Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-26


One Of the features Of real estate operations
just now 10 the securing Of options by . num-
Der Of enterprising individuals on sites which
are suitable for the location Of hotels. In case
the exposition Of 1892 10 held in this city the
present hotel facilities will be largely increased
and desirable locations for hotels will be
eagerly sought after. There seems to be grow
ingconviction that this city will be selected
and the energetic citizen is preparing
TO be in the front ranks when the
proper time comes. II Is thought
that there will be . good many temporary
buildings erected here for hotel purposes, as
was done SO extensively in Philadelphia during
the centennial The present facilities in this
city for the accommodation of strangers are
perhaps superior to those of any other city
The hotels supplemented by boarding
houses, which give to this city an astonishing
capacity for entertaining visitors. The repu-
tation Of the city in this respect was fully sus-
tanned when the Knights Templar were here
attending the triennial conclave. Independent
OF the fact that the exposition will probably be
held here the movement that has been going
on during the past year or so and that has re-
suited in the erection Of number Of new hotel
buildings and the enlargement Of several
already built will, 1t is likely, continue. The
growth OF the population and the constant
has been the cause Of the past activity in this
direction, and the movement has been merely
to meet legitimate demand.
VICE PRESIDENT MoRToy's RESIDENCE.
Vice President Morton expects to take pos
session Of his residence in Scott circle the early
part OF next month. Since he purchased the
property from Mr.. Alexander Graham Bell
last spring 1t has been practically in the hands
OF workmen. The most notable change that
has been made is the extension Of the dining
room. An addition has been built on the east
side OF the house extending all the way back
TO the stable. All this space is given up to the
dining room, which is a noble room thirty-fve
feet deep and twenty-five feet broad. Its lofty
ceiling is finished in oak and the entire room is
enriched with this wood. At each end are
splendid fire places with great mantels. One
OF the mantels is eleven feet high and contains
large glass. 1t is said to be the
largest private dining room in the city,
and 1t will accommodate as large
dinner party as even the Vice President would
care to give. The only other improvement
made IN the house OF any consequence is the
decoration OF the walls, which has been done in
the modern style and with elegant effect The
interior arrangement of the house. which is
familiar to Washington society, has not been
changed except where it was necessary by
reason OF the addition to the dining room. The
plans for the alterations were made by Mr.
John Fraser, architect, Of this city.
WHAT THE DEALERS SAY.
Real estate men are inclined to complain at
present that the market is rather dull They
say that there is some business, but they do
not experience the activity which they rather
looked forward to. They do not attribute
this to any unfavorable conditions and they
do not find that it has caused any depreciation
in values. Prices hold their own and owners
OF property seem to be perfectly able and will
ing to wait for a brisker market. One Of the
large real estate dealers told STAR man the
other day that his business had been better
this year than than during the corresponding
months OF last year, and while he said
the market was not specially lively at present
he would not admit that it was dull. Other
dealers who are interested in suburban SUBJ
divisions state that they are selling lots right
along and they predict good deal Of building
activity in the suburbs. Along the lines Of
the street railways which have recently been
built beyond the bounds of the city there is
considerable movement in property. Ecking-
ton and Brookland are enjoying quiet boom,
while Kalorama and Washington Heights prop
erty is in demand.
NEW NATIONAL BANKS.
There is some talk of organizing a national
bank, to be located on 7th street somewhere
in the vicinity of or X street, and some Of
the residents living out on 14th street are dis
cussing the feasibility of providing banking
facilities somewhat nearer to their places Of
business and residences than is the case at
present. 1t seems that the residents in the
different sections Of the city have caught the
banking fever. Capitol Hill set the example
and the Capitol bank has taken its place among
the banking institutions of the city. As the
youngest bank its title will soon be disputed for
the West End bank, to be located at 18th street
and Pennsylvania avenue, will open its doors
on the LIST of January next. VIM. R. Riley is
ant nf nnlya Mn
benny the vice president The names Of the
directors, comprising some Of the substantial
citizens of that section of the city, have already
been published in The STAR.
SOME NEW IMPROVEMENTS.
A large addition 10 to be made to the apart
ment house recently erected by Mrs. Annie v.
Barbour at the southeast corner Of 10th and E
streets. The new part will be SIX stories high
instead Of five and will have a frontage of "a
feet on 10th street extending back GO feet. The
plans, prepared by Mr.. W. Bruce Gray. archi-
tect, provide for stores in the first story. The
upper floors will be arranged as residences
Each floor will be complete in itself and will
contain six bed rooms, q parlor, dining room
and kitchen. The addition will double the size
OF the present building.
Mr.. Gray has also prepared plans for improve
ments and alterations to be made in the large
building at the southeast corner Of Pennsylvania
avenue and 18th street where the Gibson Bros
carry on their printing business. square
tower will be built at the corner and will ex-
tend to the top of the building. An additional
floor will be added, making the building Ave
stories high. There will be other changes and
improvements made which will add not only
to the appearance of the building but will
provide additional facilities for carrying on the
business.
WIN. B. MATTHEWS SUBURBAN RESIDENCE
Mr.. VIM. B. Matthews has had plans pre-
pared for q very handsome new residence,
which he will begin at once to build on Kene.
saw avenue between 14th and 18th streets,
Columbia Heights. The house will be built OF
wood, it will be two stories high, have a cellar
under the whole house, and will be surmounted
with high-pitched slate roof, made picturesque
with numerous gables, dormers chimneys and
| circular tower on one corner. The first floor
is surrounded with wide verandas. The inte-
rior is finely finished in oiled woods It has a
large square reception hall, with a coy little
nook on one side from which the pretty stair
case arises. The hall has also an open fire
place in one corner. The parlor, library and
dining room are connected by wide slid
ing doors. The buffers pantry, back stairs
and kitchen are back of the dining room. The
grounds are large, and we'll kept lawns will
make this one Of the most picturesque houses
on Columbia Heights. Mr.. T. F. Schneider is
the architect.
THE SALE OF THE GLOVER BUILDING.
The announcement Of the sale of the large
Office building on street known as the
1 I'LL a