Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-05

interfered in any way
with the legitimate use by the public of the at
tractive lawns which fringe the rivers edge
almost to the point it has become great resort.
1t seems probable that this property will be ex-
clusively devoted for park purposes At least
that lie the proposition and if all the details can
be carried out no doubt the southern section of
the city will have park. As is well known. the
barracks Is now an artillery station, while
at Fort Myer there is cavalry post.
1t is proposed to enlarge the grounds
at Fort Myer and establish post
brigade. bringing on for that purpose several
companies of infantry, which. with the
artillery and the cavalry, would constitute the
! proposed brigade. There is no infantry sta
toned here. and it is deemed important that
there should be q well-equipped and disciplined
body of men located at the national capital
representing these three important branches Of
| the service. In the event that the camp mt
Fort Myer is enlarged and the troops removed
from the barracks some importan changes will
be made that will necessarily effect the value
of property in both sections. Unless some
portions of the present Arlington reservation
Is utilized it will be necessary to acquire ad-
ditional land in the vicinity OF Fort Myer.
| When the barracks property is transformed
into park there will be various changes made
which will add vastly to the appearance of that
locality. 1t might hasten action in regard to
the James Creek canal, which is now an open
fensive nuisance. Up to the boundary line of
the property changes have been made and are
now being made which will greatly improve the
appearance of things. The power house
of the Washington and Georgetown Company
is decided Improvement a. compared with
the appearance OF the square before the build
ing was erected Then opposite on the other
side Of Az street the Metropolitan Company
Is clearing up square that has been desOlate
waste The new power house that is to be
built will be quite slightly. Other changes
would soon follow. and the approaches to the
new southern park with its green lawns shaded
| by fine old trees would be attractive.
THE SOLDIERS HOME PROPERTY
There is another park for the city talked Of
although the property in question is now and
has been for some years practically the only
park that the city possesses. The question is
being seriously considered Of removing the
Soldiers Home to some place farther away from
the city. When the property acquired it
was considered far enough away from the city,
in fact quite remote from the center of popu-
lasion. But now it is found that the land on all
sides is being subdivided. streets are being laid
ont and at the present rate Of progress it does
not need the eye of a prophet to foresee that in
the course of n few years the Soldiers Home
property will be in the center of a
closely built-up territory, or, in other
words practically in the midst of city,
Those interested in the home think that the
best interests OF such an institution are served
By location somewhat remote and retired. 1t
is realized that the property has enhanced in
value and that its full value If realized, would
furnish fund for securing ample grounds
elsewhere and for the erection of perhaps more
suitable buildings OF course. nothing could
be done without the consent of Congress. but
still the subject is being discussed good deal
by property owners. the officials Of the home
and others.
There are several plans proposed for dispos-
ing OF the present property. It has been sug-
gested that the entire area could be reserved
the site for the much-talked-of private
residence for the President. Then again IT is
proposed to continue its use as a public park
while others favor the sale and the subdivision
of the property into building lots. 1t is claimed
that there would be difficulty in getting a
purchaser for this property at a good round
sum. but property owners and Others interested
are OF the opinion that the property will never
be used for anything except public park.
SOME CURRENT LAND PRICES,
recent sale Of lot was recorded during the
past week, and as it is always interesting to
feel the pulse of the real estate market by learn
ing the prices obtained at current sales some
mention of this sale will be of value The
ground was located on Massachusetts, avenue
between nth and 18TH rather nearer to the latter
than the former street. The dimensions were
27xl20 feet to a ten-foot alley, and the price
paid was Sl5,390, which is at the rate of S4 IS
per square foot. A few squares to the south
for the property fronting 1902 feet on Rhode
Island avenue just east of Connecticut avenue.
recently acquired for st. Matthew's Church.
the price per foot, counting the property as
vacant ground. was about $40. But on the
basis that the Dunn house is worth $40, 900 the
land would then be rated at about s. per square
foot. Az the depth is something like l60 feet it
may be readily understood that this property
was not exactly given away.
TYPES OF FOREIGN ARCHITECTURE
1t is hoped. of course, that the French minis
ter will succeed in carrying out his plan of hay
ing legation building in this city which will be
the property of his government. In the event
that he Is not able to find house already built
that suits him he may buy site and erect a
home. In this connection it may be well to
suggest that such a house would be most inter-
esting if in addition to it's being the home of
the representative of the French nation at the
American capital it should in its architectural
form represent the best expression of French
taste If the house were thoroughly French in
all its characteristics. standing as the type of
| the best in French architecture. il would be
a source of instruction and information
that is usually only available for the
untraveled at national expositions. The
buildings occupied by foreign nations at
the Chicago exposition are built by arch
fleets native to the countries represented and of
course are typical in character. Something of
| the same sort might well be kept in mind when
a foreign legation building is erected in this
city. Instead Of employing American arch
fleets. as was done in the case of the English
and Mexican legation buildings, the leading
native architect would be given an opportunity
to represent his country by putting up a char
acteristic building No doubt it is a compli-
ment to this country when a foreign country
selects an American sarchitect to do its work,
but Independent OF personal reasons the other
plan would result in giving more character to
the legation building, and certainly it would
make this city more interesting, for here would
be collected not only the best examples Of
American architecture, but Of all foreign coun-
tries owning legation building.
THE NEW coRcoRAN GALLERY BUI LpINa.
Plans are being prepared for the new build
ing for the Corcoran Art Gallery, which is to be
erected on the square now owned by that cor
poration just west of the State. War and Navy
Department building. at New York avenue and
18th street. number of architects have been
invited to enter limited competition and the
trustees will select the best design. The
architects in this city whoare in the competition
are Hornblower 4 Marshall, w. Bruce Gray
and Paul j. Pelz. A firm Of New York
architects is also in the contest 1t is pro-
posed to erect building to cost about $780,
600. and if the preliminaries can be arranged it
is probable that building operations will be
begun next spring. Ample provisions will be
made for the future growth Of the gallery and
the additions can be made without impalring
the harmony Of the general design.
aURupRAN pArr man vYrvveYova