Evening star., 1893-12-16
Recent Property Transactions and
B What is Said of Them,
THE BACKBONE OF THE MARKET STIFF
The Change That is Being Made in
the Prevailing City Color.
SOME IMPROV MENT S

side Of H street, between 18th and 14th
streets. has been a good deal discussed In
real estate circles during the past week.
The transaction was one Of considerable
magnitude for the times. and IT was inter-
esting on that account One hundred thou
sand dollars is good deal to pay for
building site, and the purchase would have
excited attention even in a period of greater
activity. OF course the ground secured was
considerable in amount in order to provide
a site for big building. and when the
number of square feet is taken into account
the total amount of the purchase money
does not seem to be so formidable. The sale
was one Of good size from most any point
of view. and there is also the gratifying
fact that the price obtained does not repre-
sent the values of a depressed market.
Nearly s. per square foot was the figure
agreed upon. and while IL is not looked upon
as in any sense excessive. yet 1t is by no
means a bargain price. The conclusion
based on this sale as to the stability Of val
ues Of real property in this city is that val
ues hold their own, and that while there
may be no special demand for property just
at present. yet IT has not become by any
means a drug on the market. In fact IL is
concluded that the market here has a back
bone that has preserved its rigidity unim-
paired. 1t might be said that II this sale
does not furnish sufficient evidence on that
point. the market might be scanned for
owners who are ready to part with their
property at a sacrifice.
Prices Remain Firm.
The fact is that such owners have not ap-
peared here, and the general opinion is that
prices are remarkably firm, and that the
only cause Of complaint is the inactivity of
the market. The sales that have been made
show that no depreciation in values has
taken place. IL property was offered very
generally it would no doubt be found that
speculative values had suffered a scaling
down. but that does not affect the income
yielding value of property. which is the fea-
ture that is the most desirable to the major
part OF the class OF investors
Not a Red Brick City.
The charm Of new paint especiallv uhan
1t Is not near enough to rub Of on ones
clothes. can be seen to advantage in the
block on F street between 18th and lath
streets. As everybody knows, this block,
or at least one side of II, represents a por-
ton Of the real estate holdings Of Mr.. Caleb
c. Willard. Ii Is easy TO recognize his prop
erty, because 1t Is always in perfect order
and looking neat and clean. Most people do
not take in such details, but they do notice
when the buildings are clothed in a new.
fresh coat of paint This is an annual event
with the Willard buildings. and in compar-
ison with structures which renew their
coats about once every two or three years
their appearance is always fresh. 1t is a
decided change from the line OF red which
bounds the street on both sides along other
blocks The color seems to be more suitable
TO the climate than the dull red. There is
no SCOT to disfigure IL and no prevailing
fogs to blur the impression But the bright
sunlight, which is a feature of the winter
climate here. seems to bring out the effects
OF the use OF the softer shades of color.
The modern parlors are treated in ivory
and white ana in other delicate shades and
there seems to be no reason, with such a
climate as is enjoyed here why some of the
daintiness and brightness of interior decora-
ton should not be used in the exterior of
buildings. As has been before pointed out
fashionable taste for the colonial color of
yellow is finding expression in house and
store exterior, and this is gradually chang
ing the red brick character of this CITY
Mr.. Willard is not alone, therefore, in the
choice of softer color than the orthodox
red, but he has the distinction of being the
pioneer in this direction in business prom
erty, and also he probably stands alone in
the liberality with which he uses paint.
Trees ON the Avenue.
While F street is being freshened up with
white and yellow coats OF paint. it is pro-
posed in the engineers office Of the Dis
tr1ct government tnat rows or trees be
planted along Pennsylvania avenue Natur-
ally enough. there is protest against
this innovation on the part of scme OF the
business men, who have enough difficulty
in overcoming the great width of the ave-
nue. without as they say, having their
places of business masked from the public
and their customers by rows of trees. They
don't seem to take more kindly to the idea
when IL is explained that IL is the Intention
to procure a variety of trees that would
climb up as rapidly as possible without
wasting time in fiinging out long arms
on all sides. 1t is not likely that the prop
ostion will be looked upon with favor by
the business men Immediately interested
so long as the avenue continues to be a
business street. The attempt to adorn the
haunts Of trade with forest trees is not
likely to succeed in an American city where
business competition is keen.
The Record of Bufldings
The building record of the building in
spector's office for the week ending YES
terday showed a total Of five permits is
sued for new dwellings at an estimated
cost of $3.50.
A private stable IN the rear Of eO5 10th
street northwest is being erected for Susan
A. Ruffin.
A two-story frame dwelling has been
started at Brightwood for c. whitmer.
]. W. Keene is the builder.
A two-story frame dwelling is being erect
ed at Burrville. ID. c.. for Marshal Clark
DERAILED BY A STONE,