Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-12
TIE PARTY WALL QUESTION.


II is proposed to make test case and deter
mine the soundness Of the conclusion reached
by the assistant attorney for the District that
the right to erect q party wall is an easement
that goes with the land. Whether man has
right to build an individual wall or is obliged
to build a party wall is important question
but Its prac teal bearing on building operations
In this city is comparatively slight. The reason
is that very few buildings are erected with indi-
vidual walls. The privileges conferred by the
right to erect party walls are too highly val
ued. A party wall saves valuable space il di-
yides the cost Of each wall between the
builder and his neighbor and its existence COM
pels the builder to underpin at his own expense
the wall In case his excavation goes below the
foundations of the adjoining house. II an in
dividual wall Is built and the excavation for
the foundations OF the adjoining house are
deep enough to make underpinning necessary
then the expense of this work falls on the
owner of the house and not on his neighbor
who Is building. These advantages Of a party
wall over an individual wall are so generally
appreciated that there are very few cases in
the city Of buildings without party walls But
still the decision of the case will be watched
with interest as those who prefer this style of
building will not care to lose the option which
they now enjoy Of choosing between a party
wall and an individual wall.
MASSACHUSETTS, AVENUE EXTENDED.
The FIRST houses to be erected on Massachu-
setts avenue extended are now being built.
They will both be located near Boundary street,
and although outside of the city the owners
can still claim to be practically living within
the city. Mrs. E. ID. Lovett ID building one of
these houses, and Mrs. Ii. II. Beamon the other
Mrs. Loyett was one of the owners of the tract
known az Kalorama. and in the division after
the subdivision had been made a number of
lots were assigned as her share. She is erect
ing her new house on a portion of the old
homestead, but under the present changed ap-
pearance OF the property there il not much to
remind one of halorama once covered with fine
oak trees and with its picturesque stretch of
grassy fields and shaded hooks.
LARGE BUSINESS BUILpINos.
An unusual number of large business build
ings are now in the course OF erection in this
city. People are reminded Of this fact who are
in the business centers by the clouds of dust
which I'LL their eyes and by the necessity OF
picking their way around the debris The
erection of the large building at the southwest
corner of 9Th and + streets by the Washington
Loan and Trust Company has made il necessary
for the transfer agent of the street railway COM
pany to take his position on the opposite cor
ner. Below this point on 9Th street the Inter-
Ocean building Is rearing its tall walls to the
sky, while the National Union Insurance
building on + street between 9Th and
10th streets, which is now being built.
will exceed 1t in height. large building,
but not a very tall one, Is going up at the
southwest corner Of 18th and q streets, while
on the same corner of 18th and + streets
a structure is TO be built that will be seven or
eight stories in height The building season
generally 10 said to be very good at the build
ing inspectors office. The permits already is
sued exceed those Of the corresponding period
last year, but u ID said that there are more
small houses being put up than was the case
Last year.
PROTECTION FROM YfRE
One OF the features Of the construction of the
new building for the Congressional Library u