Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03
nh. BARNEY's NEW RESIDENCE.
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP,

NH. BARxEY's NEW RESIDENCE.
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
Defective F1ues and the Building Reguls-
tons.
THE RECORD ron THE PAST YEAR N RxAI. rs
TATE AN UNUSUAL oNE-THE ADDITIONS MADE
TO THE FINE RESIDENCES OF THE cIry-orHER
MATTERS.
A defective hue is said to have been the cause
of the fire in the Blaine house the other day,
30 many fires in recent years have been at
tributed to the same cause that it is not sur
prising efforts have been made to devise rene
dies. There is nothing in the nature Of a mod
ern fue that is absolutely dangerous. The peril
lies in the defective construction. careless
workman may thrust the head Of q joist into
fue either in the same house or an adjoining
house. In the course of time the wood being
heated becomes charred and then flame bursts
out. Whenever o fue can be reached by o
thoughtless or ignorant workman, there is, Of
course, danger that he has brought the wood
closer to the heat than perfect safety warrants.
There have been cases where plug driven into
the wall to receive the hook BY which the man.
tel cabinet is fastened has entered fiue and
been charred by the heat. Sometimes house
is filled with smoke from some unknown cause,
which investigation proves has come from the
burning of the wooden frame which supports
the brick arch of the hearth Of the fire.
place; The wood has been too close
one case in thousand where defective con-
struction Of this character results in a serious
confagration. Still the authorities in this city
have devised regulations which are designed to
prevent the dangers arising from such careless
ness on the part Of workmen. The building
regulations now provide that all fues shall be
built OF terra Gotta piping encased in at least
four and one-hah inches of brick work. In
cases where the architect does not care to use
terra Gotta he can construct the usual fues or
openings in the chimneys under the condition
that such fues must be surrounded BY a brick
wall at least nine inches thick. In either event
at least four inches are allowed for the opening
for the wooden joist or whatever is inserted.
When the fues are surrounded with brick,
about four inches and half measures the
pie, and the heat Of the flue. When terra Gotta
Is used the joists can he brought nearly up to it
without danger. The terra Gotta fiue is very
generally employed since this regulation went
into effect, and in nearly all the new houses
the f1ues are built of this material The rule
is to frame out, that is. to fit in cross-piece
little distance from the wall at the point where
the fues are and then rest the ends of the
joists upon this cross-piece instead of carrying
the joists into the wall. When this is done
there is no danger from fire. The fact that SO
few fires occur in this city is an evidence that
great care is exercised in the construction of
houses. There is no feature of building that is
more closely looked after than the construc-
ton in the vicinity Of flues not only by the
building inspector and his assistants. but by
architects and builders. II this was not the
case the proportion of fires would be largely
increased, especially at this season of the year
when furnaces are run at the maximum in order
to keep the houses comfortably warm.
GOOD YEAR FOR REAL ESTATE.
The past year has been one of unchecked
prosperity in real estate in the city. 1t will
stand out prominently in this history of the
city as the period when great enterprises were
inaugurated the influence of which will be felt
for years to come. The location of the Rock
Creek Park, the opening up of Connecticut
avenue extended for seven miles into the sub
urbs and the building of an electric railroad
along this avenue, the development of the bust
ness sections Of the city and the activity in
suburban property are the notable events of
the year. For the past month, as is usual at
this time OF year, there has not been much to
engage the activities Of real estate brokers, but
they look forward to a revival of business dur
ing the coming season. The present dullness
is not attributed to either a lack of money or
an interest in real estate. Property that is
d
ready sale. There has been but very little
offered under such conditions. Prices remain
firm, which shows that owners of property
are able to carry their holdings. This state Of
affairs furnishes good evidence that generally
speaking Washington property is held in strong
hands, and that the activity of the past year
had a good, substantial basis. The present
situation is therefore regarded by operators as
afiording,a very encouraging outlook for the
future. The prediction il made that the COM
no n Onn nvA Navt l.
usually the time when real estate begins to at
tract general attention, and the brokers are
looking forward to the next season with pleas
ant anticipation.
HOUSES COSTING $4,000 AND UPWARDS.
About !, 900 new houses were erected in this
city during the year just ended. A somewhat
larger number were built during the year 1889,
but the total sum expended, as shown by the
records of the Office Of the building inspector,
fall considerably short of the money that was
put into brick and mortar during the past year
The new buildings erected were not quite SO
numerous as last year, but they cost more
The cost Of the dwellings, stores and other
buildings erected, the repairs and additions
made during the past year, as shown by the
records, was 81, 642,3 Last year the expendi-
$5, 5O0, COO.
The following residences costing $40, 900 and
upwards were erected or were in course of
erection during the year. The values are those
given in the building permits, which in most
cases are below the real cost:
Residence Of r. A. Neale, 1908 H street.
$1,000; Miss Minnie Evan, 1919 Rhode Island
avenue, S12, 900; Mrs. z. Chandler, 1901 10th
street, $4,000; H. d. Renninger, 1915 18th
street, $l2, 1000; Addison 4 Larcombe, agents,
1720 Massachusetts avenue, S16, 900; Emmert 4
Heisley. 1922 goth street, S10 500; H. A. Sey-
mour, 1887 Connecticut avenue. so. 600; John
Gibson, 1908 18th street. SIC, 900; Geo. A. Jor-
dan, 1917 street, $4,000; Henry Ortiz, 1Ol1 L
street. SIS, 600; Mrs. A. G. Hunt, 1915 Massa-
chusetts avenue, SOS, 900; A. s. Pratt No. 9
Iowa circle, $14, 600; Sidney A. Kent, TIA
Massachusetts, avenue, S25 600; F.. w. Pratt,
No. "a Iowa circle, $4,000; Henry Strong, 1920
street, $40, 900; Mrs. F. G. Dennison, 1917
Il street, $4,000; Mrs. R. B. Hornsby,
Mrs. 8. P. Dixie, 1909 and 1911 Connecticut
avenue, $4,000: Mrs. H. A. Wharton, 1926
Connecticut avenue, $4,000; DIR. Z. d. Webb,
1923 18th street, $4,000 r. F. Shepard, 1906
18th street, SIG 900; Mrs. W. B. Downing, gao
Massachusetts, avenue, 81, 900; VIM. Wall. 1916
N street. $11, 600; Geo. 8. Fraser l7Ol 10Th
street, S75, 1000; A.C. Barney 1876 Rhode Island
avenue, "a, 900; Mrs. yohRO. Evans, 1919 18th
street, oil, 600; A. Il. 8. Foote, 2O2l II street,
$500; DR.. r. H. Gunnell, 1765 Q street,
10OO; Rev: DR.: McKim, 1911 X street,
81, 900; G. I. Wade. GA street, $40 900; Chas'
W; simpson. 1912 Q erect, $12 600; Jas r. Nc
Ash, 1926 18th street, 81, 900; T. r. Schneider,
1776 Q street, $50, 900; Lewis H. Emmert 1881
New Hampshire avenue, SIS, 900: T. c. Stevens.
1923 10th street, go, 600; A. C. Tyler, 1924 /
street, $4,000; w. c. Winlock, 26O5 b street.
$40 1000; JAS. J.. Sheehy, 2Ol4 P street, 1000
VIM; n. PoindeIter, 1854 Connecticut avenue,