Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
THE CITY'S PROGRESS.
Remarkable Growth of Business II
Recent Years.
SOME STATELY BUILDINGS.
Transformation OF Well Known Localities
Wonderful Advance of Land values-The
March Of Trade-A "Reminiscences OF the
Mexican War-Charley Hunters Heroism.

March Of Trade-A "Reminiscences OF the
Mexican war-Charley Hunters Heroism.
Written for The Evening Star.
THERE Is ANOTHER AND VERY IN
Il portant view Of Washington besides its
social charms. The increase of population. the
extension Of its streets. the palatial residences
which grace its broad and well-kept avenues
and squares have rendered commercial and
financial extension a necessity. The wealth that
has found . home here brought with it the
energy and enterprise for the employment of
that wealth and has added to its attractions the
splendid business buildings which dignity the
commercial and financial life Of Washington.
1t exhibits, too, in an unmistakable manner
the extent and volume Of the wealth expended
in building up the business streets, for business
is too devoid of sentiment to waste its revenues
on edifices that do not yield an ample interest
on the amount invested.
Within the last few years stately buildings
have risen on the principal business streets for
business purposes which rival those in cities
devoted to trade commerce and finance. The
old cry that there was no business in Washing
ton has long since been silenced by the demon
stration that such buildings have been called
for by the demands Of increased and increas-
ing commercial enterprise. The Glover build
ing. the Atlantic building, the Interocean
building, the Pacific and Baltic buildings. all
are the growth Of the demand for their use.
These buildings are not confined to one street
or one locality. I might almost say they
abound. The increase of the banks in Wash
the city has assumed. The Bank Of Washing
ton retains its old location, but is
unacceptable with its handsome marble
exterior, and the Central National Bank.
on the corner where formerly the
st. Marc Hotel stood. and the Columbia
National Bank on F street and the Second Ma
tlonal Bank on 7th street. and the Traders Ma
tional Bank and the old Bank Of the Metrop-
oils, whose time-honored building was regarded,
when built, as q triumph of architectural skill,
the West End Bank on G street and the newly
established Ohio National Bank. whose unfin-
ished building displays the intention of adding
another ornament to that street, once so retired.
The old banking house Of Riggs Co. retains
all the sturdy and substantial character, which
has for many years made it land mark in this
city, as it has been in all the years of its exis
tence q leading power in the financial world.
The demand for trust and loan companies and
safe deposit companies, which have resulted
from the necessary growth and importance OF
the city and the completion OF the grand
building on the corner OF 9th and + streets OF
the washington Loan and Trust Company"
illustrates the confidence in the need and per-
manency of this demand. 1t stands as an evil
dence that the old time wnen Washington had no
commercial and financial life has passed. The
half million of dollars invested in the pile of
granite and marble testifes to the energy and
business capacity Of the men who have adorned
the city with such an edifice.
INCREASE IN LAND VALUES
Going back to the long past the contrast
could not be more glaring than in the values Of
the days when that lot, where now this triumph
OF architectural beauty rears its lofty walls.
was purchased by the father OF the late MIR.
John s. Gallagher, one of the auditors Of the
treasury and An old resident here, Tor cents a
foot. This was in 1915. He held it for some
years, and as no advance in value seemed prob
able he sold it to Mr.. Gales for the same price.
1t offered 80 little assurance Of increase that
Mr.. Gales sold it without obtaining an adj
vance. The Washington Loan and Trust Com
pany paid S25 per foot For years this local
ity remained in an almost unimproved condi-
ton, the buildings being unimportant until
the st. Cloud Hotel was built. These thoughts
came to me the other day as l stopped to adj
mire the grand structure, which compares IA
yOrably with such buildings in any city in the
Union.
In all these enterprises, and the city
contains many of importance, the old ele-
ment of Washington is replenished by the
energy and wealth brought here by the many
advantages offered for residence The in
fusion Of new blood is manifested. Since 1865
all these great strides which have brought WASH
ington to the front rank as city of commercial
importance are due to such gentlemen as those
whose energy and business capacity are dis
played in improvements Of SO elegant and per-
manent a character that they challenge those
OF northern and western cities where commerce
and finance have reigned for years.
On the same block, separated by some old
time business houses, the property of the heirs
Of Vim. Q. Force and w. j. Fitzgerald
of New York, which must soon give way
to the march of progress. is the Union Fire In
surance Company, which has erected a very
handsome and commodiOus building contain
ing all the advantages which are sought in
those buildings designed for commercial, pro-
fessional and financial business. This lot and
the house then on it was bought com paratively
a few years ago for $500. This company paid
$40 600 for it.
On the opposite side of the street. where
there is a new bank, the Columbia National
Bank, occupying marble building designed
expressly for its This bank was estab-
lished to meet demand which the increased
business OF the locality needed. On the site of
that and the McCreseness buildings, running
from 9th to 10Th street. only o few years ago
stood st. Patrick Church and the old Seminary
building, where SO many of our old citizens
were educated. 1t subsequently was the begin
ming of Gonzaga College.
FURTHER UP STREET,
where the Sun building lifts its lofty walls was
the residence of MIR. Burch, and beyond house
where Mr.. Clay resided. He owned the house
and grounds and legend says he offered it to
Mr. Elexias Simms for 81, 200 and Mr. Simms
declined the offer. but made another offer Of
81 900. which Mr.. Clay declined. Mr. Simms
kept grocery store on the southeast corner
Of 18th and F streets, and the house is un-
changed except by the painter.
ANOTHER INDICATION OF PRoaREss
One Of the indications that Washington is
rapidly moving to the front and con testing with
other cities for all their advantages il the or
ganization of 1.-THE Downtown Club" Only a
few years ago-well, mean few to those of
the past generation-everything was down
town" but now business usurps all the streets
upon which few years ago we're only private
residences. Hence the need of this club The
elegant and commodious quarters of this club
are in the Washington Loan and Trust Com
pany's building, in which ali needed accommo-
dations are provided. -.
ON @ STREET.
Another street composed almost entirely of
business buildings in marble and granite is
street between 18th and 18th streets. Here the
American Security and Trust Company are
finishing very handsome granite building.
deliberately ornamented and OF beautiful de-
sign, and here are the West End Bank. Of
which one OF our oldest citizens is the presi-
dent, Mr.W. r. Riley, and the marble Fleming
building. The growth Of the banking business
in this city has been somewhat Remarkable.
49, ~. II Del