Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-02
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
The New Residence of the Chinese
Legation.
THE FIRST TO GO INTO THE SUBURBS
Improvements to the Building Oc-
cupied by the German Legation.
SOME FINE RESIDENCES

ISOME FINE RESIDENCES
news in the building AMI real estate world
this week was the statement that the new
Chinese minister had leased for a period Of
| three years the three handsome brown
| stone houses that stand at the head of
l4th street at the corner of Yale street
Mr.. Yang, who represents the fiowery king
dom to this country, Spain and Peru. has
only been In this city sNce the early part
| Of this week. and 1t is evident that he lost
| little time in the selection OF a new home
for the legation.
Before his arrival quarters had been Sc
cured for the minister and his suite at the
Arlington, and it was thought they would
remain there some time, hut as it stands
now 1t is probable that they will be under
their own roof and about their own hearth
stone before many weeks have elapsed.
From an architectural point Of view it
wise choice. In this. OF course, he had the
advice OF Mr.. Ho and the other attaches of
the legation. who have served Under Mr..
Isui. the retiring minister BEFORE the ar
over the field and had prepared q LIST Of all
the houses In the city that were 4valable
Ihese were not so numerous as one might
think. Tor the Chinese legation. as 1t Is
now constituted. IL perhaps the most nu-
merous official family Of it's sort
IN this city. Numbering. as 1t
probobly does. upwards Of fifty or
sixty members. 1t was no small mat
modate them all.
For this reason 1t was fortunate that
there was ready to hand such a group of
houses as those that have been selected for
houses nj
ranged that they can readily be connected
IN such manner as to form practically
one residence, and 1t will then make one of
S sne roomiest and most desirable legation
houses in the city.
The First in the Suburbs.
1t Is not SO very many years ago that the
spot where these houses stand was looked
upon as well out into the country, but now
the rapid growth Of the city toward the
northwest and the introduction Of rapid
transit has brought that section within easy
reach Of the center Of the city, This Is the
nrst time that q foreign legation has sought
nome SO FAR out, but there is really no
reason why Its situation should be consider
ed as at all remote. People who cali upon
foreign ministers are supposed to ride in
their own carriages, and even K they do
not the cable cars can whisk them out 14:h
street In even less time than would be spcnt
IN reaching other points which are usually
looked upon as more central. The lease fer
the new Chinese legation was made with the
option OF purchase. AMI 1t Is not at all nm
likely that before three years have clapsed
the representative of his Mon golian majesty
In this city win have home of his own.
In this he would be but following IN the
footsteps OF other ministers and envoys
One by one the great nations have been
securing their own residences in this city.
The British legation was the first Of all TO
| move out into the west end and IT, erect its
own official dwelling. In fact 1t was one of
the pioneers in the movement that led to
the settling of that west end neighborhood
that Is now In some respects looked upon a
tne most desirable In the city. AS the story
goes the then British minister was anxious
to secure the two middle houses in the Grant
row, on East Capitol street between % and "a
The owners. however. had such an exalted
idea OF the value of their property that they
set figure which the minister regarded as
exorbitant. 1t Is said there was no attempt
TO take advantage of his position and needs
IN the matter. but. however. that may be
high and decided to move out on Conn ecticut
avenue, where land could be had at q price
that seems ridiculous now. it was in a re-
mote situation. according to ideas then,
but the way in which the growth Of the
city followed him or else the manner IN
which he had forestalled the natural deyel-
opment OF the city must have been a matter
OF very considerable surprise to the repre-
sentative OF Queen Victoria. II multiplied
| the value Of his investment so rany times
that II he had only bought the whole Of
connecticut avenue instead Of a building
| site he wouldn't have had to be a minister
| for living any more.
The German Iteration Rail Room
The German and French LEGATIONS are on
Highland Terrace, Massachusetts, avenue,
| between 18th and 18th streets The former
! Is permanent domicile 1435, but it is
| thought that the French, who are now To-
Gated three doors east, will soon look about
| for more commodious quarters. The addi-
| ton which Is just about being completed
| to the German legation makes Of that one
! of the largest private houses in the city
| AS it was before it was a massive four
! story English basement house, though not
particularly well adapted for purposes of
| entertainment In expectation of gay
| social winter, probably, under the regime
| of the new ambassador lot which stood
to the west of the house has now been
| covered with handsome three story struct-
| ure that Is to be used as a bali room. The
| first floor, which is raised but little above
| the level of the ground. can be used for
| cloak rooms or supper rooms. The two
/ stories above have been thrown into one
| SO that 1t makes a lofty ceiled ball room,
| which Is to be one Of the most beautiful
In the capital; 1t is rapidly approaching
placed in the hands Of the decorators.
| The Scare Is Over.
Those distinguished citizens and there
are many of them. says the Building Regis
ter this week, who have been secretly
boarding their means in anticipation of a.
big drop in real estate values. which would,
Of necessity, follow the Inauguration Of a
general business panic, may as well permit
| their pulses to drop back 10 a normal con-
dition, for the scare is over. There will be
no panic. The country is now rapidly re-
| covering from the i'll effects Of the scare,
and 1t will be but a comparatively short
| time until the so-called panic of 1893 will be
| but a "reminiscences. Business Is being re-
| sumed in all the manufacturing and indus
| trial centers and last but not least there
| will be no depreciation Of values On the
| other hand, real estate ind other values
will march onward. not backward.
Some Fine Residences.
VIM. J. Palmer has made the plans for a
fine residence that will be built at No. 1928
18th street for Mrs. H. P. James. 1t will
have two fronts. The main one, together
| with half Of the other. will be of Indiana
limestone and cream colored brick; the
combination Of the two materials will unite
| in producing striking as we'll as a beauti-
full appearance. The stone work will ex-
tend to the second story window stills, after
| which there will be liberal stone treat