Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-19

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ferent from what it was
@= in the early fall months.
- While there have been
no large transactions
yet 1t is stated that the volume Of business has
steadily increased. There is a demand for
houses and for building sites. Property for
rent finds good many applicants and
altogether the real estate business has re-
viped. There is feeling in the air that
a season of great activity is just ahead and
conservative brokers look forward to the spring
as the beginning of a'stronger and steadier
market. The present condition is pronounced
to be healthy and full of promise. 1t is not ex-
pected that there will be a boom next spring
in the ordinary sense of that word but it is
felt that the normal demand has caught up with
the rather speculative movement which more
than two years ago pushed prices up in both
the business and the residence sections Of the
city. In that interval the population has in
creased and the additions to the house facilities
of the city as well as the expansion of business
has justified these prices and changed their
character from merely speculative into cur
rent values.
Of coprse, to some extent the improved
prospects are credited to the result of the re-
cent national election. Real estate men recol-
lect that times were prosperous during Cleve-
toiiu anu tueN tLllh tuht II II
the most natural thing in the world that there
should be n repetition of the same conditions
when he is once more installed in the White
House. There are others who take the view
that the prosperity of Washington is no longer
dependent upon the mere incidents of political
changes, and that nothing can now check or
interfere with the progress of the city except
general financial depression affecting the
entire country.
OVER NINE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
There are substantial facts which can be cited
in support of the assertion that the city is
prosperous. For example. the annual report
of the building inspector, which has just come
out. gives a total of the money expended dur
ing the past fiscal year, which is not only
larger than any previous year. but shows a
great advance over the record of the year be-
fore. During the year ended June 80, 1892
there was spent in brick and mortar the great
| sum OF over S9.OOO000. an increase over the pre-
yious year Of 81 $50 GEO. This an unprecedented
increase. As a rule the records of the building
inspectors Office show a yearly increase not
only in the number of dwellings erected. but in
the amount expended in Improvements Of
various kinds. Some years the advance is
greater than others, but the past year stands
ont as a banner year in the building record.
The increase in the total value of the improve
| nents made in the city during the year 1891
oaly amounted to about $50. 600 as compared
with the year 1850. As will be seen. the increase
| OF 1892 over 1891 is many times as great.
| The gratifying feature of these figures is the
fact that this excess may be attributed in grea.
| part to the erection of new dwellings. During
the fiscal year just closed there were 2,9I7 new
\ houses put up. an increase over 1891 of 7S3
| houses. The increase of 1891 over 1890 in the
number of new houses was only Il. Every one
| interested in property appreciates the import
ant bearing the material interests of a
! community OF the erection of new houses.
| Unless this is brought about by the
spasmodic efforts of mere boomers the
building of houses means an increase in
! population. and every one understands that as
| the population grows business expands and i'm
! provements of various kinds follow. There
| must be larger and better stores to supply the
| needs of an increased number of people. and
opportunities are presented Tor establishing
new lines of business.
SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH.
Money becomes more plentiful and in a short
! while all the conditions exist which tend 20
make prosperous community. 1t will not be
surprising. therefore, that the business outlook
1 is bright and that greater activity il noted
when it is known that there were nearly 5000
! new dwellings erected IN this city during the
past year, an increase as compared with the wear
| before of nearly 500 houses. Ii is not claimed
| that ali these new dwellings were built for and
| are occupied by new corners to the city and
that on basis of family of five persons to
1
ing the past year has increased some
| $1,000 souls. No doubt a good proportion of
| the new houses have been occupied by people
| who moved from other houses in the city. But
still it is known that there are great number
| Of empty houses and it is further appreciated
that this activity in building has not gone on in
! the absence of any demand for additional resi-
| dences. There is no doubt that the city is
growing rapidly, and this fact is well attested
there need be no further search for the cause
for ft,n
| ness in all branches.
PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE GARNET.
| The prospective change in the administration
of the government will not affect the real estate
interests here in the direction of placing upon
| the market for sale residences of tho character
usually occupied by cabinet officers With the
| exception of MIR. Wanamaker none of the men,
bers of the present cabinet own residences in
| this city. Mr.. Wanamaker is well known,
| bought the residence of ex-Secretary Whitney.
and as it is probable that Mr.. Whitney will be
is not improbable that he may want
home in this city. 1t is quite within
| the range of possibilities that he
may buy back from MIR. Wanamaker his old
home. 1t is quite likely that there will be men
| of means IN Mr.. Cleveland's cabinet and they
\ Will naturally desire TO have fine residences
here of their own. Mr.. Cleveland himself will
| probably secure q residence for himself as he
| did eight years ago.
THE WEEKS RECORD.
During the past week nineteen permits were
| issued for the erection of buildings in the
| northeast section of the city, the value of which
is given as S2S 600. For the northwest section
there were eighteen permits taken out, inyoly-
ing an expenditure of S37, S25 In the south
east section there were nineteen permits to cost
$50, coo, and in the county nine. aggregsting
500 000 There N n narmitS lssued for