Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-09

BRAScH-NoTEs AND COMMENTS.
Zone of the most successful investments
ever made in this city," said real estate ope-
rator, was Secretary whitneys purchase of
mis- farm, 'Grasslands,' on .the Tenieytown
road. He bought that place soon after he en-
tered the cabinet, and some months before the
President invested out there and the resultant
boom set in. Mr.. Whitney bought tine 100
acres. including the old house, outbuildings,
and improvements, for $500 per acre. He had
to have the house considerably altered before
it was suitable for his use and TO build barn.
Altogether he spent some $4,000 or 81, 900 in
improving the place and il is now an attractive
country residence. He had owned the place
scarcely two years when the spectators began
to look with longing eyes upon the fair acres
One enterprising syndicate induced him to
part with twenty-five acres. including that por-
ton of his farm which borders on the Tenley-
town road. The Secretary was probably re-
luctant TO do this, but offer of S1,500 per
acre convinced him that the land was too ex-
pensive for him to own. A short time after
ward he received and accepted an offer of
$1,000 per acre for the remaining seventy-five
acres, retaining. however, the privilege of re-
naming on the place as a tenant for three
years. He thus in two years made a clean
profit of about $4,000 on his little invest
ment of $4,000 IL farming land along the
IeuleytONu TOdu. MS little CplSOue not only
illustrates the good luck of Secretary Whitney
but the rapid appreciation in the value of su-
burban property.
MR.. DASESHowER's BUILDING ENTERPRISES.
The demand for houses of medium size is
still apparent. and Mr.. Washington Danen-
hover, who has built during the past few years
large number of houses of this character. pro-
poses to do considerable work in that direction
during the present year. He intends to build
"A Of alvhf houSeS On c4r
between lst and I'd streets northeast. All these
houses will have Easements, bay windows. and
will be trimmed with stone. They will have
all the modern improvements. and will be well
adapted for the use of small families. Mr..
Danenhower will also build six houses at Mas
sachusetts avenue and 18th street northeast.
They will be two-stOry and basement houses
and will be complete in all details. He is also
building q of three houses at I'd street and
massachusetts, avenue. They will be twenty
feet front. and will have stone trimmings and
back buildings.
These improvements are of great advantage to
that section OF the city. which is now expert
oncing quite boom. Senator Sherman has
begun an extensive improvement. which will
result in building up nearly the entire square
bounded by G. and II, I'd and Sd streets north
east. Ground has been broken for the erection
of nine two-story houses on this square. and il
is the intention at present to build altogether
thirty-three houses. They each 10 contain
SIX rooms besides the bathroom.
A PRETTY GROUP OF HOUSES
John W. Phillips is making handsome i'm
proyement on the ground on Il street. between
9th and Marion streets northwest. Rhode
Island avenue intersects l. street at this point
and these lots have frontage practically on
Rhode Island avenue and the reservation
located there. Mr. Phillips is building row of
ten houses which are prettily designed. They
will be two stories high and will contain some
ten rooms each. The entire row is a departure
from the conventional style of architecture
and by the introduction of gables. towers and
oyerhanging cornices the group OF houses pre-
SCENTS an effective appearance.
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY BUILDING.
During the favorable weather of the present
season the work of erecting the large building
for the new Catholic university has made
steady progress. The exterior walls are COM
pleted and the roof has been put on the entire
building, with the exception of the central
portion. A large force of workmen are now
engaged IN lining the interior walls with hollow
terra Gotta slabs, which will protect the build
ing from dampness and at the same time add to
Its warmth. 1t Ia the intention early in the
spring TO begin plastering the interior. and the
other portions of the work will be carried on
rapidly possible. 1t il expected that the
building will be ready to be dedicated by next
November. Before that time the lexington
electric street railway will be extended out 9TH
street. which is now being graded 10 the gates
of the grounds of the university. The authori-
ties VIII. IL Is understood donate to the Balti-
more and Ohio company ground upon which
the latter viii erect a handsome depot. The
old name of Brooks Station will be retained
The new building, standing it does on the
brow of the hill overlooking the Soldiers'-home
grounds, Is conspicuous object in that vicin-
lty. The massive walls of blue-stOne without
much ornamentation attempt at effect have
an impressive appearance. The great size of
the building contributes TO this result The
- 4 II
i've stories high. while the wing is four stories
The plan OF the building contemplates the
erection OF seven large buildings They will
be grouped about a central park. The build
ing now IN course of erection will be known as
Divinity hall. but the sites of the other build
ings have been chosen. In the center. facing
the main avenue. will be the grand hall of
science with Its laboratories. To the right and
rear Of the hall of science the observatory will
be erected upon high knoll. and at the front
on the opposite side of the park, the library
building will stand. A large church or uni
versity chapel will be erected on the north. be-
tween the park and the divinity building, with
which 1t will be connected by an arcade. The
high grounds adjacent to the divinity building
will be reserved as sites for colleges that NAV
be erected by religious orders in connection
with the university, and il is expected that
residences for professors will be arranged
around the front OF the park.
IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE METROPOLITAN
BRANCH.
The foundations have been laid for a large
clearinghouse or hotel, which will be erected
on the land on the opposite side Of the railroad
from Forest Glen, which is owned by the in
Vestment company of which Mr. Hartford is
president. IL Is the intention to have the
building ready for occupancy the latter part of
ne H spring. The increasing number of peo-
pie who go ont in that direction for the sum-
mer has led to this enterprise. The hotel at
Forest Glen has been open for two seasons
and Its success has demonstrated that such
facilities are needed. movement was on foot
last year to erect q hotel at Capitol View Park
an the same vicinity. and also one at Takoma
Park, and these enterprises may still materia-
hZe
Mr.. ID. +. Gilbert. the founder of Takoma
Farh, Is IL Boston, where he is concluding ne
yotiatlons with DIR. Flower, a physician of that
cry. Tor the sale of tract of land of several
acres along the Sligo. II is said to be the pur-
pose OF DIR. Flower to build q large sanitarium
there and to improve and beautify the grounds
about il.
An enterprise that is creating good deal of
interest at Gaithersburg is the erection of a
large hen house, which is some 375 feet long
Aessrs. Hanson and Adams the two Young men
who are erecting the building propose to 90
INTO the poultry business extensively. They
Will have two large lncubators at work and will
furnish market for the eggs in that locality.
FEE HOUSES on CONNECTICUT AVENUE.
The handsome residence to be erected. as
stated in The STAR, on Connecticut avenue