Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-16

The PAEh UNCERTAINTY.
THE SIGNATURE OF THE PRESIDENT RrMoyrs A
CLOUD FROM A LARGE AREA OF LASp-PRoGREss
IN OPENING UP TIRE sUBURBs-woRK OF THE
TAX AssEssoEs-oTHER MArTERa
There are, no doubt, several important trans
| actions in connection with the real estate in
terests of the city which arc being developed
However. none OF them came to head during
the past week. But in spite OF that fact the
past week will be regarded as an epoch of
great importance in the material progress OF
the city, for the President has approved the
purchase OF the land for the Rock Creek Park
anJ secured for the city fine pleasure resort
| 1t has required some twenty five years for this
enterprise to reach perfection, but now that it
is an accomplished fact the beneficial results
will be reaped almost at once. 1t is of no
| small consequence for any city TO have ]. 400
acres adjacent to its bounds forever set apart
and dedicated as a pleasure grounds for the
people. 1t will add immensely to the attract
! Iveness OF the city and 10 that extent it will
/ tend to appreciate in value every foot OF land
| living within the District In addition TO this
general advantage, which Is appreciated by all
who interested in real estate in the Dis
| trict. the removal OF the cause of uncertainty
that has necessarily been involved in real es-
tate transactions in the vicinity Of the park will
have the effect of stimulating improvements.
Property owners in the vicinity now know
what TO look forward to and can shape their
| plans accordingly. II will reduce the
| amount Of land available for private
purposes and enhance the value OF the bal
ance. Il is reasonable to expect that
individuals will invest large sums OF
| money in improvements and that the
| progress which has been made in this particu-
| lar will go on at a still more rapid rate. The
acquisition OF the park is only another indics-
| tion of the growth Of the city and its expan-
sion into the suburbs. In the past twenty-five
years the city has stretched far beyond its old
limits. The next quarter OF century will
| witness q still greater growth. Bishop Paret,
i'll approving recently the selection OF a site
| for the proposed cathedral establishment at Q
| point which is looked upon by some as remote
| from the city, took into account the probable
future development Of the city. In tins view
| he had the support OF tho competent body OF
clergy and laity who acted with him in an ad-
visory capacity. They gave practical evidence
| OF their belief that the city in the near future
would far outstrip its present bounds.
EXTENSION OF CITY STREETS.
There are other evidences in the same line.
Congress has now before il a measure provid-
| ing for the uniform extension Of the city
streets. 1t is not proposed to open up all
| these streets at once, but the lines can be de-
termiaed and then the growth OF the city can
proceed with an assured prospect that no COM
| plications will arse to interfere with improve
ments. The effect of bringing the large body
/ of land outside of the old limits of the city
| actively into the market will be In the in
terests of people OF moderate means who de-
sire to own their own homes. With the IN
| crease of rapid means OF communication land
several miles from the center of the city will
be brought in competition with what is now
| known city property with the result OF
| cgualizing values
| During the past week the House bill grant,
| ing the extension of the Rock Creek railroad
was passed By the Senate. This road will now
/ be able TO continue Its line from l4th and U
streets. along the latter street TO 9th and thence
| along FLORIDA avenue to North Capitol street
| BY this means a connection will be provided
| with all the principal city street railways As
| ID well known this road runs out Connecticut
\ avenue extended for two miles beyond the dis
| trict limits. BY the same bill direct APP
proach is given to this road to the Ontario ave-
nue. entrance of the Geological Park. A glance
| at the map will show the long stretch of
| as yet undeveloped country through which this
| new road will pass. Another long line Of su-
| burbsn road is that which connects George
| town with Tenleytown, and passing beyond
has started for Rockville. but SO far 10 content
| to stop at Bethesda. With these two lines
| parallel, yet good distance apart, there 10
/ another line which the residents along the
/ eth street road hope to see before great while
| passing along that thoroughfare to Brightwood,
/ and then beyond into Takoma Park. STILL
| further east the lexington road has penetrated
| a promising section OF the country. and these
| roads, with others which will no doubt be char
| tered experimenting the steam roads, will
give an impetus to the building up Of the new
Washington.
WORK OF THE ASSESSORS.
The assessors are making favorable progress
with their work, and by the LIST Of June IL il
expected that the assessment Of property lying
within the old limits Of Washington and George
town will be completed and ready for the in
| spection Of property owners. The months Of
June and July will be devoted by Assessor
Trimble and the three assistant assessors to
hearing what the citizens have to say in regard
to their work. 1t is expected that the bill now
before Congress will become q law, which
extends the time for assessment Of property in
what il known a the county to the LIST Of De-
cember. In that event owners of county prop
erty will be given an opportunity during the
month Of December to tell the assessors what
they think Of the valuations made There
will be no tax bills for county property
made out in November next, but in
the following May the tax bills for
the entire year viii be presented. II is not |
new assessment will show as compared with |
the valuations Of three years ago The last A. |
sessment made an advance Of a per cent in /
valuation over the previous assessment
TIE VALUE OF PROPERTY.
Asrepresenting the increase in values Of the |
property OF the entire District this percent
age 10 regarded q by no means . low one, al /
though Of course the advance in values in GER \
tain sections was much greater. 1t 10 stated Il
that the present assessment, taken ~ . whole, L
will exhibit about the same ratio Of increase.
In case this proves to be true it will not be in
consistent with . much greater ratio of in /
crease in some sections Of the city. The value
of property, a. viewed from the standpoint Of
the assessors, il what 1t will bring at forced
sale under adverse circumstances, and a. every
one knows such valuation widely differs from
the asking price or what 10 sometimes obtained
ct private sale. case in point was furnished
during the past year. piece OF property on
. leading business street was offered ct public
sale. and the highest price bid showed differ
encs of about e5 foot ~ compared with what
was subsequently obtained IT private sals for .
piece Of property on the same blsck. The
difference in the price per foot was actually
greater, but for the purpose Of fairer compar-
ison the prices in both cases - given above has
been calculated on . basis Of an average depth
Of 100 feet The property in question that was |
offered at auction il sold st the highest bid l
would have gone for els per foot But il Va
over 100 feet in depth and the price caloulatsd
tor Lot OF 100 feet in dspth vas 90 per foot i