Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-09

do as your neighbor
docs holds in invest
IUEHmkNL ments ss well as in the
trivial affairs of So
- S Sssy ,o1 n1e os tor nr ARE
49, elpis involved ", i in n, the
- old game Of 'fonow
your leader, and they are apt to plunge off in
any given direction providing only some one
has taken header that way This disposition
on the part Of people who have money to in
vest is fully recognized, and frequently at
tempts are made to start the crowd in some
particular direction. Sometimes the maneuver
succeeds, but more often it does not, and the
entire flock goes boiling off in an unexpected
quarter. 1t is in part this tendency to follow
the fashion that helps keep up a lively market.
When people see others buying they reach the
same conclusion that there must be some good
bargains in sight and try little investments on
their own account They always follow the
crowd, and at such times there Ia no difficulty
in creating q lively interest. Even when the
market is not lively enough to warrant it in bo-
ing described as q "bOomS there are investors
who are keeping a sharp lookout, and they are
pretty certain to follow the operators
Judgment in the purchase Of real estate Is a
rather uncertain element. About all 1t amounts
to L. that If the investment turns out well the
Judgments good, and if not then the judgment Is
bad. OF course there is the same opportunity
for the exercise Of good business judgment in
buying real estate as in making any other in
vestment, but when it is brought to bear upon
tho question Of the future and the probable in
crease in the value Of certain property then it
becomes largely q matter Of luck 1t is for this
reason that men are inclined to follow each
mi herr hau 70 HIT
Judgment. There ia no man who has inv estments
OF any extent who does not classify his holdings
into two general divisions, one productive, the
other non-productive. There is a more or less
constant interchange going on between these
two classes, but that is entirely independent of
the man who owns them. He simply holds on
and takes the chances that the general average
OF the entire list may be good.
THE SUMNER pULLNEss.
Just now, when the summer dullness in all
departments Of business has set in, there is not
much activity in real estate Dealers look for
ward to the future. They expect a revival of
interest in the fall and in spite of the fact that
this is the presidential year there is confident
feeling in real estate circles that the coming
season promises to be productive Of much
activity. The building season thus far, as
shown by the figures recently printed In The
STAR, shows larger volume Of business than
the corresponding period Of last year. I'M
prOvements form the basis of healthy activity
In real estate and it is therefore evident that
the expectations Of a brisker market have SUBJ
stantial grounds. The recent police census is
evidence that the population city is increasing.
According to these figures the population Is
now about $4,000, while the government
census taken two years ago places the total
population at only 230, 900.
THE ASSESSMENT QUESTION.
Public interest is still conferred to large ex-
tent in the results Of the recent assessment.
There is good deal Of complaint about the in
crease in valuations Of property. There are, of
course, errors Of judgment made by the as
SCISSORS, which, 1t is expected, will be corrected
in the work which they are now doing as a
board Of equalization. Since the LIST day of
June, when the results Of their work we're made
public, the assessors have received about ZOO
appeals. In q little more than three weeks the
two months allowed for receiving and hear
ing complaints will have passed, and, allowing
for o fair proportion Of appeals to be received
within the time remaining, it seems probable
that the total number Of appeals will not exceed
those made at the last assessment. Three years
ago the number of appeals was 2,l34.
TO EoUALIzE TAXES.
The amendment which has been adopted
by the Senate proposes to give the Com
missioners authority to fix the rate so as to
property taxation equal to the amount needed
for the current expenses Of the District. II
this bill becomes law the taxpayers will pay
into the District treasury the same amount
that they paid last year. 1t is also proposed to
amend this bill as to give authority to base
taxation for the next year upon the old assess
ment in order that another board can be ap-
pointed to revise the new assessment.
THE SINGLE TAX SYSTEM.
The people of Hyattsville are good deal
stirred up over the action Of the town commits
sioners in deciding to begin the experiment Of
the single tax system in that borough. As is
well known an effort was made during the past
winter to start an experiment Of this sort in
this city. 1t is claimed that number of the
members of the House District committee are
in favor Of the single tax theory. However,
nothing has yet been done to disturb the pres
emit system in Washington. The indignant
citizens Of fayetteville, or at least goodly num-
Der Of them, propose to resist the introduction
Of this system and perhaps the experiment will
not be made after all. Still it would be inter-
esting to know what would be the actual effect
Of system which taxed the land exclusively
and exempted all improvements. Henry
George, who IL the father Of this
theory, frankly confesses that in hts opinion
the practical outcome would be that the
all land and that individuals would
hold land by paying sort Of ground rent.
This is the ultimate result Of tho system but
the immediate effect is somewhat doubtful
The point in doubt is whether tax on land
only, by making 1t undesirable to hold unim-
proved land, would stimulate improvements or
would depress land values. Perhaps it is not
Reasonable to expect the people Of Hyattsville
to run the risk of adopting an untried system
but still all the Same, as an experiment it would
be interesting to the dispassionate outsider.
THE BUILDING RECORD.
The building operations for the week ending
yesterday show increased activity. This is
especially SO regarding the northeastern sec
ton, which for the first time in many months
gees ahead Of the northwest both in the number
Of new houses for which permits have been
given and the aggregate cost Of same.
During that period forty-four permits for
new dwellings were issued, aggregating in cost
$12l 400 OF this amount the northeast claims
S7o, 750 for thirty-one new houses; the north
west. S25. 100 for seven new houses and the
county, So, 450 for four new houses. The south
east gets two permits, aggregating in cost
"a, 100, and the southwest goes without any
permits for the week.
MR. KNoRR's HOME.
Nicholas Eckhardt, builder, has contract
for a three-story and basement brick and stone
dwelling which he will erect for Z. A. Knorr
on Corcoran street next to the corner of l4th
street. The front Is to be Of selected red brick.
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