Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-15

| rapldity The Rock Creek railway is another
| great enterprise. which, although not yet COM
| pleted has ALREADY added many hundred thou
sand dollars to the value of suburban property.
| In 1887, through the efforts of the Commits
sloners, aided by an energetic committee OF
citizens from the county, new items we're in
serted in the District appropriation bill, one
| for constructing suburban sewers and the other
| for constructing suburban streets. and appro-
| priations have been regularly made under these
heads since. Appropriations were also made
| for bridging the Eastern branch at Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Rock creek at Woodley road.
| The liberality Of Congress, as thus shown. has
been supplemented by expenditures of even
| greater magnitude on the part Of the owners
| of property in the county. This has become
prominent feature of the suburban develop
meut and asphalt pavements, curb and side
| walks, private water supply and electric lights,
! provided wholly by private enterprise, now
to be found in a number of subdivisions.
TO CONFORM TO THE PLAN OF THE CITY.
1.-THE act Of Congress approved August ~,
| 1883, requiring that future subdivisions of
property without the limits of the cities of
Washington and Georgetown shall conform
with the general plan OF the city of Washing
ton, has done more perhaps than any single
measure for the development OF suburban
property. This was regarded as q pledge that
the city streets and avenues would ut an early
date be extended through the intervening ir-
regular subdivisions which did not conform to
the plan OF the city, and which have done
much to retard the growth of the suburbs. A
bill having this object in view has been pre-
pared under the auspices OK the board Of
trade and favorably reported by the House
committee on the District of Columbia. This
bill, which originally had many opponents, has
now almost the unanimous support of the peo-
pie OF the District, and will doubtless become
a law before the close of the next session of
Congress. The acts for the establishment of
the Geological Park and the Rock Greek Park
have been, and will continue to be, of inesti-
mable value in the development of both the
city and suburbs"
Why did you adopt the policy of making
city Improvements in the country" Mr.. Trues-
dell was asked.
TO make my property more attractive and
saleable," he replied. 81 found what every
other owner of suburban property has discov-
ered-that people would not leave the we'll
lighted and well-paved streets of the city, to
any great extent, and build houses along mud
streets IN the country that were destitute of
every city convenience. l found, moreover,
that IN the ordinary course of events it would
Improvements at the public expense, 80 / con-
cluded to anticipate the future to some extent
by providing them at my own expense and
have never regretted that conclusion"
Does 1t pay. and why does II pay?" con-
tlnued the listener.
Il think il does" was the response ut adds
from two to five times the cost of the improve
ment to the value of tho land and incidentally
benefits the public 10 even greater extent
is this policy likely to become more gen.
eral In the futureT was the next inquiry.
Il think it is" Col. Truesdell said MY ex-
ample has already been followed in several
subdiylslOtls with profit, and that is n complete
answer. People who desire to build good
houses will demand these improvements, and
Will not buy if they cannot ge. them. The
world moves steadily forward, and those who
do not keep up with the procession will get
left Washington Heights and lexington are
acknowledged by every one who has seen
them to be the most attractive subdivisions in
the District, not alone because of their great
natural beauty, but because they have every
possible city convenience. Even the conservG-
tive owners of suburban property have caught
the spirit of Improvement, and more money is
now being expended by private enterprise In
the development of suburban property than
the public expenditures for street improve
mentS IN the entire District. This phase of
suburban development will continue from year
to year until the suburbs of Washington be-
come the beauty and wonder Of the world"
WEST END BANK BUILDING.
Work has been commenced on the new
quarters for the West End National Bank,
located on G street between 14th and 18th
streets northwest. The plans were prepared
by A. Z. Clark, jr., architect, who will super
intend the work. The front, up to the second
story slils, will be Of granite, enriched with
carving. The entrance Is through large arch
way to an open tiled vestibule, from which ac-
cess Is obtained to the bank and the staircase
TO floors above. The banking room will be
twenty-five feet wide by seventy feet deep IN
the rear OF which will be the directors room
thirteen by twenty, and the presidents room
and vault, the vault facing into the bank -oom
Inc noors, wainscotlng, counters and other
woodwork OF this floor will be of quartered oak
The upper floors will be divided into Office
rooms. seven on each floor. The building will
be heated by steam and have electric lights,
&c. The rooms Will be ready for the bank on
February l next.
MR.. PEARcE's RKsID EScE.
Mr.. ". H. Pearce will soon begin the cree
ton OF residence on o street between Goth
and 2lst streets northwest from plans made by
A. T. Clark, jr., architect. The building will
be % feet wide and three stories and base
ment IN height. The front will be faced with
Hummelstown brown stone to the height of
the irst-story sils, the balance to be of pressed
brick with brown-stone trimmings. A circular
bay window will extend TO the third story and
the front will terminate in an ornamental brick
frleZe with copper cornice. A handsome brown
stone porch will lead up to the front entrance,
The FIRST floor will contain the parlor with
large reception and stair hall in the rear, back
OF which Will be the dining room. The first
floor will be finished in hard woods aud the
house will be heated by hot water.
CITY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COUNTRY
The modern subdivision Is not alone SUD-
piled with paved streets. but a system Of sewer
age and water supply is introduced, so that
while living in the country residents may en- ioy
the comforts of life in the city. Large sums of
money are being expended in this way, and as
these improvements are under the direction of
shrewd men OF affairs the movement has a SUBJ
stantial character. which is gratifying to those
who are interested in the continued prosperity
of the city.
The railroads already built and those that
are now being built are and will be mainly in
strunental in extending the suburbs of the
city, not only to the District line, but beyond
into Maryland On the Washington branch Of
the baltimore and Ohio the line of suburban
settlements extends to Laurel, while on the
metropolitan branch the suburban towns may
be found as far as Rockville and beyond. 1t is,
therefore, not surprising to find, fifteen miles
and more from the city, large tracts of land
laid out into building sites, houses erected and
streets opened up, and improved in some in
stances by graveling and in others by macad-
amizing. In Garrett Park, Kensington
and other subdivisions along the Metropolitan
branch some Of the streets are macadamized.
As is well known the establishment of a subur-
ban settlement in Maryland Just beyond the
District forms part of the comprehensive plan
OF improvements which the projectors of the
Connections avenue extension and the Rock
Creek railroad intend to carry out This new
town will be laid out on plan similar to that
OF this city. There will be a water supply and
sewer system and electric lighting. The
streets will be macadamized and the town will
be a model suhurhau placa