The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-03-23

Two amendments to the Rock Creek Park bill
were offered on Tuesday by the committee hav
ing the matter in charge. First, that the name
be changed to columbus Memorial Park;'
and second that one.half of the original cost be
put upon the District The latter is of none
tary interest to the taxpayers here and will
meet with q certain amount of disapproval but
believe that large majority will be satisfied
with the arrangement. While at first it will
temporarily depletc the Districts pocketbook
very quickly, the increased value of taxable
property will reimburse all outlay. The bill
has been reported favorably, and itappears that
at last we will secure our great National Park.
REAL ESTATE EXCHANGE.
In Washington there are over three hundred
real estate agents, with an aggregate business
amounting to several millions of dollars an
nually, yet there is no real estate exchange
here-no place where the brokers can meet and
fraternize, and where harmony and unity of
action may be promoted. \ large number of
the brokers are unknown to each other, and for
this reason confidence and cordiality does not
exist between them, thereby lessening the vol
ume of business and proportionately the profits
of each broker. We have Board of Trade,
Stock Exchange, a Builders Exchange, and
Business Mems Club. but none of these meets
the requirements of the real estate agent. What
we need is an exchange composed exclusively
of real estate brokers and devoted wholly
the interest of real estate where all matters
pertaining to Washington realty can be dis
cussed and where joint effort can be put forth
for the advancement of Washington property
Such exchanges are now in successful operation
in New York and many other large cities.
great portion of the growth and Improvement
of Washington is due to her real estate agents;
they have built handsome houses, erected mag
nifcent business blocks, established street rail-
ways, opened and improved miles of streets on
the suburbs-in TRUTH help make Washington
the queen of American cities. Such record
achieved without organization is but an evil
dence of what can be accomplished with per-
fected real estate bureau, where coaction would
be universal.
A real estate exchange can be made a finan-
cial success within itself. OF the three hundred
and twenty agents doing business here, say
that only two hundred and fifty would become
members of the association. An initiation fee
of $50 each would give the exchange $12, 500
cash. and annual dues of S25 each would bring
q yearly revenue of Sc $50 or all these figures
could be increased or diminished according to
the needs of the exchange. Such an amount
would maintain the association handsomely
and satisfactorily. prominent Office building
could be erected and made a paying invest
ment. The exchange could issue stock to the
extent of $3.50, 900, payable 10 per cent monthly,
or otherwise, for the purchase of ground and
the erection of suitable building, and an aver.
age subscription of $1,000 by each Of the 25C
members would quickly exhaust the issue. With
this sum magnificent building could be con
structed, the exchange handsomely housed, and
good dividends accruing from the rents Of the
building declared to the stockholders. The At
Rui
company, has been signally prosperous, and il
like manner would this project prove success
Such an organization would promote honorable
and liberal dealings between the members, ant
debar all whose requirements did not compl,
with the laws and regulations of the associa
ton.
The lexington Railroad Company amende,
charter, allowing them to run up Ii street t.
Fifteenth, has caused fiutter in G-stree
ground For several years this thoroughfar
has been abandoned to boarding houses, livery
eagerly sought for and bring handsome figures
number of sales have been effected an
many more are under way.
The Builders Exchange has completed it
negotiations for the purchase OF the old Firs
Baptist Church, located on Thirteenth stree
near G northwest. Mr.. T. j. King, the secr
tary. bought the property some weeks ago ft
$4,000, and he has now transferred it to til
Exchange for the same figure The buildin
has frontage of 60 feet on Thirteenth stree
by a depth of 155 feet. 1t will be entirely r.
modelled and have a stone front
1t is rumored that the trustees of st. Vincent
Orphan Asylum, whose property is on & stree
extending the entire width Of the square fro
Tenth to Eleventh streets northwest, will co
slider an offer for the sale of same, they beiI
wiling to remove further from the centre
the city to some section where they may obta
larger and more healthful quarters. The
property is large and valuable and will cor
mand handsome figure.
DISTRICT RAILROADS.
The incorporators of the Georgetown al
Tenleytown Railroad Company were before t
Commissioners Wednesday to discuss the b
to amend their charter so as to allow The
tracks to occupy the roadway instead of pr
chasing the right of way along the road. T.
company only has until August next TO col
plete their road, and If much delay is ocC
stoned them this will be impossible Und
the plan presented twentyeight feet of roa
way will be left, which for present purposes
all that is required. Permanent extension al
widening OF the streets will soon be made, a
then greater travelling facilities will be grant
this thOroughfare. No cable VIII run do'
Seventeenth street. Opposition was bitter
the plan has been changed. The altered rol
will commence at Florida and Connecticut a.
nues. run to Eighteenth street, thence wester
crossing Columbia road, and extending TO Ro
Creek Here an iron bridge 500 feet IN lena
will be erected, over which the double ira
will be laid. Thence the road VIII run thTou
Moody Park, on Connecticut avenue extend
along Connecticut avenue to the District Iii
Connections will be made with the Washingt
and GEORGETOWN Railroad at the corner OF Fo
teenth and L streets northwest.