Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-27
The Influence of Manufactures on
the Value of Property.
A MILLION PER MONTH PAID IN WAGES
A Test Made Of the Demand for
Cheap Building Sites.
SOME NEW ILDIN G. s

be recalled, at the recent meeting the
board adopted a report from the committee
on commerce. setting forth the importance
of taking active measures to promote the
manufactures OF the District. 1t was de-
cided to appoint special committee to
take this matter under consideration, and
no doubt the hearty cooperation of such a
representative body as the board of trade
will have beneficial influence in further
Ing what is justly regarded as an important
element in the material progress of the
city. The substantial advantages that will
accrue to the city in a still further extern
sion Of the manufacturing Industries is
fully recognized by those who are interested
In real estate. In addition to the ground
which will be needed for the location of in
dustrial plants. the employees will require
homes and the money which will be placed
In circulation through the distribution of
wages will have a very sensible influence on
the rental and sale market.
There are some people. no doubt, even
among the older residents of the city who
have an idea that the manufacturing in
terests of the city are rather unimportant.
The fact is, the development of these in
dustries In this city has been going on so
quietly that they have not received the
attention which their real Importance war
ranted. In 1890. according to the statistics
OF the census office, the value of the pro-
duct of the manufactures of the District
was over thirty-three million. This was eX-
elusive of the value of the output of the
mechanical and manufacturing industries
OF the federal government located in this
city. The number of hands employed was
reported to be nearly nineteen thousand,
ard the total wages paid was about eleven
million.
A Million Each Month.
During the four years that have elapsed
since these statistics were gathered there
has been no doubt an increase in all these
details. 1t would perhaps be safe to say
that at the present time million dollars
each month is placed in circulation through
the medium of wages paid to persons en-
ployed in local manufacturing establish
ments. 1t is evident from this showing that
local manufactures are not an infant in
dustry. Any interest which contributes a
million dollars a month to the available |
resources of the city would not be regarded !
as insignificant even in place which Is !
confessedly manufacturing center.
The board of trade can do a great deal in |
advancing the interests of the city In this |
respect. Through this medium 1t can be |
made known not only to the residents of |
the city generally, but throughout all this |
section of the country that manufacturing |
establishments can be located with advan- |
tage at the nations capital The appre- |
hension that such establishments will de- |
tract from the attractions of this city as a |
place OF reSlUenCe Is answered. Dy Tile TACT |
that along with the great development of |
the city during the past decade as place |
of residence has been this remarkable ex-
pansion of manufacturing industries.
According to the census figures in 1880 |
there were only about 1000 people employed |
in manufactures and the wages paid was |
less than four million yearly, while the |
value of the goods manufactured each year |
was less than twelve million. With the |
proposed utilization of the water power of |
the Potomac river, the progress that has |
been made In employing electricity as mo- |
tive power, the increasing population and |
the growing wealth and the importance of
the nations capital. the prediction is safe |
one that the future will witness q still |
greater growth of the manufacturing inter-
ests of the city.
Cheap building Sites.
Reference was made In this column last |
week to the impression that low priced |
building sites within the old limits of the |
city were getting to be rather scarce in the |
market. 1t was pointed out that this was
an erroneous idea. and the assertion was |
made that there was good deal of desir- |
able ground which could be bought for a |
dollar or less per square foot. An enter |
prising real estate dealer knowing from his |
own list of property for sale that this |
statement was correct determined to test |
whether there was demand as indicated. |
He accordingly advertised a lot In the |
northwestern section of the city. which he |
offered at 81 per square foot. The adver- |
tlsement appeared in The Star, and the |
next morning when he reached his office a !
man came in and purchased the lot. During |
the day he had a number of inquiries, and |
he could have sold the lot several times at |
that figure.
Concrete Architecture.
The other day two young girls were seen
standing before the north front of the |
Treasury building, carefully comparing the
details of that structure with the illustra-
lions In a volume on architecture, which
was evidently school textbook. The adj
vantages which students of architecture
enjoy by living in the city where there are
several good examples of the classical |
school of architecture were strikingly Illus |
trated by this instance. Most works on |
architecture contain illustrations showing |
the different classical orders, well as
other styles, but after all the impression
made by porting over the writings of author |
tiles on architecture is slight as compared |
with the force of q concrete example OF the |
principles of the different schools as seen |
In the piles of granite which constitute the |
home Of the several executive departments /
of the government. i
The Interior Department building Is pure |
example of the DoTic type of architecture.
The Treasury building illustrates the Ionic
order, while the Post Office Department |
presents features of the Corlnt hian. The
Capitol building is also of the Cornthian
order. Students will get some idea of what |
is termed the Italian renaissance In the |
State, War and Navy Department building
The Pension Office building, with the ex-
cepton of the roof over the central court
is good example of the italian arChitec-
ture before the influence of the Roman style
was entirely overwhelmed in the excessive
ornamen tation of d later period.
The Colonial style.
The new naval observatory building on
the heights Of Georgetown is treated in
the classical style. while the White House |
shows the influence of the simple yet eff
fectiye method which the Greeks adopt
ed in the construction of their famous
buildings. The Smithsonian Institution
building presents a type which is familiar
to those who have Travelled much In Eng
land, and with its towers and mullioned
windows IS classed under the heading OF |
Norman architecture
There are some good types represented |
in. the domestic architecture of the city.
As a rule, the designers of modern private |
residences aim to combine in a pleasing
design features from several schools of |
architecture, so that very few pure speci- !
mems are found in this class of buildings.
There are, however, to be seen along the |
resident streets Of the city. among others,
examples of what IS termed the Queen Anne |
style, the ROmanesque and the Colonial |
L.