is owned by Edward Baltsey, who has
purchased some 500 acres on each side of the
Conduit road. The name of the new SUBJ
division is Glen Echo heights. and it is the
intention of the owner to subdvide at present
some 200 acres in building sites. The lots will
be offered desirable locations for people of
small means who wish to have homes near the
city.
JUDGE MILLER's NEW HOUSE.
Judge Miller, of the Police Court, has begun
the erection OF handsome residence for his
OWN use III AanOma PARK. Like the other resi-
dences which now line the avenue of the park,
this new house will have the picturesque eff
fects OF artistic suburban houses. TakOma has
grown so rapidly that now it is an independent
community, with its church, school house pub
lie hall, and-quite importapt-a log cabin
where the meetings Of the republican and DEM
| ocratic clubs of the park were held during the
campaign. MIR. u. F. Gilbert the founder of
the park, owns large tract of land along the
shgo, which he intends to improve by laying
out streets and in other respects preparing for
the influx of population which is now extend
| ing beyond the bounds Of the city.
THE PROPOSED REAL ESTATE CONVENTION
A number of letters have been received from
various parts of the country commencing the
proposition to hold a national convention and
organization Of real estate men in this city
next year. The idea has been endorsed in in
terviews published in The STAR with real es-
tate men in this city, and it seems to be meet
ing with approval abroad. One prominent
dealer, IN the course of letter on this subject
says: Il think il will be found to be a common
sentiment that srch organization is desra-
BILE. That period in our nations prosperity ia
reached when the worth OF real estate agencies
is appreciated. The sale and exchange of real
estate and the development of properties is
more and more becoming a trade. Every other
business has its organization, and there
Is no reason why the real estate business
should be an exception. A national organiza-
ton would facilitate the acquaintance with
each other of dealers in all sections of the
country, and a good deal Of correspondence
| now necessary would be obviated. The real
estate agents mission covers a broad field, and
Il "a sN14e ts.t ~ Il Il