Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-14
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
No Great Activity in the Market,
but Prices Remain Firm.
IRON CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDINGS
The Erection of a TweIve-StoD
Apartment House.
SOME NEW Bull DIN G S

= ~ M d N q w d " - - N " =
Business has rather dragged during the
past week. and the indications of a renewed
activity. which were SO promising few
weeks ago, have not been followed by the
volume Of business which was expected
There Is, however, evidently a growing in
terest on the part Of investors in real es-
tate and an abundance of money available
for loans. 1t is the experience in nearly all
real estate Offices that there is a good deal
of inquiry the part of those who have
money to invest for anything in the line of
bargains which the market affords. The
a1Dce of these desirable tid-bits is as
marked now and was during the period Of
the late financial depression as has been
the case in the past.
The only conclusion to be drawn from this
fact is that the market here is unusually
strong. and that, generally speaking, those
who own property are able to carry it or to
care for 1t in such q way that it is not
thrown upon the market. 1t follows that
prices remain firm, and while there are in
stances here and there of sales at reduced
figures, neither the number of such sales nor
the reduction in prices are of sufficient mo-
ment to affect the general tone of the mar
ket In other words, real estate here seems
to rest on such substantial foundations that
1t survives undisturbed a rather long period
Of depression in the commercial and imam
cial world.
There have been instances of property be-
ing forced on the market in the form Of
auction sales through trustees and other
wise, but it is estimated that these in
stances have not greatly exceeded the aver
age. At this time Of the year, as we'll as in
the fall, it Is the custom here to offer prop
erty at auction and from the published ad-
vertisements 1t is believed that the number
Of such sales have not passed the normal
point. 1t is just as common now for prop
erty to be withdrawn because the offers re-
ceived are not satisfactory as 1t has been
in times Of greater activity in the market.
The leading feature Of the present condi-
ton. and one that is looked upon as highly
gratifying, as we'll as promising for the fu-
ture. is the fact that property is not being
sacrificed, and while there is no great de-
mand and transactions are not numerous,
still values remain firm and the market Is
regarded as being in a good condition.
Great Iron Frame.
The construction of the large apartment
house which Mr.. T. E. F. Schneider is
erecting on the north side Of Q street be-
tween 10th and 18th streets, presents some
features which are not common in build
ings erected by private enterprise in this
city. This structure which Is to have a
frontage of some 120 feet and a depth of
over iOO, is to have a complete framework
or iron. The exterior walls, which to
be built of stone and brick. are not essen
tial to the stability of the building. They
are simply to serve to fill in the interstices
In the iron framework and thus protect the
occupants OF the building from the weather.
The framework Is to be built up on columns
of iron, with cross beams of the same l. a
terial firmly bolted together and rising
from one story to the other until IL reaches
the height of twelve stories. The partition
walls are to be formed of hollow terra
Gotta, resting on the iron.
The excavation for this immense building
presents rather singular spectacle to
those who are accustomed to the ordinary
method OF construction. If a building of
this magnitude was to be built of brick and
stone IL would be necessary TO make
deep excavation and lay broad foundations
The walls of a twelve-story building when
built OF brick or of stone must, under the
regulations, be at least three feet wide for
the hrst two or three stories. In an iron
frame building, however, there is no need
OF such waste of space, the walls of this
building will only be thirteen inches wide
The main pillars rest upon foundations
which are only four feet beneath the floor
of the basement story. An excavation at
this depth is made of a size varying from
eight feet to eleven feet square.
Iron Beams in the Foundation.
A bed of cement is laid down and upon
this are placed z-beams. At right angles
another row Of beams is laid upon this
foundation, which are not quite so long as
the first row, and then on the top of all.
at right angles with the second row, is
placed another row of shorter z-beams the
entire structure being firmly bolted to-
gether and filled in with cement which is
poured over the mass Of iron in LIQUID form
and allowed to harden. This forms n pyra-
| midal foundation for the main pillars of
the building. The pillars are in turn bolted
to the pile Of iron which constitutes the
foundation, and are continued to the top
Of the building.
1t is not claimed that this style Of con-
struction Is cheaper than the usual method,
but when the saving Of space is taken into
account, 1t Is believed that If a money value
could be placed on the space saved, that
the account would be about balanced 1t is
easy to understand that rooms inclosed ty
walls three feet wide at the base and con-
tinued to the top. Of course, at a reduced
width must be smaller than rooms which
as in the present case are inclosed by walls
OF uniform thickness throughout of o.,ly
thirteen inches. This method Of construc-
ton Is similar. as far as the framework of
the building goes, to that which is to be
employed In the new city post office build
ing
The Building Record.
week
has not been a good one in building circles.
This has been due in a large measure to the
unsettled condition of the weather. The
record for the week gives total of eighteen
new houses. at an estimated aggregated
cost OF s56 $50.
A row of seven three-story and cellar
brick dwellings is about to be erected on
Lawrence street northwest from 1917 to
lozi. Inc houses will have frontage of
eighteen feet by depth of forty feet and
VIII be OF Indiana limestone and press
brick. They will have all modern convent
ences and be heated by a furnace. NJ T.
Hailer is the owner, architect and builder
The foundation for a new brick dwelling
at 6o5 street southwest has been com
menced for Thomas Banks. The house will
be three stories and cellar. with a square
bay window. w. E. Garner is the builder
Mrs. +. s. McCandlish is building a hand
ONE three-story and cellar brick dwelling
at 1916 18th street northwest. N T. Haller
Is the architect and j. A. Rodbird the
| builder
j. w. Gregg will shortly erect at AL n
street northwest a handsome three-story
and cellar brick DWELLING The bo,,.o lii