Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-10


II fcs sstt y printing is concerned.
* "a N--~SES The new location L.
ES4 two squares TO the
aYEyEN north Of the building
S@. now occupied by tie
printing Office. In the
event this selection Is approved by the
TWO houses Of Congress the change Of To-
cation viii be made. In real estate cir
cies the action of the committe has been
awaited witha good deal of interest, not merely
because of the sale of square of ground. which.
OF course, Is Important in itself, but from the
ehect on property which the change in a CEN
ter OF so much consequence would have
on property interests. There 10 no doubt
that the printing Office has largely contributed
TO the building up OF that section of the city,
ieople prefer. as rule, to live as near as Dos
sible TO their places Of business II saves car
fare for one thing and generally is more con-
Senlept. The proposed location is so near 10
the present that the new building will be as
convenient as the old, in relation 20 the homes
OF the employees in that locality The new site
u the whole of square 49, which is bounded
by h, l.. lat street east and Delaware avenue,
ana the price proposed to be paid for the
100 22e square feetis 81 per foot. 1t is probable
that the selection will result in an active build
ing boom in that vicinity. Already the
price of property has advanced and that Is a
pretty good indication of how the change is
regarded by the property owners at least. II is
the intention when the new building is In use
to devote the old building to storage purposes
and thus save the government quite a snug
sum each year, which is now paid in rentals for
the use of several buildings where materials are
stored
HOUSES OF CONCRETE.
Houses built of rather novel material for
this region are being erected in the subdivision
Of Petworth, on the 9TH street road. The
material used il concrete which is composed of
Portland cement and sand. The walls of the
houses are built in a sort of casing made of
wood. into which the concrete in q semi-liquid
state is poured. When the material hardens
the frame casing is removed and the walls of
the house, with the proper openings for win
dows, as specified in the drawings, are ready
for use. The roof timbers are then
hoisted in place. as in the ordinary
house, the openings are framed for
the sashes and the doors and the house is
ready for plastering. 1t Ia claimed for this
material that II has been demonstrated TO be
adapted for this use, notably in the case of
the fine hotel building erected few years ago
in 81. Augustine. Florida. II Is said TO be much
cheaper than either wood or brick and this
consideration will have weight with the average
house builder.
THE 7TH STREET ROAD RAILROAD
Owing to delays in the shipping of the ma
chinery which is to be placed in the power
house Of the new electric ROAD which is being
constructed out the 7th street road the new rail-
road will not be ready for use AS soon as was
expected. Instead of having the road in oper-
alton by the middle Of the present month, as
President Cummins had planned. the running
of the first car will probably not take place un-
snvtaa fff,1a in 10,
question in regard to portion of the right OF
way which is to be settled by the courts.
The proposed extension of this road TO Sandy
Springs and Burnt Mills, which is advocated
by a number of the citizens living in those
localities, is creating good deal of interest
Two companies have been formed, and a
large amount of the stock needed has been sub
scribed. In the meantime those enterprising
individuals who are always on the lookout for a
chance to make a good turn in real estate are
buying up the farm lands here and there along
the route of the proposed railroad. 1t is sup
posed that the railroad will add to the value of
the property, and as an enterprise of this char
acter has seldom, if ever. failed TO have that
effect, it seems that such an expectation is not
an unreasonable one. At any rate property
owners in that locality find that just now there
is quite lively demand for land.
SOME SUBURBAN CHANCES.
AsyndIcate is being formed TO purchase the
Rupert property on the 9TH street road, OPP
posite Petworth, and just north of Spring road
This property contains about sixtv-four acres
and as an indication of the value of property
in that locality it is stated that the price TO the
syndicate is about 81. 900 per acre. IL is the
intention to subdivide the tract and plat it into
building lots of convenient size When this
purchase is completed and the proposed plans
carried out il will be only one Of the many
changes which will transform that section
of the suburbs. The new electric railroad is
responsible for the present activity in this
particular locality but after all it ia only one of
the phases of the suburban DEVELOPMENT which
are going on in all directions with marvellous
rapidity. An official recognition was given to
this condition of affairs only the other day,
when the District Commissioners extended the
fire limits beyond the old bounds of the city.
distance in some localities of a mile and more
from what is known Florida avenue. Ii is
at this session will pass the street
extension bill which at the last session hung fire
In the conference committee. This measure. as
is well known, simply aims to make the old sub
divisions of land conform 10 what the law re-
quires today. SO that the plan of the new city
which is growing up beyond the old NUM-
cipal limits may far az practicable
be in harmony with that OF the city, which is
recognized as admirably adapted 10 conduce
to the health and comfort Of the citizens and
to the beauty Of the city.
JUST LIKE THE CITY.
recent sale Of unimproved property on Co
lumbia Heights ID mentioned not only as an il
lustration Of the value of property, but an
indication Of the change that is going on in the
character Of the suburbs. The land in question
has a frontage on Clifton street between 18th
and l4th streets Of 200 feet and depth OF 2l3
feet. The price paid for the $4,000 odd square
feet was $50. 900. which is at Il ate OF about
eL Is per square foot In order to place this
land on the market TO the best advantage a sub
division will be made which viii in no respect
differ from the ordinary subdivision made of
ground in the city. The lots will have q 'front.'
age of twenty-five feet and an aiiey will be
opened in the rear. In other words, urban
conditions are applied to subui ban property.
BIG HOTEL scHxNEs.
There are several scbemes for the erection of
the much-talked-of big hotel which are floating
about in the street gossip. Some Of them have
a somewhat more substantial basis than mere
gossip, as for example the proposed
hotel building Mt the corner OF 10th
street and Florida avenue. Those in
terested in this enterprise are hope
full that something viii be done before
long. Then the plan Of erecting hotel build
ing covering nearly the entire square opposite