The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-09-06

The closing Of the summer season, bringing
back to this city the many business men who
have been spending the heated term at some
cool resort, has had the anticipated effect on
the real estate market. The signs Of the
coming activity were apparent the week be-
fore last, and last week the expected increase
in the number of sales were realized. Dealers
in reality speak even more confidently than
they did ten days ago of the condition Of the
market and they, almost without exception,
prophesy an usually active fall trade One
cause assigned for the looked-for advance is
the statements which appear in the press as
to the more easy condition OF the money
market All last spring and throughout the
summer this stringency was most severely
felt, and to it greatly was attributed the un-
usually dull summer which dealers have con.
tended with. But now reports of increased
circulation and easy money has driven away
the feeling Of insecurity with the result that
transactions are more literally carried on and
more easily transacted. Agents report their
business to have picked up considerably since
the first of the month and look for still better
transactions by the 18th. To be sure, there
have been no very large transactions, but
still it is generally acknowledged that it is the
number of sales of small nature rather than
one large transaction that really has the best
financial results.
The most acceptable information for those
interested In northwest suburban property re-
ceived during the week was that the contro
versy between the Navy Department and the
Engineer Department of the District regard
ing the extension of Massachusetts avenue,
was at an end and that the work could go on.
1t will be remembered that when the
extension OF the avenue was proposed
it was found that if continued in a straight
line it would run through the grounds of the
Naval Observatory and very close to the OBJ
servatory itself To this the officials there
were strongly opposed assigning as their
reason the belief that the delicate instru-
ments in the Observatory would be disturbed
by the shaking caused by the travel on the
road. After conference Captain Rossell pre-
pared map showing the evenue extended in
a straight line except at the Observatory
Grounds where curve was formed so that
the avenue would not be closer than 1000
feet from the clock-room. This map has
been approved by the Navy Depa rtment and
work can proceed.
The many builders and contractors in the
Guy are deeply interested In the proposals
asked for by the Washington and Georgetown
Railroad for the construction of the new
power house. The specifications are very ex
acting, and lively competition is expected.
The various contracts when completed will
construct the building from the foundation to
the roof. The specifications demand that the
structure be finished without fail by October
l, 1892
Building operations as we'll as real estate
have felt the renewed activity, and the record
of permits issued during the week show
large increase. The most expensive structure
for which permit was taken out was for tn,
residence to be built on Massachusetts ave
nue. for Mr. Ii. c. Nevins. A description of /
can be found in the Building Notes. Weel
before last twenty permits were issued TO
the erection of 42 buildings to cost $101 200
During the past week "a permits were ISSUED
providing for the construction of 45 building
TO cost $l28,700. These permits cover tn
erection of IA buildings to cost S77,800 in tn
northwest section, 10 buildings in the south
west section to cost $11 800, buildings in tn
northeast section to cost $26, 800, j building il
the southeast section to cost 81, 800, an
buildings in the county to cost $4,000.