Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-14
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
The PRsent Situation . Rather Pleas.
ing One for House Owners.

The rent lists of real estate agents present q
| rather sttenuatsd appearance at present. Now
that the question Of winter quarters ID finally
settled for the great majority Of the annual
visitors and others who make their homes
here for a few months, . review Of the situa-
ton is a pleasing one to owners. Naturally
| the agents. in view OF their commissions, are
| not dissatisfied, and the only people who have
| cause for unhappiness are the belated ones,
| who are yainly searching for unfinished
houses which are at all suitable. There Is q
| better opportunity for those who want fur
nished houses; but desirable houses without
furniture are not plentiful. This condition
of affairs is regarded as additional indication
Of the increase in the population Of the
houses have been erected and building opera
tions are still in progress, yet it seems that the
supply has not exceeded the demand Some
of the dealers looking at the real estate market
from this standpoint predict an active build
ing season for next year. They argue that
houses will be erected as long as the demand
continues and they add thatthe business inter-
ests Of the city are developing in the same pro-
portion as the population grows. There must
be new business buildings erected, they say,
and altogether the outlook for the future is
extremely favorable.
SENATOR sAwYER's NEW RESIDENCE.
The interior decorations of the fine stone resi-
dence which Senator Sawyer has built on Con-
necticut avenue are not only elaborate but
rather striking. In some of the rooms on the
parlor floor the walls are hung with silk.
delicate shade Of blue silk covers the walls of
the reception room, and this color hsrmonizes
with the silver tints Of the ceiling and the dead
gold OF the wood work. A figured silk on
background Of old gold conceals the side walls
OF the parlor, while the frieze is q design of
roses beautifully painted by hand and extend
ing all around the room. Forming part of
resenting q woman, which is above the
mantel-piece. The frieze in the dining
room is succession Of paintings
finely executed and harmonizing with the rich
color OF the mahogany wainscoting. In this
room also there Is large painting above the
mantel, framed only in the wood work
which forms . part of the room. The ball
room, with windows opening out on Connecticut
avenue, is very deliberately decorated, both
ceiling and walls, with plastic work in white.
The wood work is finished in white and there
is large mirror sunk in the wall. A noble
hall occupies the center of the house, from
which all the rooms ON the parlor floor open.
An effective feature is the room or coy
nook at the head OF the first fight in the
grand staircase, which is well lighted by large
windows in the rear of the house. On the sec
ond floor there is q splendid library room, and
the rest OF that floor is devoted to bed rooms.
The house occupies the point of the triangular
piece Of ground between Connecticut avenue,
Goth and r streets and commands fine view
down the avenue to Dupont circle. There ia Q
porte cochere in the rear Of the house. aud the
main entrance, which is from Connecticut ave.
nue., is a very effective feature Of the ex-
terror design. The massive stone walls OF the
house are surmounted by o high-pitched roof,
and the graceful details, which adorn without
detracting from the simple beauty and SYM
metry OF the design, constitute one of the most
notable examples of house architecture in this
city. The builder, ". P. Lipscomb of this city,
completed the house some time ago, but the
elaborate work done by the decorators has de-
layed the family in taking possession Of it until
this present week.
THE EXTENSION OF CITY STREETS.
The plan to provide for the extension Of all
the city streets beyond the present city limits
has again been brought to the attention of Con-
gress by the bill introduced q few days ago in
the Senate by Mr.. Harris. In the event that a
bill of this character becomes a law 1t will make
general what is now being done by authority
Of Congress in detail At the last session bill
was passed prohibiting the placing on record
of any subdivision OF land which Is not in 40
cordance with the plan of the CITY. At the
same time Congress made appropriations for
the extension Of such streets as 4th
street east and LIST street west,
and the former has been extended to the
Bunker Hill road, on the same line and with
the same width as the portion within the city
limits. In this case, however, the land was do
mated to the city, but in carrying out any plan
for the extension Of all the streets the right of
way will have to be obtained by condemnation
proceedings and the owners reimbursed for the
land thus taken. In the sections of the suburbs
where the land Ia still in the hands Of a few
men it is comparatively easy to secure the
right Of way, as the owners are willing to donate
the land on account of the benefits which will
accrue to them from having the streets opened
This is especially true where no subdivision
has been made. But in the older subdivisions
the situation is quite different. There are a
large number of individual owners and the
changes necessary to be made would naturally
result in serious damage to some while benefit
ing others. 1t is proposed to adjust these diff
ferences in an equitable manner.