Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-28
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
fhe supply and Demand for storo Rooms
In the Business section.

sonE ooHnKsTs rHAr ARR HEARD II REGARD
10 THE MUSIC HALL DrsAsTER-rAxEs ARE TO
m PAID AND THE AVERAGE CITIZEN rxK1s
fooA-orHEa MATTERS on INTEREST.
HAS SOMETIMES BEEN ASSERTED
- that more buildings were being erected and
adapted for commercial purposes in the bust
ness section Of the city than the actual needs
demanded In fact some have maintained tina,
In the recent development Of the business Sec
ton the progress has been too rapid An in
teresting contribution to the discussion Of this
question was furnished in the Metzerott Music
Hall disaster Several business men found
themselves suddenly without place TO do busi-
ness In, and the necessity was an urgent one 10
secure at once some kind OF quarters where
their goods taken from the mass of brick
and mortar could be stored and where
they could carry on their business
The experience Of one man in his search for
such place forms a valuable commentary upon
the present conditions and resources Of the
business section which is bounded by f. and a
streets, 9Th and 18th streets. He made a care
ful canvass of the entire section and he natu-
rally thought that as he merely wanted shell
ter that there would be no trouble in satisfying
such very simple need. To his surprise he
there were only two stores vacant and one of
those was the ground floor of a four-story
building, which was only for rent as a whole.
Inc other was a small place. There was. how
ever, another vacant store butt had been leased
ana the new tenant had not vet taken posses
sion There was not much choice and under
such circumstances he did not try to have any
choice. but merely took what he could get
for the past year and half there has been all
through this part of the city a great deal done
WAY s.fk he
10 the extent that il is now taken up with basi-
ness places, was transformed within that period
from residence to a business street. The
same changes have been going on along the side
streets All the new buildings and alterations
IN old buildings that have been made were not
of course, entirely for the accommodation of new
nrms or new lines of business. There are lines
OF trade which were formerly departments of
some large business, but are now carried on by
independent firms There have been entirely
new branches of business established. while the
existing lines of trade have been enlarged and
the volume OF business transacted has in many
cases grown to proportions that even excite
the wonder OF those who are most familiar with
the commercial resources of the city. The
business expansion about which 30 much has
been said is therefore quite a substantial
factor Ia the prosperity and growth OF the city.
THE OPINION OF CITIZEN.
The general lesson that is drawn from .he
Metzerott disaster, however, has no reference
to the expansion of the business interests Of
the city. 1t relates more particularly to the
methods aud the manner of the construction
of buildings intended for the use of the public
without expressing any opinion as to the char
acter OF the music hall, a prominent citizen
was talking the other day about public opinion
He said: There is always q great deal OF in
terest manifested in a building after an acci-
dent People want to know ali about it: how
1t was built. the kind of materials used, and, in
many cases, a grea0 deal of time is devoted
to personal inspection. Perhaps no one,
however, had given a thought to the matter
prior to that time, and although
passing it each day they have hardly
gwen 1t glance, much less a
thought Public opinion, however, could be
enectlve IN a preventive sense if only a small
degree Of the interest conld be displayed in
buildings intended for public use before an ac-
cident occurs as is exhibited TO such large de-
gree after the accident 1t is common enough to
bear men say after disaster that they could
see that such result was inevitable. II what
they say is true then some share of the respou-
slbilIty falls upon them for not having exer-
cised their privilege as citizens in making COM
plant TO the proper authorities and insisting
that some steps be taken TO correct the
evil In this city. where the direction of
the affairs OF the local government
Is practically free from political influence
there is less reason for failure in the proper
enforcement of municipal regulations than in
other cities &here the conditions are not so
favorable. The existing building regulations
form an adequate protection for the public
against detective and insufficient construction
In buildings, providing, of course. that they
are followed with reasonable faithfulness"
THE TAxPAYER's MONTH.
During the present month the property own
ers of the District have paid into the public
treasury over a million Of dollars. This large
sum represents half Of the tax upon real estate
which is paid each year. The total revenue
derived from this tax is about g. 1914 CAS-
Nearly the entire revenue derived from the cit
liens Of the District is the product of the tax on
realty.
There is in fact only about 100000 Of the
public receipts collected from other sources,
SO that the entire revenue of the District from
taxes last year was S2,Sl6,2 Ss. The assessed
value of the real estate which pays this tax is
Slii ,6oSS9l. Ten years ago the value of real
estate In the District as assessed for taxation
was SIS, 953, 07s, which shows an increase in
the valuation OF some 60 per cent.
The withdrawal from general circulation of
such large sum OF money naturally is felt in
many ways, although it may be said that the
money Is constantly being restored to a certain
extent by the expenditures which are being
made for municipal improvements and other
expenses 1t always requires time for money
to get around. and SO the individual
who has just paid his half yearly taxes
teaiiZcs very IOrclDly tnat his bank
account is diminished and for the time being
he Is apt to reduce his expenditures and to try
to get along without some things which other
wise he might feel disposed TO purchase. Then
the holiday season is at hand. and with the pay
ment OF taxes In retrospect and the purchase
OF Christmas gifts In prospect it is not surpris-
ing that the average citizen is inclined lust at
this time to regard himself as being somewhat
short.
ACTORS AS REAL ESTATE OWNERS
great deal has been written in regard 10
Mr. Florence, the actor, who recently died,
but no mention has been as yet made of the
business sagacity which led him some five
years ago to purchase good sized block of
land in the residence section of this city, This
perhaps. Is of no great importance now ex-
cept to his heirs, who will realize a hand
some sum from this investment but il
only goes to show that even q man
like Mr.. Florence, who was engrossed in his
profession, realized the advantages that Wash
lngton real estate offered as an investment
During his constant travels he visited nearly
every sec ton of the country, but he selected
this city as the place to invest a portion of his
earnings Other men prominent in the same
profession followed his example The late
Lawrence Barrett. about the date of Mr.. Flo
rence's purchase. also invested in real estate
here. Lolita also had quite large property IN
terests which she has disposed of, and no doubt
realized a good profit
YuuEoo 1ucanuitw acts-~