Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-04
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
Congress Gives District Interests q Big
Boost.

| THE BENEFICIAL KYTEcrs OF RECENT LrorsLA-
TON ON nKAL ESTATE IN THE DrsrRIcr-PARKs,
RAILROADS AND PUBLIc BuILDrSos-orHER
MATrERs OF INTEREST.
He FUTURE Of real estate in this Dis
lFS trict will be very sensibly affected by
the legislation enacted during the recent
session OF Congress. By the laws author
izIng the establishment of the Geological Park
and the Rock Creek Park nearly the entire val
ley OF Rock creek from the bounds of the city
to the District line has forever been set apart
and dedicated as public pleasure grounds. For
years the citizens of the District have recog-
nized that this was the manifest destiny
Of the picturesque Rock creek region. The
final settlement OF the future Of this tract Of
country is Of the greatest benefit. The I'M
certainty which has settled as kind Of
cloud upon all this property has been removed
and property owners will know now what TO ex-
pect. The benefits to the entire District in
securing these attractive adjuncts to the city
will, OF course, be more and more appreciated
| each year. Congress also chartered the Rock
Creek railroad and granted the city extern
sion OF the lexington electric railroad,
both measures of the highest import
ance In the movement now in
progress toward the development of the su-
burbs Charters for other suburban railroads
were asked form fact it is estimated that
there were no less than fifty bills introduced
during the past session to grant authority tor
the extension OF the street railroad facilities of
the District. There IL no one fact that shows
| In more striking light the rapid growth and
development OF the District than this demand
| for street railroads. Men are ready to SUBJ
| scribe money to build roads far out into the
| suburbs. or through sections of the city where
the present facilities are not deemed sufficient
This demand was recognized by Congress In
the enactment OF clause which is intended to
| stimulate the existing street railroads to i'm
prove their present modes of transportation.
The Washington and Georgetown railroad has
already announced the intention of putting
down cable on the avenue line and the 14th
street line. The saving of time effected by the
substitution Of the cable for horse power
Is noticeable on the 7th street line. Inc ex-
treme sections or the city reached by this road
have been brought nearer to the center of busi-
| ness and In the same way Capitol Hill, George
town and Mount Pleasant wIll be made more
accessible. The day is not distant when the
region across the Eastern branch, Hyattsville,
the towns along the Metropolitan railroad and
the outlying places in Montgomery county and
in Virginia will be brought within easy and
| rapid communication with the center of the
city. 1t is evident that the street car system Of
| the city and District will expand to meet the
needs OF the growing population.
THE FUTURE OF THE AVENUE.
While the measures referred to have been
principally for the benefit of the outlying por-
| tions Of tho city, the bill authorizing the pur-
chase Of the square on the south side of Penn
sylvania avenue between 18th and 18th streets
| as the site Of q city post Office building is of
the greatest importance to the central portion
OF the city. The city has finally secured a
place for the post Office which in itself is of the
highest moment, but what is perhaps OF more
consequence is the probability that II ON time
to time, as ground is needed for public build
ings, the squares on that side of the avenue as
far west as 18th street will be secured, so that
this noble boulevard of the capital will be
lined with fine buildings, with the Capitol
building and the White House closing the
vistas at either end.
portance which the legislature of the District
during the session just closed neglected to take
action upon, but in spite of this fact the first
session of tho Fifty-frst Congress will hold an
important place in the record OF the material
advancement Of the District
STREET AND VICINITY.
There is still an active interest in property
along G street and the side streets. During
the past year, as noted in The STAR from time
to time, good deal Of property in this locality
has changed hands, and options are now as
numerous as the autumn leaves in the streets.
The process OF Transformation which this
locality IL undergoing in the changes neces-
sary to use the residences for business pur-
poses gives the movement substantial appear
in bringing nearly all the property into the
market in one way or another, and even the
church property has not escaped. Propositions
have been made to officials of the Foundry
Church, at the corner Of l4th ind G streets,
and to those Of the Congregational Church, at
Off
to the purchase Of those properties As
yet no definite action has been taken in
either case, but it is evident to some
OF the official members OF both churcEe
that in the future it may probably be to the ad-
vantage OF the congregations to dispose Of
their property and seek other locations.
Whether this will be done or not cannot be
definitely stated, but II the present conditions
continue, offers will be made which will, no
doubt be seriously considered
One Of the G street corners-the northwest
corner Of 18th and G streets-has been pur-
chased by Representative J. D. Taylor of Ohio.
He intends to organize a national bank and
erect Q building on this site, where the banking
rooms will be located. 1t is stated that he
paid about $24 per square foot for this lot,
which is. however, only 26x75 feet. The ad-
joining property on G street was also recently
sold for about $l8 per square foot The lot is
22x75 feet, and in comparing these per foot
prices with other business property the shall.
io"uobs VI WIG lOto buOulu De tdkeu l0tO con-
alteration. In this view $50 per square foot
for shallow lot would be about equal to Sl2
per square foot for q lot OF the usual depth.
Another recent transaction was the sale BY
Mr.. James T. Dubois of his property on the
east side Of 18th street, adjoining the property
recently purchased by Mr.. Lisner. It was
| bought by Prof E. NJ. Gallaudet, who paid
&20, 900. The lot is 20 by 80 feet and the price
per square foot 10 about $40. Mr. Dubois
| states that he bought this property q little
over year ago for $4,000. He has purchased
ground at the corner Of 9th and b streets,
where he will erect q building.
TO BUILD or TO BUY?
Thisis the problem that often confronts those
who are in search of permanent homes: els it
cheaper to build or to buy?" It 10 impossible
TO give an off-hsnd answer, although no doubt a
great many persons think that as far as they are
concerned the solution Ia an easy one. Some
people maintain that they would not be both
cred with building, while others are equally
positive that they don't want home that has
been planned by some one else. The latter
class are apt to be those who have passed
through . long and painful experience Of
living in rented houses They have always
found aome defect in the arrangement
and construction. There were no closets or
else the closets were too small, and 30 on as to
nearly every detail Of house. Such people
have their heads full Of ideas and perhaps the
most sensible course for them to pursue is to
20 through the experience Of building house.
Generally speaking it IL good plan to build,
for then II the location or the house don't suit
there Ii no one to blame except the person or