Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-17

without the limits Of the city, and altogether
the holiday season has been preceded by a
period OF business that will enable the dealers
to indulge in the general rejoicing Of the time
with more genuine spiri: than was ths case last
year Just now the effect of the Christmas time
Is manifest and the attention of the public is
largely absorbed in preparation for the great
holiday Of the year. 1t is expected that bust
ness will become somewhat slack at this time.
That has always been the case and there is no
reason why this year should prove to
be an exception. Still real estate in
terests are not entirely overlooked and
there are number of schemes. involv-
ing greater or less amounts of money which
will mature and ripen and at the opening of
the new year will be ready to be harvested.
Some Of the transactions of considerable
magnitude. one in particular which will involve
the expenditure OF about $4,000 900 and
which if carried out will be represented in a
large and handsome Office building on one Of the
principal business streets. There are also sew
eral plans proposed for the erection of large
hotel buildings. but thus far there has been no
proposition made looking to the erection of an
apartment house. The latter is a scheme that
is generally Endorsed in the abstract, but when
it comes to getting down to details the capital
lists somehow or other manage to be shunted
off another track. The apartment hou @
is therefore still in the future as far
this city is concerned. although, of
course, there are two or three such buildings in
use and it is said that they yield good return
on the money invested. 1t has ALWAYS been
claimed that the conditions of life in this city
are admirably adapted for the profitable use Of
buildings of this character. Either this result
does not come out when .he problem is reduced
to figures or else there are other modes of in
vestment which yield large returns What
ever the reason. the fact remains that the apart
ment house does not cut much Of figure in the
real estate market in this CITY
Mr.. LETTERS WALL.
Although the residence which Mr. Letter has
erected on New Hampshire avenue near Dupont
Circle is perhaps the largest private house ever
built in this city. there is a good deal Of
ground about it. Mr.. Letter bought an I'M
usually generous lot and after giving up
pretty large section of it for the site of his
house, there is enough left to allow for quite an
ample lawn. especially to the north. When it
is considered that he paid over 800, 900 for tho
ground alone. every foot Of which represents
more than Sc the lawn space would be apt
to have in the eyes of any other man
than the present owner a golden hue rather
than the green which it will actually present to
the casual visitor. Probably this fact may be
considered sufficient explanation for the erec-
tion of the high brick wall along the northern
border of the lawn. Some Of the people living
in the vicinity consider that the wall might be
lower with advantage, but exactly whose advan-
tage is not stated. 1t is generally described as
being fifteen feet high, but il is thought that an
actual measurement would only show a height
of about ten feet. However. it will screen
the lawn from the public gaze unless
the public locate in the second story
Of the neighboring buildings, or else fall into
the habit of walking on stills. The wall, how
ever, is handsomely built of brick and CORE
spends with the material used in the house, and
il 1t suits Mr.. Letter no reasonable person can
have any ground Of complaint. Mr.. Letter is
only following the custom which has prevailed
in the erection OF good many of the private
residences here OF large size, and therefore can
not be accused Of importing the exclusive style
which, no doubt, prevails in Chicago.
MODERN STREET RAILROAD SYSTEMS.
The development Of the stree. railroad facili-
ties is just now an interesting phase Of the ma
terial growth and progress OF the city. There
is perhaps more activity in this direction than
over before. Two new lines in course Of
constructlon-one out the It'll stree. road and
the other the city stem of the Rock Creek rail-
road along U street and Florida avenue to 7th
street. The latter is perhaps the most impor-
tant for the reason that 1t will be in the nature
OF test Of q new motive power-namely
the underground electric wire The const-uc-
ton Of the conduit has been advanced
nearly to 14th street, where it will be necessary
to sink it under that of the cable road. Ii the
road proves to be n success il may pave the
way for the adoption Of the motive power in
the proposed extensions Of the lexington road
and on the city branch of the new Suburban
railroad. Work on the two latter is not being
pushed, for the reason that no decision has been
reached as to the motive power that will be en-
ployed. 1t is claimed that the storage battery
cars, with which the Metropolitan railroad is
now being equipped, are practically success
fui, and it Is expected by the managers