Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-03

missioners. But as IL is now practically the
end of the building season for the present
year the full effect of this change will no, be
apparent until next spring. At present. the fire
limits on the north of the city are marked BY
Boundary street or Florida avenue. All north
of that line the owners of property allowed
to use their discretion as to whether they will
employ brick or wood in the erection Of houses
Now, however, in all that section from the
Blndensburg road west to Rock creek no frame
houses can hereafter be erected. There is how
ever, limit the north, the Commits
| sioners have not as vet advanced the fire limits
all the way to the District line.
THE NEW LIMITS
No doubt that will come in time but for the
present the needs of the growing city will be suf
ficiently served. it is thought by continuing the
line OF brick construction from 18th street east
across the Boundary and up the Bladensburg
road to Mount Olivet road. thence along Cor
coran road to the line of T street extended.
thence to LIST street west extended, thence north
through the grounds of the Soldiers Home,
thence west, north of the new reservoir to the
eth street road Brightwood avenue, and
| along the latter to the Spring road; along this
road and the Pinev Branch road to Rock creek
Following the creek the line crosses it at Stod-
dart street in Georgetown, and thence by 2Sth
| street, Road street and Seth street to the river
again. As may be seen the new limits do not
extend east of the It'll street road and north of
Howard University. but all west of that road
practically rs far north as the present suburban
growth has gone is included.
THE EFFECT on BUILDING.
It Is not TO be inferred from this new regula-
ton that it was made necessary because that
section of the suburbs was already thickly set
tied. But sufficient progress had been made in
that direction to show Enthusiastically the ten
dency OF things and what might be expected in
the course of few years. In order that there
might not be too many frame structures il was
decided to put stop TO further building of this
sort Some Of the property owners anticipate
that this regulation will serve as q check to
building operations, and no doubt that will be
the case to a certain extent. There is q differ
ence in the cost of building of some 20 per
cent in favor of house built of wood in
stead OF brick. 1t is possible that this new
| rule will effect land values to some extent and
that the difference in the cost of building will
be made up by corresponding decrease in the
price OF the land. In a considerable degree
this regulation has been anticipated and dur
ing the past year or two the houses erected in
the suburbs have been, as a rule, built of brick
1t Is to be regretted that many artistic and
pleasing designs which are worked out in wood
will no longer be possible; but still. Judging
from what is being done in the city, there is q
good deal of variety possible in a house built of
brick or stone.
THE GERxAS LEGATION PROPERTY
Recently there have been two transactions in
property concluded which possess considerable
interest. Neither were purchases outright, but
they were trades. As has been stated in The
STAR, the residence occupied by the German
legation on 18th street adjoining Wormlevs
has been disposed OF to Maj Ferguson. who
gave rs part Of the consideration his handsome
hon ,k,,ra -
and 10th streets. The latter is now the home
OF the German minister and his official family
There Is attached to this transaction element
OF considerable interest, growing out Of the
price which was named for the legation prop
erty. 1t is said that it considered to be
worth about $4,000, and that Maj. Ferguson
gave his own residence and go, 900 to boot
The legation house is plain three-story brick
structure covering the entire frontage of the
lot. which is 80 feet. The lot has a depth of
l45 feet and extends back to a 30-foot alley
On the basis of $4,000 the price per foot was
about Sill.
1t is understood that the new owner has not
definitely determined what to do with this
property. As stated it adjoins the building
known as Wormley's, which il the property of
Gardiner G. Hubbard, James Z. Fitch and
Others. Negotiations are in progress to unite
these two properties under one ownership, the
plan being to remove the present buildings and
erect on this site, with its frontage of some 200
feet on 18th street and So feet on ii street a
handsome modern building either for business
or hotel purposes. Mr.. Wormley. the present
proprietor of the hotel. has under considera-
ton one or two propositions to lease hotel
building to be erected for him further to the
northwest One of the sites mentioned is on
Connecticut avenue north of NJ street. No
definite conclusion has been reached.
SENATOR PRocTons TRADE
The other trade referred to is the one that
was negotiated between Senator Proctor and
DR.. Magruder The former owns a fine building
site having frontage of IS feet on Massachu-
sets avenue between 18th and 18th streets
while DIR. Magruder owns an eligible lot at the
northeast corner Of Vermont avenue and h
street. 1t has n frontage of " feet on K street
and AS on Vermont avenue, but follows the
line Of the avenue and comes TO point at the
north end. While the details have not been
made public it is understood that DIR. Magru-
der lot figured in the transaction at O value
of between ESQ., 900 and $4,000. 1t is stated to
be Senator Proctor's intention to erect a fine
residence on this site.
RENTALS FOR SMALL RESIDENCES.
paragraph has been going the rounds Of
the newspapers to the effect that Whitelaw
Reid when he was the American minister to
France paid for an unfurnished residence in
Paris an annual rental Of $50. 00O The amount
ocean. and in consequence is somewhat swollen,
but. however that may be. it is evident that
the minister residents in this country are a good
deal better off in the way Of house rents The
highest annual rental paid by foreign minis
ter for house in this city is charged to the ex-
pense account of the Chinese government.
The minister. however, only pays Sc, 600 year
for Stewart Castle. his home in this city, which
includes the furniture. II he wanted to live IN
Mr.. Blaine's house on Dupont circle he would
have to pay S11 900 year, at least that is what
Mr.. Letter pays. 1t is q rare exception where
higher rental than $500 a month is asked for
furnished residence in this city. and while
there are no palaces on the rent lists Of the real
estate brokers Of the city. still the houses that
can be obtained at such figures are commodious
and handsomely furnished and well adapted for
comfortable and luxurious style of living
MR.. DANENHowER's RESIDENCE
Mr.. Washington Danenhower has 5ust COM
pleted an elegant residence, No. $500 street
northwest, and will remove his family from Al
exandria next week and occupy the same The
building was constructed under the personal
supervision of Mr.. John T. Clark the we'll
known builder. The arrangement has been
specially planned for comfort and the house
win compare favorably with many Of the more
expensive residences for which this city has be-
come noted. Hummelstown brown stone has
been freely used on the front, in the steps
and the trimmings to all the Window and
doors. The main floor is reached through .
wide vestibule, tiled in onyx; the storm doors