Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-30

THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF MASSACHUSETTS,
AvESUE-THE METHODIST UNIVERSITY SITE
SOME FINE SUBURBAN RESIDENCES - OTHER
MATTERS OF INTEREST.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL, SALES OF
l. property recently which are rather notable
as showing the appreciation in values. One
sale in particular was that of the entire square
between 10th, 18th, W streets and Florida ave-
nue. 1t contained only about SO, 900 square feet,
and yet nearly &94, 900 was paid, which is
at the rate of over 81 per foot. In the judg-
ment OF conservative real estate dealers this is
not high figure for this property, and yet
compared with former values it shows an ap-
probation that would make the mouth of the
ordinary investor fairly water. Byformer values
is not meant the prices that prevailed before
the war or even for good many years after the
war. Twenty-Five years ago 10 cents would
have been considered big price, and to 20
further back a few hundred dollars would have
been all that the property would have brought
under the most favorable circumstances It is
not necessary, however, to appeal to the
recollection of the Oldest inhabitant in
order to deduce evidence showing the
increase in values Of this particular piece of
property or OF any other in the city or in the
suburbs A comparison with the record OF
n'.ASS Ai"oS hsc Ok Ola yedTB ago WOulu Snow all
advance Of between so and 100 per cent
Within that brief period the city has grown out
to Its bounds and has gone beyond them. Then
the squares lying at the extreme limits Of the
city we're neglected commons. Now they are
built up for the most part compactly and
Boundary street or as it is now more euphoni-
ously termed Florida avenue is no longer q re-
mote point in the country. Six years ago the
square fronting on Florida avenue between
18th and Goth streets and of about the same di-
VNlv rrfau
for AZ cents per foot The newspaper notices
OF the sale at the time stated the price was re-
garded as much higher than it was thought it
was possible to obtain. Any real estate broker
would consider that an offer of 100 per cent in
advance OF that figure would now not only be a
prudent one to make, but in case it was ac-
cepted that it would prove to be a very
desirable investment. An advance of 100 per
cent in values within a period of five or six
years would appear to conservative man
instances, both III the city and in the suburbs,
where the advance has been three and four
Times as great and yet 1t has never
been said of Washington as of
great many other cities that there
has been u boom in real estate here. The rea-
son Is that the city during the period named
mas been growing in population steadily. The
census figures showed that there had been dur
ing the past ten years average yearly addI-
ton OF 600 souls to the population of the city.
w" "onhiHSIOu OCCupleB Tue lOuTttcuW
place in the list Of the cities in the United
states rated according to population.
TO IMPROVE STREET CAR FAcILIrIEs-
The changes that have taken place in the sur
roundings OF the square just purchased during
the past five OF six years are pretty good indi-
cations of the causes which have led to
the increase in its value. Then the
street cars ran out 18th street as far as o
street Now the line has been continued
all the way to the city limits and
1t has been announced that the company own
Ing TINS line intends soon to make change in
the motive power employed and, instead of
horses, introduce some more rapid mo-
tor. The extension OF their line and the
proposed large outlay of money to make
such a change are of course the nat
ural result of the growth in population
OF that section of the city. People who used to
think Q and r streets good ways out now
think nothing Of going out to L and W streets
and locating their homes. What is true of this
section OF the city practically be said of all
vance of values have been proportionately
greater for the reason that the starting point
In values was much less in the case of suburban
property than with city property.
BILIOUS AND ANTI-BILIoUs VIEWS
The question is frequently asked, "Is this in
crease in values going to continue?" The an
swers given naturally vary with the tempera-
ment of the individual questioned Some men
are more sanguinc than others. STAR man
has put the question to a number whose judg-
ments are supposed to be rather sound on
real estate values, and without making an exact
medical diagnosis of their condition the conclu-
sion was reached that there are about three
opinions which may be said to prevail. One is
mildly bilious, another sem-bilious and the
third is anti-biious. The latter class is de-
cidedly In the majority and their views are
based upon the continued growth in population
and prosperity OF this city. They say that the
city is now conceded to be the most beautiful
In the world; that as the country grows this city
Is bound to grow and to attract to it n desirable
class OF people. They also of the opinion
that property values are only high in a relative
sense; that Is, compared with values that pre-
the condition Of an overgrown village.
They believe that, compared with prices
IN other cities, real estate here is
not high, for. If it was outside capital would
not seek investment in Washington to the ex-
tent that it does now. At any rate they enter
tain the conviction that the city and its ad-
vantages as place of residence and for in.
vestment is a good and sufficient reason for the
present basis of values. In conclusion they
recommend a course of medical treatment for
those who differ from them in these views.
MASSACHUSETTS, AVENUE EXTENDED.
The work of surveying the line of Massa-
chusetts avenue extended from Rock creek
through to the Tenleytown road and beyond to
the grounds of the new Methodist University
has been begun. Only $4,000 is available for
the work of defining the lines of the
avenue and for doing such other super
fetal work is possible. 1t is, of
course, not intended to attempt to
open and grade the avenue between these
points. The money is not sufficient But this
fund will be enough to begin the work. and be-
fore long this fine boulevard will be an accom-
plished fact As direct line of com
munication with the city it will be of
great advantage to the Methodist University
enterprise whichis just passing its initial stage
The money needed to pay for the ground which
has been contributed by the citizens of WASH
ington is practically all subscribed and Bishop
Hurst who has been the motive power of the
entire enterprise, as well the citizens of
Washington generally, may well be congratu-
lated that the success Of this splendid project
is now well assured.
One Of the problems connected with the ex-
tension Of Massachusetts, avenue has been, il is
stated settled in satisfactory manner to all
concerned. The line of the avenue in its direct
extension would pass through the grounds of
the new naval observatory and the authorities
OF the observatory have objected to
such an extension for the reason that
asthoroughfare OF travel SO near the build
ing would by the movement communicated
through the earth cause q variation In the in
struments. 1t has now been decided by the