Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-12
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
How rhe People Enjoy Rides Into the
Country.

REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
How rhs People Enjoy Rides Into the
Country.
THE NEW rLfcTRIc ROADS AND THEIR GROWING
BEING PRovIDEp-woMEN As REAL ESTATE
AaESrs-orHxn Matters OF ISrrarsr.
1t il hardly necessary Mt this late day to state
the fact that the citizens OF Washington are
very much Interested in the suburbs The
Large sums of money invested in suburban
property may be regarded a. Q rather substan-
tial indication OF interest. 1t seems however,
that people are not only willing to place their
money in the suburbs but they are fond of
making excursions beyond the bounds of the
city. Thousands so out every pleasant day IN
carriages and drive over the picturesque roads
which abound IN this vicinity. The thousands
more who neither own an equipage of their
own nor are able to hire one 20 also. The
driving OF this latter class is limited to the
roadways OF the electric roads, which now ex-
tend out into the country. These roads are
well pat-onized- For example. the lexington
Electric, which runs out to the new Catholic
University and to Glenwood Cemetery, during
the month OF June carried over three thousand
passengers daily. On general holiday like
Decoration day the traffic was over ten thou
sand passengers. Now this company is about
10 extend their line through 5th and G streets
to 18th street. and this direct communication
with the heart of the city will no doubt increase
the daily number of visitors to the country.
The Georgetown and Tenleytown Electric
road is also a favo-ite drive for the people
The tracks have been laid nearly to Tenley-
town and the work Is being pushed forward
rapidly with the ultimate intention of reach
ing the District line. In order to accommo-
date those who ride for pleasure temporary
pavilion has been built at the present termi-
nus of the road which is beyond Oak View
The facilities now afforded for reaching Oak
View would probably not make that place
seem 80 desirable n place OF residence to
the former owner, ex-Presldent Cleveland, as
in the day when the impecunious Office seeker
was discouraged from calling on the President
in his country retreat by the preliminary neces-
sity OF making some satisfactory arrangement
with the livery man.
OUT THE SEVENTH STREET ROAD.
Those who don't care about the scenery along
the Tenleytown road or in the vicinity of Eek
ington can travel out the 7.h street road to
Brishtwood The cars are still drawn by
horses on this line, but the company is now
engaged in putting in the Judson system,
which will enable tho cars to glide along in the
same mysterious fashion that is the feature Of
the electric and the cable roads. 1t ought not
to be forgotten in enumerating the suburban
street railroads that the thriving town of An
acostia, across the Eastern Branch, is con-
nected with the city by street railway.
great many people 60 over there every evening
to enjoy the cool breezes which are said by the
residents to be several degrees superior to that
found in any other section of the suburbs
BY next spring another great artery OF travel
from the city will he opened up. At that time
it il expected that the Rock Greek railroad,
the new electric road which is to be built on
aaA will No
pleted. This part of Connecticut avenue has
only come into existence within tho past few
months. Then surveyors found their way
through the forests which extended in almost
native wildness from the Woodley Lane road
to the District line, and drove their stakes. A
greater part of the land through which
the avenue passes had been purchased
by Mr.. F. q. Newlands. the representative
of what is known as the California syndicate.
Now the survey of the avenue has been COM
pleted and the trees cleared from the land over
the entire line. A charter for an electric street
railway was granted by Congress and contract,
have been given cut for grading the road bed
and on the northern end considerable progress
has been made with the work. The distance
from the boundary OF the city to the District
line is about four miles. The avenue and also
the railroad is to be extended beyond the Dis
trict line into Maryland and will be continued
through property owned by the same parties
to point in the Laird farm be-
be formed with the proposed Metropolitan
Southern railroad, which Is to be built, 1t is
SAID, from Linden on the Metropolitan Branch
OF the baltimore and Ohio to the Potomac
river near the Chain Bridge. and is to cross the
river over q new bridge, thus giving the Baltl-
more and Ohio q southern connection. The
Maryland part OF the Rock Creek railroad will
be about mile long. The road will 20 through
q new country and 1t is expected that improve
ments will be made all along the line.
WOMEN As REAL ESTATE AGENTS.
In this city at least the sphere of woman in
cludes the real estate business. There are quite
a large number of women who are extensive
owners of property. which they attend to per-
sonally. They build houses and then rent or
sell them, they look out for chances for invest
mcns and rely upon their own Judgment in de-
termining whether an investment promises
well or not. Some Of them have been very
successful. There il one woman at least an
perhaps others who conduct business as
real estate agents, but they seem to
prefer to do business for themselves
rather than ~ agents for others.
low vs. HIGH CEILINGS.
There is more discussion during the heated
term about the relative coouess OF houses and
the advantage of this or tina. location in refer
once 70 the points of tho compass than at any
other period of the year. This is the time
when people talk about the south exposure and
ing house where a free circulation of air can
be secured Defects in house construction which
were never before noticed are at this time apt
to become glaringly apparent. The man who
from motives of economy or ignorance reduced
the height OF the air space over the upper story
OF his house Is apt to think he made a mistake
when he compares the temperature of the
rooms in that story with the rooms in
the lower stories. Perhaps more important
question affecting recent popular fashion in
house building is that Of the relative advantages
! OF rooms with high ceilings compared with
rooms having low ceilings. Whatever artistic
features low ceilings give to ahouse the main
point in hot weather at least is whether such
rooms are as comfortable those having high
ceilings. There is no doubt that in the former
| case there is considerable less stair case TO
| climb, which is an undoubted recommendation
! for low ceilings, but then people don't sit
and try to sleep on stair cases, but
| in the rooms. Neither are they cooled
, off by gazing upon the artistic features of the
interior OF house. Il 10 true that stuffy
rooms, if low ceilings are in any way RESPONSE
Bile for them, are only strikingly uncomfortable
during the heated term, which is COMPARE
! lively a small part of the year. but still short
AS the season is the weather is of such nature
rs to cause even change in house construc-