Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-24


latter are a familiar feature of suburban
scenery, and are constant reminders to those
who go out into the country that the oppor.
tunities for investment in real estate are not
yet exhausted While the enterprising specu-
lator in suburban property has reached the
lines of the District. and in some instances gone
beyond, there are tracts of land bordering on
the city limits which still remain in their origi-
nal acreage. Every year, however, witnesses a
| decrease in this class of property Recently as
has been stated In The STAR, negotiations have
| been in progress for the purchase by a syndi-
| cate of the tract of land on the west side of
Connecticut avenue adjoining Boundary. 1t is
| now known as Phelps Park. and during the
| present season afternoon concerts by the Ma
rine Band have been given there under the
| auspices of a number of society people. These
concerts have been the occas on of fashionable
gatherings on pleasant afternoons. 1t is now
stated that the negotiation for the sale of this
tract has been completed. The owner Is Mr.
William Walter Phelps. the present minister to
Germany. He purchased the property some
eight years ago, and 1T was stated at the time
that he intended to erect n handsome home
there for himself. He. however, attempted no
improvements, and the old house has re-
manned there in much the same cond-
ton as 1t has been for years. 1t has proved
to be a very profitable investment as it Is
stated that the price paid for the property was
about S26O.OOO. There are some 300, 900 square
feet of ground and the rate per foot was there
fore over So cents. This is exclusive of streets,
which, If the property is subclivided and placed
on the market. as is said to be the intention of
the syndicate. will have to be extended in ac-
cordance with the plan of the city. This prop
erty forms a part of the connection between
Washington Heights and the city. Between
Phelps Park and Kalorama on the west lie the
properties of Mr.. Leroy Turtle and Mrs. Kali
which are still undivided. On the east is the
large place owned by MIR. Dean and a tract of
land owned by heirs in PHILADELPHIA Then
comes the Chapman tract which is now SUBJ
divided. The importance of the Phelps SALE
aside from the price paid, lies in the fact that
INK II the connection between the suburbs in
that locality and the city is about to be made.
all the land along the boundary lines from
acres into town lots.
PUSHING SUBURBAN PROPERTY.
The public interest in suburban property,
which of late years has been very alert has
been stimulated this season by unusual efforts
made by owners of property of this character
Mr.. Washington Danenhower who has the
management of the subdivision of the old CAL
vert place on the Washington branch of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad just beyond
Hyattsyllle, has run free excursion trains from
the city to that place for the past ten days.
lie has a band of music provided and furnishes
free lunch of coffee and sandwiches on the
grounds. He told STAR man recently that
his daily expenses amounted to 5000. He has
sold during that time, he states, daily average
of some forty lots, and he intends to continue
this program until he has disposed of all the
lots offered for sale. Suburban properties in
other directions about the city have been put
on the market in the same way although. per-
haps, not on quite such an elaborate scale.
These and similar enterprises show that
there mus. be an abundance of money await
ing investment. The number of acres reduced
to building lots during the past year has been
very large and still new subdivisions are con-
stantly being made. Along the lines of the
various steam railroads leading into the CITY
there have been a great many incipent towns
started. Similar activity is witnessed along
the street car lines extending into the country
Large tracts of land in the vicinity of the
lexington electric road, the Brightwood street
car line and the Georgetown ard Tenleytown
electric road have been divided into building
sites.
SOME PREVAILING PRICES.
On the line of the latter road work is still in
progress on the subdivision Of Tunlaw Heights
and of Oak View, the latter being the former
residence of ex-President Cleveland In the
former subdivision some of the lots fronting
on the Tenleytown road have been sold, it is
stated for 30 cents per foot. number of lots
in the Oak View subdivision have also been sold
at prices ranging from 80 to 80 cents These
figures Will give some idea of the character OF the
movement which Is in progress i'll the suburbs
There Is another interesting fact in connection
with suburban development, and that is that
IN some instances the owners of the property
do not stop with making the ordinary improve
ments, which IN most instances consist of plow-
ing up the streets and perhaps planting trees,
but they lay brick sidewalks, put down sewer
and water pipes and introduce an electric light
plant. In one instance even asphalt pavement
was laid on the country streets.
ALONG THE CONDrIT Ro.n
The attractions of the suburbs are never
likely to remain hidden for lack of persons to
call public attention to them. Just now the adj
vantages of the country along the Conduit
road are being made prominent. No doubt
the impulse Ill this direction was started Dv the
purchase by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
OF the Freeman tract lying this side of the
Chain Bridge. There is d good deal of specu-
latlon as to just what this move the part of the
railroad company means, but there seems to be
n weil-scttlcd conviction that n branch line will
be extended from the Metropolitan road to
that point A railroad down this side of the
Potomac river to Georgetown is among the
possibilities. All tiIls section OF country needs
the property owners say. is rapid and easy COM
munication with the city and then the Rhine
country of the District, as this locality is called
will be enjoyed by others than the mere casual
visitor.
EELAEGING OAK VIEW.
lHe present OWNER OF YAK view. MIR. L. g..
Newlands, is having plans prepared for an en-
larSement OF the house formerly occupied BY
ex-President Cleveland. Mr.. Newlands intends
to live there fora portion of the year at least
He VIII probably build adjoining the present
| residence house of similar size. the bulIdip %
being connected by passage way. There i;
about an acre of ground about the place which
was retained when the subdivision was made.
! 1t Is said that if all the lots are sold at the
present prices the property will clear 600. 600
exclusive OF the house and grounds about it,
TWO NEW HOUSES.
Work on two new houses for Messrs l.. A.
Barr and F. L. Sanner has been begun on Goth
| street between and streets. They will have
| frontage of 30 feet. will be built of brown
| stone up TO the frst-story window stills and the
| stone work Is further continued up the two
| circular bays to the second story; the rest OF
| the fronts are of pressed bricks. They will be
! three stories and basement in height with halt
mansard red slate roofs. The bay on one house
/ will be continued up through the roof as a
| tower, while on the other the bay stops at the
| third floor, the front then finishing with gable
| The interiors are to be handsomely finished in
| hard wood. The lots on which these houses
| are to be built extend through to Connection,
I avenue. each % feet wide, and adjon the hand.
some new residence being butt for Wm L.
Davis, vice president OF the New York World
! Company. Messrs. Barr and Sanner will soon
| build on them two very handsome light stone
| front houses. The architect is Mr.. L. +
| Schneider.
Youthful Temperance Crusaders