Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-18

49, Is passed Is unsatlsiac-
x tory in several details.
yet the importance
of the principle involved has been for
years recognized by Congress and the citizens
generally. The plan of the city, and especially
its most charac tersic feature. the broad streets,
was regarded as the height Of absurdity up to a
few years ago. Now its advantages are appre-
ciated ard Congress by this new law has set
the seal OF its legislative approya! upon the fit
ness OF this plan tor municipal purposes and
has decreed that it should be made coextensive
with that of the District of Columbia. Four or
five years ago Congress by law put stop to the
deviations from the plan of the city which mark
the Older subdivisions and directed that
no subdivisions should be made
unless in accordance with that plan. This law
has been enforced by the Commissioners. with
some minor exceptions, when interested prop
erty owners have induced the local rulers to
exercise the discretion which the law of 1888
and the new law gives allowed certain de-
viations. But stated above there are
only few Subdivisions made subsequent to the
law of 1888 which are no, in harmony with the
urban plan. No donot property owners Will
endeavor 70 convince the Commissioners that a
park-iike arrangement of curving streets and
swelling stretches of ground are much more
picturesque and attractive than the stiff lines
OF city streets passing over graded surface.
SHAVE THE HILLS DOWN.
The Commissioners will be told that hills with
grade Of forty fifty feet are insurmount-
able obstacles the way OF the progress of city
streets. and that the only alternative will be to
go around them. There will be great variety
of arguments advanced to induce the Commits
sioners to allow land to remain rs it is. The COM
init tees of Congress have listened to such rea-
sOnlng for the past ten wears, and in the mean
time the city has gone beyond its old municipal
LIMIT md naa rtsa1f Shn odi nt,t
suburbs. In a fewmore years of such progress
there will be compact rows Of houses and city
streets where people are now talking about the
fine view which the locality affords Of the city.
The city is moving, and il there is any efficacy
in a law of Congress backed up by an intelligent
public sentiment the city streets with their
splendid parking. the system Of avenues and
circles will move right along over the bounds
Of the city. through the Insignificant piles of
dirt which nature has erected and out in straight
lines of ever increasing beauty to the bounds of
the District. Or course there are some localities
where the topography is confessedly SO rugged
that no unbending system Of rectangular streets
can with advantage be adapted to it. But GER
tainly there ia no such barrier to the city's pro-
greSs lying along the present municipal limits
The discretion of the Commissioners nor the
wishes OF a few property holders cannot violate
the plain and generally recognized spirit OF the
law.
THE ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY
During the present week the board of assess
ors completed the revision Of the assessment Of
property in the city of Washington. They are
now at work finishing up the squsres in George
town and by the 1st Of April they intend to
have the books closed and the assessment COM
pleteo. If any property holder desires to have
any change made In his assessment he should
communicate with the assessors before April l..
Not that the assessors will comply with request
simply because one Is made. but after that date
changes will not be considered. The county
property is to be then gone over and
by the LIST of June the board expects
to be ready to say goodbye to each
other. While the assessment is not vet
completed it is safe to saw that it will show a
considerable difference as compared with the
assessment Of the old board. 1t is understood
that corner lots on street are assessed at SO
and Sll, instead of SIS or Whereabouts. and
that there il a proportionate decrease in the
valuation of inside lots. The same principle
has been applied to resident property.
STILL WESTWARD.
The notable purchase Of the large area of
land on each side of the Richmond Hotel prop
erty, at the northeast corner of l7sh and H
streets. makes emphatic the rapid invasion by
business of what has always been looked upon
as a residence section of the city. While the
plans OF the purchaser of this property have
not been definitely announced. still il is known
ent building, or. perhaps, to erect an entirely
new structure on this site. 1t is safe to say that
the ground will not be used for residence pur.
poses. The entire area of land purchased was
about Il, 600 feet and the price averaged nearly
81 per square foot, which is good
figure for such large quantity. Not quite
two years ago piece Of property on the oppo-
site side OF 18th. with a frontage OF about 30
feet and an average depth Of liz feet, was
sold for Sc. 70 per foot. The residence has been
converted into an office building and Mr.. W. NJ.
Poindexter, the owner of the adjoining build
ing, intends to make a similar change. As has
been stated the residence Of DR.. May. S16 18th
street has been purchased for a similar purpose,
SO that with the club houses hotels ap artment
houses and Office buildings this locality is rap
idly losing its character as a residence section.
ROWS OF HOUSES.
On o street southwest between Sd and AZ
". p. Cissell will erect block of eleven houses.
They will be two-story. 156x40 each, have fronts
of press brick and stone, relieved by small bay
projections. n. L. Halter Is the architect
Eight three-stOrv and cellar houses will be
erected on Massachusetts avenue near d street
northeast The corner house will be modelled
after the English basement style, the other
dwellings will have square bays extending to
the roofs of fat tin. Indiana limestone will be
used up to the first-story sills, and press brick
the rest of the way.
SOME NEW HOUSES.
B. Stanley Simmons, architect, has made
plans for residence for James Clements to be
erected at Ballston. Va. 1t rs designed after the
colonial style. The house will be two stories,
surmounted by a mansard roof and tower.
Around the tower will extend colonnade.
which will greatly add to the appearance of the
structure. The interior will be finished in
natural woods, with cabineE mantels and hot-air
heating apparatus.
An addition to the residence Of Rev. Mackey
Smith. No. 1925 10Th street, will be built from
designs furnished by I. F: Schneider. 1t will
be one story in height and will be used as
library.
A two-story dwelling will be built by Mrs. c.
Caldwell on 1 street between 9th and 7th streets
southeast from plans by B. N. Needs. It will
have press-brick front, with square bay-win-
dow and Ohio stone trimmings. The interior
will be finished in hard oil
Two residences will be built on street. No.
2202. and 1916 Florida avenue. for A. ]. Semmes.
These will be three stories and basement with
fronts Of press brick and Hummelstown brown
stone. relieved by square bays extending to the
roofs Of fiat tin. A. ]. Fisher il the architect
DR.. Mann will build at the intersection OF
Maryland avenue, F, 18th and 18th streets
northeast three two-story and basement houses.
30x36 each. The fronts OF press brick and
stone will be broken by square bays extending
to the roofs of fat tin. E. Waltz il the archi-
tect