Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-01

were those at Guy Curran's stores and
Miller's paint establishment on 9th street.
| the garbage factory at the foot of South
Capitol street and the confiagration at Ia
Roma Park last Friday morning.
Real Estate Market.
| There was considerable activity in the
real estate market at the opening of the
year. Building was going on, and there
was quite demand for property. The lat
ter was stimulated to some extent by the
development of railroad enterprises and the
projection of new ones The change in the
administration, is apt to be the case
tended to make the market for investment
quiet. The revision of the assessment of
property, which was in progress during the
hrst half of the year, was a help to the tax
payers although by many 1t was thought
that the valuations were still too high AS
the influence of the financial depression ex-
tended throughout the country the money
market here began to tighten and opera
| tons in real estate came practically to a
standstill. Although the recovery has been
slow, and there has been during the clos
ing months of the year really no market for
real estate, yet prices remained firm and
values were not pulled down by forced sales
of continued dullness. In fact, there has
been no liquidation in the real estate mar
ket here.
/ Building.
s2697,IG4 represents the total amount of
money spent in private building in the
District during the past year, against S.
/ 9U,l1O In 1892. OF this sum $121S5O1 was
expended in the northwest portion of the
city; $I6I,6O0 in the northeast; $I12913 in
the southeast, and $685. 100 in the south
west.
This is the story which the building
books at the office of the District building
inspector tell. The total number of per-
mits issued was $50, of which 2S3 were is
sued for buildings i'll the northwest 121
Tor buildings in the northeast, "A for build
| in the southwest
The permit issued during the year in
| volYlng the greatest amount of money was
tna1 issued to the Corcoran Art Gallery
! IN october for their new building, the cost
OF which was estimated at 100000. This
building Is in the northwest. In the north
east the permit involving the most money
was drawn out only last week by Mr.. J.
| G. Jones for the erection of eleven brick
houses on the corner of Maryland avenue
ana A street at a cost of $4,000. The
! largest permit in amount of money issued
Tor the southeast section OF the city was
entered in the name of Father j. r.
Mathews, for the erection of the new Cath
oilc church on the corner of 18th and c
streets, while the biggest thing in South
west Washington was the permit for the
erection of the row of houses by Mr. w. p
Nandegrift at a cost of $4,000. The effect
!
| more marked in Washington than in the
cessation of building operations. 1t is be-
hexed, however, that the coming season
| VIII witness revival of building activity
Sports and Athletics.
Perhaps more than usual interest was
manifested in athletics and sports during
the year-base ball. rowing. foot ball. bicy-
cling and horse racing each receiving con-
siderable time and attention from their
| respective devotees and admirers. The
! Washington base ball club inaugurating
the season with the customary rosy-hued
predictions of success. gradually but surely
secured the position which fate for many
years has awarded the local team I'm the
race and again clinched its hold on the
ute OF taienders." The local jockey club
held both spring and fall meeting the
| hrst barely paying expenses and the second
proving great financial success. A win
Ter race meeting was inaugurated at the
Ivy IVY Clty track IN February. lasting but
| Re" days. closing before the authorities
TOOK action to prevent 1t. While there was
not SO great an activity noticed in boating
as that OF past years n successful rowing
regatta under the auspices of the local
! clubs was held during the summer The
interest taken in foot ball developed an
unusually large number of teams through
| out the District. the last game of the sea-
| son being played on Christmas day. The
| Columbia Athletic Club team won the Dis
| trict championship defeating the George
town University team in the deciding game
on Thanksgiving day. New athletic clubs
were organized during the year, placing
the city well abreast of the times in such
| matters
Winter Racing.
The invasion of the city b. the race track
managers who had been expelled from New
Jersey by laws enacted there in response
to public sentiment caused considerable
alarm to those who take an interest in the
morals of the city. The prospect of win
| ter racing here was not agreeable one
ana Inc Star early called attention to the
| danger which threatened the community
by the influx of the irresponsible charac-
tiers who gather around such Institutions
| me police were quick to act on the sug-
Sestion. Winter racing was inaugurated
again early in December The district at
| torney and other officials took such steps
as they could to prevent the success of the
plans OF the race managers. 1t was held
that the Commissioners could not refuse y
| license to the managers to run races, but
they however. withheld license to sell
| liquor on the grounds Several of the book
| makers engaged at the track were arrested
| charged with violating the gambling laws
| OF the District, and the races were imme-
| diatey suspended Indictments have been
| reported against these bookmakers and
| against Engeman. the lessee of the track
under the general gambling laws of the
| District. These measures. 1t is hoped, have
put an end to the danger that threatened
the capital of having winter racing num-
bered among its permanent institutions.
! Stiil Waiting.
The eyes of the District democracy have
been turned wistfully toward the White
House during nearly the whole year, but
| the President has not taken up for settle
ment the matter Of appointments to the
| several good offices in the District at his
disposal. So the public officers appointed
by President Harrison continue to serve
the public.
! Washington Inventors.
The total number Of patents issued to
! Washington inventors during the year was
POI. On the basis of the census of 1890 this
is one patented invention to each 1.Ioy of
| the population.
Joined the Great Majority.
/ Death removed a number of prominent
| residents and citizens during the year
January - ex-Secretary of State James O.
Blaine. after long illness. died. Justice
I.lini n e r..