Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-25
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
The Rapid Progress Made In Building Opera.
lions.


HIGH BUILDINGS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENr-
IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN THE BUSINESS SEC
TroS-rHE coRcoRAs GALLERY PURCHASE
OTHER MATTERS.
JUDGING FROM THE REMARKS MOST
generally heard from strangers when
commenting upon the material development Of
the city, Washington is a city full of surprises.
Visitors are surprised to see the beauty Of the
city. They marvel at tho variety Of the types
OF domestic architecture and they exclaim with
wonder over the wide, well-paved streets and
other features which command the admiration
OF the world. 1t is not strangers only that are
treated to that aggregation of sensations which
are known as = surprise. The natives, at times.
fail a victim to the same mental condition. Men
who have spent their lives here and have seen
the city develop from struggling village to its
present condition find it difficult to keep
up with the march of improvements.
There are some sections Of the
CITY, perhaps. which they only occasionally visit,
and if after the lapse Of few months another
visit discovers to their surprised view rows Of
houses where only vacant squares existed be-
fore. they may be pardoned for expressing, in
a mild way, at any rate, their wonder. A resi-
dent who might be classed as an old citizen,
had an experience Of this sort. He walked out
one Sunday afternoon in the vicinity of Lincoln
Park and when he saw the number of new
houses that had been built during the past four
months he could hardly trust the reality OF his
own senses. Where, he asked himself, was
that expanse of commons which was
such familiar feature Of the scenery in
that vicinity? The open fields, it was evident
enough, had disappeared and on their site
stood comfortable residences already occupied
as homes. He realized that he was behind the
times, and while he was following the daily
round of his calling the city was growing and
expanding at such a rate that a few months had
wrought this marvellous change in only one
small section. II he had continued his stroll
he would have found the same substantial
evidences Of growth in other sections. Yet no
extraordinary activity in building prevails this
year. 1t is only the natural growth and de-
yelopment which has been a marked character
istc Of the material life of the city for the past
decade or more.
HIGH BUILDINGS AND THE FIRE SERVICE
The recent addition to the building regula-
tons which requires that all buildings over
seventy-fve feet in height must be fire proof in
construction will have an important influence
on building in the future. Nearly all the
newer business buildings on F street, for ex-
ample, exceed in their height this limit. A
building Of six stories is generally seventy
feet high, and recently the practice has been to
run up large structures to u height of at least
seven stories. The effect Of the new regulation
will be either to confine the height Of build
ings to six stories or else to make
decided change in the character Of the
construction. The term fire proof, as
explained at the building inspectors Office,
means that the floors rest on iron beams, with
either brick or terra Gotta arches. What is
known as the slow-burning construction does
not come within this definition of fire proof
That system Of building uses wooden joists
which are protected by asbestos, iron laths or
some kind Of composition, and it is supposed
to be practically fire proof because Of the
obstacles presented to the progress of the
flames in the event Of fire. The use Of iron
beams, with brick or terra Gotta filling in the
spaces, is considered the most substantial form
Of construction 1t necessitates heavy walls in
order to carry the weight OF the iron
and the brick and terra Gotta. In
the future. therefore, large buildings
exceeding the height Of seventy-fve feet,
whether intended for use as business buildings
or hotels. will be built in accordance with this
approved system. The main purpose Of the
regulation, however, is more to discourage the
practice of running up buildings to great
heights than to obtain greater security in the
event of fire. The fire record in all large
cities demonstrates the fact that the most APP
proved fire-proof building does not always
serve as a check to the progress Of the fiery
element. The main difficulty that has been
experienced in getting a fire under control
arises from the great height OF the buildings
and the new regulation is more particularly
intended to correct this evil. Fortunately,
owing to the efficiency of the fire department.
no disastrous fires have occurred here in re-
cent years; and yet with the increase in the
number OF high buildings it Is recognized that
the work Of the fremen is rendered more diff
cult.
FINE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENTS.
Two handsome additions to the business
buildings of the city will soon be made. Mr.
W. B. Moses has had plans prepared BY the
architects A. b. Mullett Il Co., for an addition
to his store building at the corner of 18th and
+ streets The four-story building adjoining
on the west will be torn down and on the site
will be erected a building similar in design aud
of the same height the main building. The
entire front of the first story of the new part
will be an immense show window, which will
flank the west main entrance of the present
structure. An additional floor space will thus
be obtained in each story, which will greatly
increase the facilities of this large establish
ment
The Coreoran Fire Insurance Company will
erect a handsome building upon their property
on the west side Of 18th street just north Of L
street. The new building will adjoin the new
six-story business building which Mr.. Henry
Strong is erecting at the northwest corEer OF
18th and + streets. The property Of the in
surance company has a frontage of IS feet and
plans have been prepared for the building Of a
substantial structure four stories in height
which will furnish permanent home for the
Office of the company, as well as Office rooms
On the opposite corner from these improve
ments is the large handsome building Of the
Boston Store. These fine business places have and
will have appropriate neighbors at the corner of
1lth and G. streets. Already fine
large building occupies the southwest
corner, and on the northwest corner Mr.. b. H.
Warder is erecting building which will be an
attractive feature Of that vicinity. The prop
erty at the northeast corner is owned by Mr.
Lisner of the Palais Royal, and he intends at
an early day to have a large building erected
there for the accommodation of his business.
These improvements, in such close proximity,
are notable features in the development Of the
business sections Of the city.
EARLIER CLOSING HOURS.
A movement in favor Of earlier hours has
been started by the young men who assist the
real estate brokers In carrying on their bus
mess. They favor the closing of the real es-
tate Offices during the summer months at 4
O'Clock each day instead of at 5 o'clock, as is
the case at present. Three o'clock ia regarded
as a proper hour to close on Saturdays during
the hot weather, and paper is now being cir
culated among the brokers for the purpose Of
securing their approval Of these changes
The public will no doubt cooperate in such
movement. as has been the case in the
adoption of early closing hours i'll other lines
Of business. The brigh: and active young men
who impart 90 much life to the real estate BUSH