Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-20

| Il OANAA WI
REAL ESTATE MATTERS.
Fine Residences in Cour,e Of Erection
tn this City
TIE QUESTION OF REDUCED TAX RATES OR RKpucEp
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND REAL EsrArE-NRs
SHIELDS FINE R8sIDKNCR-A LARG. HOUSE BE.
yoND BOUNDARY.
In conversation with a large number OF real es-
tate dealers In this city STAR reporter was told
That the usual effect OF election year upon the real
estate market is being experienced "While there
something being done all the time, remarked
one, yet the volume OF business is not large and
generally speaking the market Is not active. Peo-
PIE hesitate about making plans or entering into
any arrangements looking to the future while
there Is uncertainty as to the changes that are
likely TO result from an election or course this
Is more particularly true OF those who are In Gov
eminent employ, but still the same thing affects
all classes OF the community aad all kinds OF busi-
ness. Washington is not the only place where
business becomes slack account OF the election.
~ prevails throughout the country. sui, after
al! that can be said In regard 10 the present con.
9ltlon OF the real estate market In this District
mas Deen said 1t remains true that bargains are
noC auoweu 10 go begging Let piece OF property
OF any kind be offered prices that are considered
cheap and purchasers can readily be found"
Osner dealers said that there plenty OF money
swaiang investment, but investors seemed to be
rather inclined to hold Oh. The market for rented
properly Is reported to be rather dull, but 1t is
salo not more so than any season prior to short
session Of Congress. There are q good many
houses Tor rent and good many are rented, 1eThe
demand Just now seems to be mainly" observed
uoaler, IRON people who want furnished houses
Ior SIX months or SO. The season. as far as IT de-
PenoS on the session OF Congress, Will be a short
come here when Congress comes ana leave upOn
the adjournment OF that body. Leasing q house
tor such short period Is not regarded with favor
py owners, and In consequence the rented list Is
unusually full for this time Of year. The prolonged
session OF Congress seems make but little Differ
bers OF Congress and others made their usual
arrangements for the summer, and now, as q rule,
are back again for the winter"
THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT
The work OF rebuilding the tower Of the Church
OF the Covenant is being pushed forward rapidly.
IL Is expected that the structure will be completed
and ready for dedication about the LIST OF January
Inc original plan will be carried out, but for the
present the tower will be finished only up to the
spring 1t is expected that the tower win be com.
pieted. The work is being done In the most sub
stantlal manner. The walls are backed with hard
Drick laid in cement, and the stones OF the tower
are laid in Portland cement Practically the tower
VIII De Independent OF the rest OF the building,
that any settlement win only affect the walls OF
Inc tower. The side walls OF the church carry but
little weight, as the lantern Is supported by the
large pillars In the Interior The decision OF the
cnurch authorities to execute the original design
meets with general approval from not only the
members OF The congregation but from outsiders
Tns Ihat the church VIII be one OF the
Tor this reason there was general desire that the
original plan should be followed. The architect is
and there is also clerk OF the works who is con.
stantly az the building. The brick work Is being
done by William Carson.
REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENTS.
II noticed In The STAR the other evening"" re-
n known cift m Co..
"that the District Commissioners are considering
the question OF the reduction or the rate OF real
estate taxation In the District. 1t is stated that
tne DlstrcL revenues are In excess OF the proper
Uon payable by the District Tor improvements and
current expenses, and this means Is suggested to
reduce the revenue. While II would no doubt be
enecuve yet IL seems to me that the assessments
might be Kept down and the same purpose &C.
conpNshed. The last triennial assessment made
q very considerable increase in the valuation OF
property all through the District. This advance
was Justned no doubt by the enhanced values of
property at that time. Sull the increased taxa
tlon was Ielt TO be somewhat OF a burden by many
property-hOlderS. Real estate has its fluctuations
as well as other species OF property, and the mar
ket value is apt to vary sensibly during period OF
three years What would be fair valuation at
the beginning might prove to be somewhat excess
slVe before he expiration or the period when a
new assessment is made. II that is the case the
citizen Is too heavily taxed. A more equitable
method, In my opinion, would be to keep down the
valuation. The present rate OF taxation is low
enough, and II the assessors AVOID what may be
Termed fancy valuations then the reputation OF this
city as pace where taxation Is equitable and
UNIFORM would be maintained. The temptation
our Of real s1ate INA as ucn money as possible
the District and making possible large appropria-
lions for street aud other improvements. There Is
no necessity, In my opinion, 10 try to do all this
work In one generation. Improvements are a
good thing, but they should be Gradual and within
the limits OF the normal yearly revenues Moth
Ing Should De done that would tend to increase
taxation or TO make IL uncertain In amount A
i large number OF people come here TO escape from
the evils OF the modern municipal government,
and that feature or our cily'S attractlyeness
should not be overlooked"
ANEW APARTMENT HOUSE,
An apartment house is being erected at the
southeast corner OF 10th and E streets by Mrs An
ME v. Barbour. 1t will be nve stories in height
trimmings There will be an oriel window on the
E-olreet front and q wrOught-irOn balcony at the
third story AT the corner will be an octagon pro-
lection, terminating above the roof in a tower
The hrst noor Will be used for store purposes and
the entrance TO The apartments above will be from
Gray The arraarement or the snner W nr1 bf9ee
be very convenient Each set OF apartments Will
contain eight rooms, bath, and kitchen. The
houses adjoining the new building the east have
recently been remodelled by the owner Mrs Bar
bour. and changed from Old-fash1oned houses INTO
modern dwellings.
MRS. SHIELDS NEW RESIDENCE
Sixteenth street, near Scott Circle is improved
by number OF fine residences. One OF the largest
in that locality is the that is now being erect
ed for Mrs. susan Shields on the northeast corner
OF 18th and streets II occupies the entire 'front.'
age OF the lot on 18th street, which is 81 X feet
This structure is crowned by high pitched roof
which Is broken by a tower at the corner and
gables at the sides In place or the stone TRIM
mings usually employed brick archie, span the
WINDOW openings, and the lrieZe and belt course
is also OF brick. Variety, however, is obtained by
use OF the OctagOn-Shaped bricks In the Ireze and
in the course between the first and second STORIES
The bricks are laid In the style known as basket
work. There Is square projection at the north
end OF the front nnisned at the roof with a gable
and on the o street front there is an octagon bay
window. The building Is well proportiOned and
the effect OF The design is strengthened
by its simplicity. The architect, Mr. Samuel Ed-
mOnSton, was associated with the late H. H Rich-
ardsOn In the erection OF the houses which the
latter built In this city. He is nephew OF Mr.
Charles EdmOnSton, the well-known builder who
has the contract for building this house. Brick IS
not used exclusively. The basement Is OF rock.
faced Seneca stone and the pillars supporting the
This porch is spanned by deep arch OF brick and
the vestbue Open The interior is paatial In its
proportions The entrance hail. 10 feet wide leads
Into spacious central hall, which Is % Ieet wide
and % feet long. Here Is located the great sta
case which is continued to the top OF the house
On the first landing is balusLrade and from this
point the visitor has view the Two halls and the
rooms opening out from them. The feature OF the
central hail Is continued on the second floor and
from 1t access Is had to all the rooms. From the
entrance hall there Is door leading into the re-
nrst floor communicate with the central haIL
Back OF the reception room Is the billiard room
The drawing rom Is 81 feet long and 1s feet
wide. and occupies all the SPACE south nj tha an.