Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-31
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
The Progress Made I'm the Trieunial Assess-
meat OF Property.

meut OF Property
THE ASSESSORS HAVE COMPLETED Aporr a,r.r
THEIR WORK WITHIN TIE OLD LIMITS OF THE
c1rr-A PROPOSED STREET CAR LINE TO rHE
BIOLOGICAL PARK-orHER xArrrxa
DRoPERTY OWNERS ARE MICH INTER-
ested IN the results Of the work now being
done by the assistant assessors. Ii is not pos
noie 70 know very much Of what they are
doing except that each day hnds them Al work
viewing property" Ever since the m idle
OF last July the assessors have been in the seld
They began with square No. l, and proceeding
east they have completed their work about 20
the point where Sd street west extend. from
the boundary to tbs river front In other
words, of the 1, 200 squares living within the
| old municipal lines of Washington the as
SCISSORS have completed their view of each
piece Of property in some $50 squares. They
have finished the "view'' in the main
business section Of the city and are pushing on
toward the east After they have completed
their inspection of the property within the old
limits of Washington they viii examine ana
decide upon the values Of the property COM
prised within the 400 squares in GEORGETOWN
Then comes what may, perhaps, be regarded as
the greater task of viewing the property in the
country The board Of assessors, as provided
for In the bill passed by the last Congress. is
limited in number to three members. They
view the property in company and in
order TO facilitate the work they use
wagon which carries them about from point
to point Although they have nearly a full
year In which to complete the assessment yet
they are somewhat doubtful TO their ability
TO accomplish the task in that time. As stated
In thursdays STAR the question as 10 the
proper Interpretation of the time clause in the
Jaw was referred TO the attorney for the Dis
trict and that official has decided that the as
sessment must be complete by the first Mon
day In June next The assessors were Of the
opinion that they could extend the work of as
sessment through the next calendar wear How
ever, they have made all arrangements to
SO on with as much rapidity as possible.
In order that the winter weather NAV
not interfere with their daily trips a covered
wagon is being made especially for their use
They expect to be kept busy all the winter and
next spring. After the first Monday in June
the assessment OF every piece of property within
the limits Of the District it is expected, will be
made During the montho Of June and July
property owners will have an opportunity 70
inspect the new assessment, and then, If they
SO desire, they can tell the assessors what they
think OF the work with reference to their own
particular property
THE TAXPAYERS HAVE SAT-
Ihey can inform the assessors, IL they are
dissatisfied what, in their opinion. the proper
valuation is, and il their arguments are con-
vincing the assessment can be changed. On
the first OF August the assessment is supposed
to be completed, and when the collector of
taxes makes out his bills in November Of next
year they will be based on the assessment now
oeing made Ii is understood that in making
the assessment while adhering to the rule
auopteo at the beginning to give to property
such value as il is supposed il will bring at a
forced sale nnder nnfavorable circumstances,
rect the inequalities that have to
grester or less extent marked
previous assessments. 1t is claimed that ex-
pensive property Is valued too low while prop
erty u moderate value is assessed too high.
Inc present assessment will undoubtedly show
quite an advance in the aggregate over that
made three years ago. The increase in the
last assessment as compared with the preced-
ing one was "a per cent During the past
tnree years the prosperity of the city has con-
unued and 1t is reasonable to expect that the
Natural Increase in values will be quite up to
that shown by the last assessment It'll of
course, matter Of speculation as to what will
De the effect Of the attempt TO equalize the
assessments and as TO whether the increase will
exceed or VIII balance the reduction which such
an equalization Will make necessary.
RAILROAD TO THE zoo.
An improvement of considerable consequence
to large proportion Of the public will shortly
has decided to commence the erection of a car
house at the corner of 18th and streets. The
company owns the entire square bounded by
iith, 18th, L and U streets, having acquired
this property for the purpose of providing the
necessary facilities in operating the road,
which, as Is well known. is being built from
Connecticut avenue and Boundary out 18th
street, across Columbia road to the line of
Connecticut avenue extended and thence along
tlat avenue to the District linz and
miles into Maryland. The road crosses Rock
creek on bridge which is built over the SOUTH
ern end OF the Geological Park and as this park is
now great resort TOR the public, and there is
no direct means of communication with the
city, the company has decided to begin as
soon as possible the operation of that portion
OF the road which connects the city with the
park. The road along it's entire length will
not be open Tor travel until some time next
year, as the power house. where the electricity
is to be generated and which will be located
at the northern terminus Of the road.
has not yet been built The cars
with which the new road will be
equipped are ready for use and
soon as the car house at the corner of 18th and
streets Is completed and run them by horse
power over that section of the road between
the city and the Geological Park. These cars
VIII start at the head Of Connecticut avenue
and boundary and also rrn over the line WHICH
extends along U street from 18th to l4tb
streets. The vice president Of the road, Mr.. |
Edward j. Stellwagen, who in the absence |
rom the city of the president, Mr..
U. Newlands, is the acting president has |
gwen directions that the erecting Of the build
ing where the cars are to b. stored shall be be- /
gun. This building is to be a permanent one 4
ana VIII cost about $4,000. 1t will be used as /
car house when the electric equipment of the
road IL completed.
IMPROVED STREET CAR SERVICE.
1t is expected that the completion OF this
road along its entire route as well as the change
IN the motive power of the Washington and
Georgetown road, together with the improve
ments in the facilities Of the other roads which
either have been made or are to be made. will
nave stimulating effect upon the real estate
MARKET Tho development Of outlying sec
lions OF the city and the suburbs which will
follow these improvements are expected to be
oI a marked character Remote sections will
pc Drought closer to the center of the city and
u WIN naturally follow that property viii not
oniy De enhanced in value, but that improve |
ments IN the way of new houses will be made. |
Col. L. Z. Wright, the chairman of the COM
oittee that will have charge Of the important
duty OF providing accommodation |
Tor the multitude Of visitors who are expected
70 come here next fall to attend |
HE encampment of the Grand Army, realizes
that with q cable system Georgetown. Capitol
Hill and Mount Pleasant will be brought 40
near the center Of the city in point of time
that halls and houses in those localities will he
quite as available as ouarters that a.. $500 Il