Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-05
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
The Signs OF Spring rs Observed by
the Suburban Resident.

There il q source Of bucolic enjoyment which
| pertains alone to the suburban resident NJ
doubt, as he is whirled in and out of the city
each morning and evening at this season from
his business to his home. he observes the gaun
arms OF the trees gradually taking on graceful
outlines a. the foliage deveiops. He notices.
that the grass is starting in the sheltered hooks
and he speculates as to whether the season
promises to be favorable for the crops. As q
rule it is q matter of indifference to him
whether the land is ready for the pillow. He is
not, generally speaking, interested in the kind
Of crops that are dependent upon the use OF
the pillow. On the contrary. he looks to see il
there are any signs Of house building. He is
concerned to know if any new subdi-
visions are being made and what
progress has been attained in open
ing up new streets. The agriculture that
interests him is the kind that is planned out in
real estate Offices and is the result OF the deib-
eratiOns Of syndcates. great deal OF in
formation as to the agricultural prospects in
this direction Of the country lying adjacent to
the city can be obtained from the car windows
along any of the lines of railroad leading out Of
the city. The succession of fourishing settle
ments on the Metropolitan branch of the Balti-
more and Ohio road from the city limits to
Rockville attest the excellence of the real
estate agriculture employed in the past These
oettlemenb are RrOWluH CONSTANTLY anu the
present season will witness the erection OF a
large number of new houses. There are
several new subdivisions which will be devel-
oped and the prospects for the coming season
are regarded as promising.
Those familiar with property along the Wash
ington branch of the Baltimore and Ohio road
say that there has never been 30 much interest
manifested as at present. Capital has been in
vested freely and large tracts Of land have been
purchased and subdivisions made. From the
city to Laurel there is a succession of settle
ments, some in embryo, which will be de-
veloped If money and energy can accomplish
it. The places already started feel the i'm
pulses Of the new movement and houses are
being erected. Along the Baltimore and Poto-
mac railroad and the Washington and Ohio
railroad there is also considerable activity in
property. The sections of the suburbs not con-
venient to any line of steam railroads are not
being neglected. The residents OF Falls Church
and of the section of Alexandria county lying
between that place and this city are anxious to
have an electric road built which will connect
them directly with the city over the new
bridge. The Tenleytown Electric road will be
opened to travel, it is expected in the course of
few weeks, and a bill is now before Congress
to secure the authority to build road out Con-
necticut avenue extended. The Brightwood
railroad Is already in operation, and the res
idents along the 9TH street road will prob
ably soon enjoy the rapid transit afforded by
the Judson system, which is about to be sub
stituted for the horse power now in use. The
additional extensions asked for by the Ecking-
ton Electric road will further increase the
means of communication between the city
and that section OF the suburbs. 1t il
also proposed to have street railway
running across the new Pennsylvania avenue
bridge over the Eastern branch, and number
OF extensive Improvements are in contempla-
ton in that section of the suburbs. The de-
velopment of the suburbs Of the city is an indi-
cat n a arnr Iafi nff vaIu nfv
erty within the limits of the city and Of the
growth in the population. The proposed ex-
tension of the city streets uniform with the
plan Of the city is already anticipated by the
law, which requires all subdivisions Of subur-
ban property to be in accordance with the plan
OF the city. The growth of the city so as to in
clude the entire District does not appear to be
such remote probability as it seemed to be a
few years ago.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY IMPROVEMENT.
A number Of important improvements are
about to be made at Howard University, which
will add very much to the attractiyeness of the
group of buildings and will also increase the
efficiency of that educational center One of
the features of the education given at Howard
University is the manual training school The
usefulness OF this school has been impaired by
reason Of inadequate quarters. This defect
will be remedied by the erection of a large
building, which will be fitted up for the exclu-
sive use of this department. MIR. Robert L.
Fleming, the architect, ID preparing plans for a
handsome brick structure. which will have a
frontage OF $50 feet, with an l. rs by 30 feet.
The building will be two stories in height and
will be built in the modern style. 1t is also
proposed to improve and beautify the grounds
about the university buildings. The natural
advantages of the present location of the uni.
versity are to be supplemented by artistic
| surroundings. Mention has already been
made in The STAR of the erection Of
| a handsome residence for the use of the pres
dent of the university, Rev. DIR. Rankin. Thi.
house will be built of brick and stone and the
design is a very attractive one. 1t is proposed
to erect on the portion of the grounds west Of
| the main university building a chapel which
! will be one of the handsomest structures in the
entire group Of university buildings. 1t will be
built OF stone, with belfry towering above the
roof. The design of the proposed building i,
| picturesque and at the same time it is ecclesi
| sstical i'll character.
SOME SALES ON @ STREET.
The interest in G. street property and in othe]
business property in that vicinity was quit,
marked during the week. Several importan
transactions are reported. The property OF
each side Of Epiphany Church changed hands
On the west side the Gardner property, which
has frontage Of so feet and a depth of 2l:
| feet. was secured by q syndicate. The pric,
paid was S69, 600, which is nearly Sc per square
foot. The Cowling stable property, on the cas-
side. which has frontage of about 80 feet anC
| a depth of about rs. was purchased for S25 600
which Is at the rate of over 50 per square foot
The frame house between the stable and the
church was sold some days ago for $4,000. The
| lot Is Is by lOl feet Some of the prices OBJ
| tanned for q street property recently are as fol
lows: The northwest corner of 18th and G
streets, about Si2 so per square foot; the no tn
east corner Of l1th and G streets, SIS per foot
houses 1919 and 1921 g street, the ground be ms
! 40 by 96, nearly $40 per square foot. and houses
| 1904 and l2O6 g street, the lots being "a by 8:
| feet each, over 81 per square foot. The deal
ers report good demand for this property.
| MR.. wANAMAKER's ALLEGED INvEsrMESTs.
One of the features of the G street boom o
the past week was the persistent rumor which
credited Postmaster General Wanamaker will
being the purchaser of the orphan asylum
property which occupies the upper half OF tn,
| square between 10th and 1lth streets. Tn,
asylum authorities denied the truth of tn,
| runner and n contradiction was also made OF
| behalf OF MIR. Wanamaker. There was also ,
/ report, which was industriously circulated tina
MIR. Wanamaker had invested in corner lot II
! the upper portion Of G street, but this als,
| lacked confirmation. Then Dame Rumor, leav
| ing q street, flew to the residence on Farragr
| square which was occupied by Secretary Trac
| at the time of the late tragic fire and the epor
was circulated on the street that Mr.. Wanna
maker had become the owner of that property
This last report also remained unconfrmed
| While il is not known that Mr. Wanamaker ha
become interested IN Washington property a
an owner beyond the investment which he mad
when he purchased the Whitney house be no,