Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-22

TEE SUBSTANTIAL CHARACTER OF THE PROPERTY
MOVEMENT ON CAPITOL HILL-THE LARGEST
BREWERY IN TIE soUTH-oTHER MATTERS OF
INTEREST.
o. HE activity in building operations
"a which has been such marked feature
81 Sof the past year in the history Of the
E.Scity, is nowhere more noticeable than in
the section east of the Capitol Row after row
of residences have been erected and in some
cases entire squares have been improved. The
residence portions OF Capitol Hiil which has
been confined to one or two centers. have ex-
banded and are now pretty well blended.
Squares of vacant ground between East Capitol
street and street north for example have
been built up to very large extent. The i'm
provements are of an attractive character and
this section is now one OF the handsome resi-
dence portions of the city. This activity in
building was preceded by extensive transac-
tions, which have changed the ownership of
large blocks of real estate. While, OF course,
there was speculative phase in this move
ment, still the erection of houses By the new
owners is an evidence of Its substantial char
acter. As rapidly as the houses we've built they
were either bought outright or rented, and in
this way the population of that section of the
city has received numerous additions. The
end of the line of the Metropolitan railroad on
East Capitol street no longer marks the limit of
population. 1t has gone beyond this limit. and
nth street in some parts only can now be re-
garded as the eastern limit of the CITY. To the
north and south the tide of improvements and
population has come up to the city limits and
passed beyond The farm lands have been
surveyed into city lots; streets have been
opened and houses built. Trinidad. a suburb
to the northeast, near the end of the ii street
car line. contains a number OF houses recently
built, which are occupied by the owners. while
former boundary lines and large tracts of land
have been laid out into building sites
at the eastern end of the new bridge. The
growth in the population Is shown III the ap-
probation of values. Prices are obtained for
lots which would be surprising to persons who
have not followed tie rapid advances which
this section of the city has made. Even old
residents on Capitol Hill who are unaccustomed
to go outside OF the limits which their daily
duties determine are obliged 10 rub their eyes
in order to make sure that they have not wan
dered long distance from home, when by
chance they go through q street which they have
not visited for some time. 1t is quite certain
that material progress IN the eastern section
has acquired rapid gait. Even the street
railway companies have recognized the changed
conditions and the inadequacy of the present
facilities, which were designed for totally diff
ferent CONDITIONS. Applications were made at
the last session of Congress not only by the old
companies but by proposed companies for per-
mission to tap this growing section III
several quarters. No new railroad facilities
was granted. but the population is going right
on increasing, comfortable attractive homes
are being built, and ii Is evident that it is ONLY
question of time when the railroad needs OF
East Washington will be fully supplied The
causes which have produced such marvellous
changes and have been the Impulse of the SUBJ
stantial progress which has been made are BY
no means obscure. They can be summed up
very readily ii a few words and when it is SAID
that this section furnishes favorable opportu-
mites for securing comfortable homes with
agreeable surroundings about all has been said
that can be said
MR.. HERRELL's VIEWS.
This is the opinion of Mr. John E. Herrel
who is large owner of real estate in that Sec
ton, and is beside the president of the National
Capital Bank. He said TO a STAR man. who
was talking to him the other day about East
Washington, This section of the city has
grown very rapidly during the past year. Per-
haps in proportion the growth has been greater
than IN other sections, but 1t has been sub
stantial. The business interests have expanded
ana multiplied. This of course accounts some
what for the increase IN the population. But
East Washington Is not a separate city. It
shares IN the prosperity of the entire city. and
if people choose to make their homes here it is
because they find greater inducements offered
them here than elsewhere"
But after all" ne continued. "the prime
cause OF our prosperity is the fact that we are
proyements. For eighty years this section Of
the city has been paying taxes which were
used in improving the streets i'll the other Sec
tons OF the city. As a natural result people
dld not choose to make their homes in a locdl-
lty where there were no pavements or side
walks or IN fact any public improvements
Our natural advantages were and are superior
to other sections of the city which were built
up years ago. But new houses are built where
there are modern convenIences and facilities
aud the truth OF this statement has been
demonstrated time and time again since we
began to get some share OF the public money
Tor street improvements. Show me where a
street has been improved and / Will show YOU
rows OF houses That Is the whole secret of the
matter. Capitol HILL has been neglected, and
shamefulIy, too, by those who were supposed
20 have the interests of the entire city at heart
We have not had our streets improved. because
the money has been spent else where. and the
favored sections of the city have increased in
population Now. Capitol Hill is beginning to
get some proportion of Its share of the appro-
Prlatlons made for public improvements 1t
has not yet received its entire share, but il is
getting more than was formerly the case after
being starved for So many years, and now that
We are beginning to get II little food surprise IS
expressed that We are looking rather sleek and
fat There IS no cause for wonder or surprlse
except perhaps that this section of the CITY has
At last been recognized If the same policy il
continued there Is no question but that East
Washington will be in the future more than il
portion of the city"
THE TWO NEEDS
"There two things that this section of
the city needs" continued Mr.. Herrell. lone
IL that the amount Of the money expended
yearly in this part of the city for improve
ments should be increased until we receive
our fair share. There Is another thing and
that is the assessment of taxes should be eaual-
lied, and as one means of bringing this about
am III favor OF apermanent board of assessors.
Here on Capitol Hill property Is assessed at
about its market value, while in other sections
Of the city the assessment is far below the
market value. Take. for example. street
property, where much $50 per square
foot has been paid That property Is assessed
at S3 or "a per foot. 1t can readily be seen
that street property is not paying its fair
snare toward the revenues of the District.
Such inequalities ought to be corrected and
believe that the appointment of a permanent
board OF assessors would be q long step in the
right direction"
BIO BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.
In addition to the increase in population Of
last Washington several large business enter
Prises have quite recently located there. Per-
haps the most notable Is the National Capital
Brewing Company. This company is now
erecting an enormous brewery on the square
between 18th and Isth, ID and f. streets SOUTH
east. where the brewery of Mr. Rabe has been