Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-04
.......... S3,6S1,736
A PROMISING OUTLOOK.

These figures show the substantial character
Of the growth of this city. The influence upon
values OF this activity in building can
readily be appreciated. The maintenance of
this rapid rate Of improvement even in a presi-
dental year, when usually no great activity is
expected, is considered as especially gratifying.
1t Is reasonable to suppose that the two years
OF such unprecedented growth will result in
imparting new life to the real estate market.
As improvements constitute the basis of genu-
inc and healthy real estate activity it is not
reasonable to look forward to stronger real
estate market in the near future.
NOW Is THE TINE TO COMPLAIN.
Taxpayers who have been discussing the prob
able action Of the assessors in valuing their
property will have some facts to go on next
week, for this evening the assessors complete
their task of assessing the values of realty living
within the city and Georgetown. On Mon
will be opened to public inspection for two
months, namely, the months of June and July.
The assessor, Mr.. Trimble. and the three assist
ant assessors, Messrs. f L. Moore, George F.
Dawson and John F. Cook, will sit as a board
OF equalization. When citizens have learned
from an examination Of the books the value
placed upon their property by the assessors
and come to the conclusion that the
valuation is an erroneous one, they can
appear before the board of equalization
and state their objections. 1t is supposed that
by the LIST of August everybody who wants to be
heard will have had an opportunity. At any
rate the work of the assessors will then be con-
sidered complete and they will then turn their
attention to property in the county. They ex-
pect to complete the assessment of property
outside of the limits of the city by the LIST Of
December next and that month will be devoted
to hearing what property owners will have to
say. 1t is reasonable to suppose that the new
assessment as compared with the last one will
show many changes, owing to the progress
made during the past three years in suburban
development.
ASSISTING THE COMMISSIONERS.
Congress, as the only law-making power Of
the District, at each session enacts legislation
affecting the interests Of the District. The en-
forcement Of these laws is left in the, main to
the District Commissioners. Recently, how
ever, the District committees Of Congress, and
especially the Senate committee, have been
rather active in the way of giving suggestions
as to the proper execution of the laws. There
have been several notable instances where thei
committees have followed this course, and in
directions that bear directly upon property in
terests here. The Commissioners have been
called upon to make more rigid regulations
relative to the construction and interior
arrangement of buildings designed for
public assemblies. Their attention has been
called to specific cases where in the opinion of
the congressional committee such regulations
have not been properly enforced and in one in
stance the owner Of the building of this char
acter has found it necessary to exhibit the plans
OF building in course of erection to members
OF the committee with the view of gaining
their approval. 1t would seem that the public
interests ought to be well cared for when the
city fathers have the direct and personal assist
ance OF a committee Of Congress in the enforce
ment Of laws.
Recently the Sapota corr,;tfao coIlad &bo
attention of the Commissioners to the way in
which the law of 1888 regulating the subdivi-
sion OF land In the suburbs is being enforced.
This law, as is well known, requires that the
streets in all subdivisions presented for their
approval conform in width and direction to those
in the city. As there are no streets in the city
except the half streets laid out through the
center OF squares that are less than eighty feet
in width, it is natural to expect that ali new
subdivisions would have streets of the same
width. When the street extension bill becomes
law the road ways in existing subdivisions will
be widened to conform to the width of city
streets, and the expense Of condemning the
land needed will be borne in part by the public.
THE coRcoRAN HOUSE LEASED.
The residence Of the late W. W. Corcoran has
been leased by Senator Brice for period of
five years. 1t is understood that the terms are
$40 600 Per year. The interior is TO be refitted
and decorated and the house made ready for the
new occupants some time in the coming fall
Since the death Of Mr.. Corcoran the house has
not been occupied except at rare intervals Its
large old-fashioned rooms are decorated in the
lavish style of the French school, which was in
vogue some years ago, and there is an outlook
upon the extensive grounds in the rear, which
is so unusual in q city house. Mr.. Corcoran
paid great deal Of attention to his garden, AZ
it is called, and it is handsomely laid out. The
house has been the scene OF stately hospitality
for number Of years, and has figured largely
in the events Of social life at the capital for the
past thirty or forty years. 1t was at one time
the home Of Daniel Webster and later the resi-
dence Of the minister from France.
4 ROW OF HOUSES.
The two old houses that have stood for 20
many years on the southeast corner Of 22d and
H streets northwest win be demolished in . few
days to make way for four handsome dwellings,
that Mr.. L. II. Schneider viii erect ON this site.
The houses are to be in every way IN keeping
with the location upon which they arc TO be
built. Three viii have their frontage ON nd
street and one on H street. They viii be two
and three stories in height, with fronts Of
pressed brick and trimmings Of HummelStoWn
brown stons, bay-window professions. .dniahsd
! n towers balconies anA alsasd pdtsh6d see1Is