Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-08


URE TO BE SEEN IN THIS vICISITy-AN
ENGLISH SYNDICATE ANXIOUS TO BuY-orHsa
MATTERS OF INTEREST.
"The revival of the colonial style Of archi-
lecture here, as mentioned in last SATURDAYS
STAR" observed well-known architect to
STAR man. called to my mind the fact that in
this locality may be found SOME of the finest
specimens of old colonial houses that can be
seen in this country. The houses in alexandria
furnish some of the best examples, while in
Georgetown there a number of buildings which
illustrate the merits OF this style. In this city,
with the exception of the octagon house, the
Tayloe house. and several others the old houses
still standing have no particular merit They
| were built chiefly by people of moderate
means, and as a rule without any particu-
| lar style. Alexandria and Georgetown,
| however, were the places of residence
| OF people IN good circumstances and
! they built substantial houses after correct
| models, and those of later generation who
have taste for the antique admire the old
| porches, the gabled roofs and the other
curious features of the architecture In the
country adjacent to this city there are many
country houses which have served as sugges-
tons when the colonial style became fashion,
able i'll the north and east. From these Viz
gina houses has come great deal OF the an
tique furniture and silver ware which Is now
given the place of honor i'll the homes OF FASH
ion. Washington architects, therefore, If they
wish to introduce the colonial style of architect
ure. need not go far away from home to see
examples. This city may be said to be the
center of that peculiar school of architecture
which Is now experiencing modern revival"
AN ENGLISH SYNDICATE.
Boston man who represents an English
syndicate has been in the city during the past
week. He is looking for investments and ex-
presses his readiness to buy up any kind of
business that promises to pay three or four per
cent upon the money. This is not the first
time that the representative of an English syn
dictate has visited this city on business. On the
last visit they had IL scheme to buy up several
of the large dry goods houses, but it never ma
terialiZed. The man now here among other
offers proposed to purchase outright a brick
making plant located near this city. Although
the offer was for twice the amount of the cap
ital stock yet this was not good enough to tempt
the stock holders to part with their stock.
Brick-making when properly managed is
very lucrative business and thirty, forty and
fifty per cent profit is not unusual On the
other hand the balance is liable to fall on the
wrong side of the ledger. so perhaps the En-
glish investor is just rs well off that his money
was not invested in that business. Their rep
resentative, however, IS still on the lookout for
some profitable Washington investment.
JOHN W. PAfSES HOUSES.
A handsome block of five houses will be
Immediately begun at the northeast corner of
goth and streets for Mr. John W. Payne OF
Troy, New York, who is a large owner of real
estate in this city. Mr.. Paine last year spent
over Sl50,0O0 in the erection of block of
houses covering the entire triangular square
bounded by Washington circle, New Hamp-
shire avenue, 22d and l. streets. Mr.. T. L.
Schneider. the architect, has also designed the
.rnl hrt
and have easements; the fronts are to be of
stone up to the window silis of the first story,
and finished with pressed bricks with stone
enrichmonts. They are to have bays and
towers and steep slated roofs. The principal
feature of the interiors is the large central
staircase hall. The first floor will have cherry
finish. Besides the Improvements above
mentioned MIR. Paine has built many other
houses here and intends to continue to improve
his vacant ground, having found that Washing
ton real estate pays better than most other
investments.
IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE BRANCH.
Mr.. H. A. Linger, acting with ex-Representa-
tive Archie NJ. Bliss of New York. who repre-
sents California syndicate, has secured OPP
tions on numerous tracts of land beyond the
Eastern branch and along the line of Pennsyl-
vania avenue extended, lying largely between
Anacostia and this new suburban thoroughfare
ana agSrcSatlng upward % 200 acres, for a
purchase price OF ABOUT EI0U,UUU. When the
deal is completed a beautiful suburb will be
plated and before the present season is past
what is now open country and pasture land will
be pretty village, very accessible to the city,
Among the improvements already contemplated
across the new bridge is an electric street car
line that will bring he suburb within five min
utes OF the Capitol building.
THE NATIONAL UNION BUILDING.
The National Union Insurance. company have
commenced the erection of fire-proos Office
building on the site of the frame structure
known as 9lS street. The building will be
q feet wide by 159 feet long. The company
will have their office rooms on the first floor
The counters and other fittings are to be of
antique oak, artistically carved and nodded. The
screens will be of delicate wrought iron. The
walls and ceiling will be decorated in harmony
with the wood work, probably in raised plastic
work. The stairway and elevator, with toilet
rooms opening on each floor, will be located in
the center of the building. This central space
will be separated from the front and back of
the building by thick brick walls running from
the cellar to the roof, thus isolating the means
of egress from the other portion of the build
ing. The stairway is to be fire-proof and the