Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-03
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
The Builders Exchange and What It
Proposes to Do.

The butlderS Exchange ana what II
Proposes to Do.
THE WORK OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS ANT
THE EFFECT UPON THE DISTRICT REVENUES
SOME NEW HOUSES THAT ARE GOING Up IN
THE CITY AND COUNTRY.
A new feature in the building business has
been introduced by the organization of the
Builders exchange. This is an association
formed among those engaged in the building
trades or In furnishing material The exchange
was recently incorporated, and has leased the
building 1421 G street 1t is the intention to
hold meetings about II o'clock each day. In
fact the daily meetings are regarded as the
main advantage of the exchange. The build
ers, the sub-contrsctors and the material men
will all come together at a certain time. and if
. subcontractor wants to see d builder or a
material man would like to know how the bricks
or lumber are holding out at any building the
exchange will be the place to go. In other
words the exchange rooms to be made the
center where men can meet those with whom
they have business conveniently and promptly.
Heretofore there has been no headquarters OF
this kind in the city and in consequence about
noon each day the builders and others have
been in the habit of meeting on 18th street
near the Metropolitan bank. One of the organ
that if the exchange accomplished nothing
else il would have the effect OF reliev-
ing the heavy traffic which blocks up 18th
street and transfer a large number
OF the waiting vehicles to street. The mem
bership of the exchange is at present about
fifty and the organization hopes that all the
Representatives of the various building interests
will come into the exchange. While at pres
ent the majority of the members are builders,
nearly all the trades are represented, and it is
hat he vii
the subcontractors and material men more
than the builders. The president. Mr.. Charles
A. Langley. and the secretary, Thos. j. King.
in talking with a STAR reporter about the ex-
change said that it had been charged that it
was a combination to raise prices. They said
that they wanted il understood that the ex-
change would have nothing to do with fixing
prices.
THE OBJECTS OF THE EXCHANGE.
The organization was formed as a matter of
convenience. Similar organizations existed in
other cities and there was a national body. If
an exchange found to be useful in other
cities they saw no reason why it would not be
of advantage to the building interests in this
city. The objects as set forth in the constitu-
tlon Of the exchange are as follows:
The object of this exchange is to be a cor
porate body, under the charter of its organize
ton, in order that it may be body responsible
to those with whom il may have business; and it
also purposes to maintain suitable rooms for
the daily meetings of its members; to establish
ageneral and good understanding on the part
OF Its members; just and equitable principles in
all business done within its limits; to acquire,
preserve or disseminate useful business infor-
nation; to arbitrate, adjudge and adjust all
differences or Observation-Disclosures between mem
bers; to enhance its membership and contribute
IN all reasonable and legitimate ways TO the
success and prosperity of its members in bust
ness matters. individually and collectively"
The exchange has the following standing
committees appointed from the members of the
board of directors: Plans and contracts, men,
bership. finance, legislation, rooms and rules
A complaint committee is also provided for to
investigate grievances or charges of one men,
Der against another.
FINE COUNTRY RESIDENCE.
A handsome country residence is being built
for Mr.. Thomas W. Buckley. 1t will be located
a: picturesque bend on the Woodley Lane
road, just this side of the Middleton place and
at the western end of the Woodley Park The
design of the architect, Mr. w. Bruce GRAY, re-
coSnizes the fine natural surroundings and the
graceful lines of the high-gabled roof and the
broken contour of the house will harmonic
with the irregular but effective contrasts of
wooded heights and glens with which this reg
ion abounds. The rough but massive stone
which IS found along Rock creek will
be used in the construction of the
lower portion of the house. Resting
upon this substantial foundation will be the
shingled superstructure stained in soft colors
with its irregular but picturesque roof. A
massive rounded tower at one corner gives a
character of stability to the entire building
while porches and balconies are introduced
with good effect. The feature of the interior
Is a large central hall opening out from the en-
trance hall Itcontains a fireplace and stair
case, and the latter is lighted by long windows
in the front of the house. The parlor and
library open out from one side of the hall.
while at the end is the entrance to the dining
room
This house is one of q number that are now
being built IN the suburbs of the city which in
dlcate new departure IN the style of country
houses The picturesque houses of A. Parker
Mann and Prof. c. V. Riley on Washington
Heights represent one phase of the new style
while the residence which Admiral Quacken-
bush is building on Columbia road represents
another.
". Z. CURTIS RESIDENCE.
The contract has been awarded to Mr.. ". C.
Morrison for the erection of a house at the
northeast corner of Connecticut ave. and st.
for Mr.. VIM. E. Curtis. The house will be of
brick, with a corner tower, and in the third
story the over-hanging roof will form o bal
cony. One OF the features of the house will
be the balconies, the two fronts giving an op-
portality to the architect, Mr. James G. Hill.
to introduce them with good effect The house
will be on the English basement plan. and
the main entrance will be from Connecticut
AVENUE vi the Hrst moor tnere Will be
office, kitchen, servants room and furnace
room. The parlOr floor will have a large CEN
trail hall separating the parlor in the front of
the house from the dining room and library in
the rear. The central hall will be l6x2S feet
and will contain large brick fireplace with
fve-foOt opening capable of receiving a good
sized log of wood. The interior will be hand
somely finished
CAPITOL HILL IMPROVEMENT.
Two handsome houses are being built BY DIR.
J. W. Bayne Oh A street, between 4th and 5th
streets southeast The houses will be three
stories in height with Easements. Mr.. T. F.
Schneider, the architect, in designing the
houses has introduced the various features
which are OF convenience to housekeepers
The fronts are OF press brick and the interiors
are ntted up IN wood in the natural finish.
TaE NEW ASSESSMENT.
On Monday the board Of assessors will cease
70 exist They have finished their work. and
whether satisfactory or not their estimates of
the value property will be the basis of taxation
Tor the next three years. During the greater
part of last month the assessors have been sit
ting as a board of equalization. They have re-
ceiyed the complaints OF citizens who for any
reason were dissatisfied with their assessment,
and they have approved or disapproved them.
II Is estimated that only about 500 complaints
have been received. Perhaps this estimate NAV
be little out OF the way, but it is nearly accn-
rate. As there are over Il 600 taxpayers in the
District II might - inferred from these figures
that some 2 per cent Of the taxpayers are sat
isfed with the work of the assessors Such a
aIw..n~