Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-28
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
The Steady Values as Shown by
Some Transactions.
MRS. GEORGE ". CHILDS HOME HERE
The Importance Of the Manufac
lures of the City.
SOME IMP ROVEMENTs

More than passing interest is attached to
the purchase which was closed during the
week by which the widow of George w.
Childs Of Philadelphia became the owner Of
hne building site. Independent OF the con-
sideration that Mrs. Childs will be an adj
dition to the class Of people OF means who
have been making their permanent homes
In this city and Will be a desirable resident
the terms Of the transaction gave consider.
| able qualification TO those who are interest
ed in the solidty, or rather the continuance
OF that well-known Characteristic OF the
| real estate market here. Mrs. Childs Sc
cured not only a generous building site but
she paid generous price for II. In fact Just
what the owners Of the property had fixed
as its selling price long before what Is
known as the period Of depression had ar
rived. The lot has a frontage OF ffty-three
feet on the north side of X street. just east
OF 10th street, with an average depth OF ll9
feet to a 3o-foot-alley. 1t contains e.467
square feet. and the price paid was SIS. S02.
which is at the rate of Sc per square foot
The adjoining lot. which is now band
somely improved by the spacious home OF
| the widow of ex-senator Zach. Chandler
was owned by the same parties from whom
| Mrs. Childs bought her lot. They sold this
property TO the present owner about five
years ago. and obtained for IL $50 per foot.
| IL Is, however, a corner lot and contains
nearly 1000 square feet. having a frontage
| OF over 100 feet on each street. On the next
| block west and on the south side of the
street Senator Quay is now erecting a resi-
dence. He bought the ground about a year
ago and paid for the nearly II. 600 square
feet IS foot. This lot. however has a
frontage Of ninety-nine feet, and a depth OF
ITO feet 1t is evident from the sales above
referred to. and others might be cited that
4 rfr.aS haNv nd
| the past few years. OF course these build
| ing sites may be looked upon among the
gilt-edged res. ience properties OF the city,
and for that reason are likely t. I've held IA
rather strong hands. At any rate whatever
may be the explanation. IL is evident that ia
this locality at least values remain rather
stin.
The Palmer Property.
The change of ownership OF the residence
Of ex-senator Palmer OF Michigan which is
located on the north side OF Mcpherson
square between Vermont avenue and 18th
street. may be cited as another illustration
Of the value which Is attributed TO property
in that locality. This case is not as con-
vincing the others. for the reason that IL
was not an out-and-out sale. but a trade.
/ 1t is difficult to get at the real considerl-
ton in such a transaction. for the two par
| ties may place any value they see 1T
their respective properties without affecting
| the interests of either In the deal. In this
| case Mr.. w. Z. Schneider was said TO have
given in exchange for the residence $1,000
in cash and four houses on 9 street between
| 18th and 18th streets However, allowing q
fair valuation for the property. and giving
due regard TO the value OF the house. which
occupies portion of the frontage OF 80 feet,
II is calculated that the ground with dimen-
sions IS by l20 feet to an alley. figured in
| the transaction at nearly 81 per square foot
This. OF course. is merely an estimate but
1t is not believed TO be an excessive one
| 1t is easily within the recollection of those
who have not been long In active business
or familiar with real estate values In this
city when five or six dollars per foot for
residence property would have been looked
| upon as among the impossibilities. Al that
period not SO remote. either, such a price
would have been regarded as excessive for
property in a good business locality. The
| fact Of the matter is that the situation here
/ as to real estate values has changed so rap
idly that IL is difficult to realize that the
conditions are the result OF the legitimat e de-
velopment Of the city. Nowadays ten and
fifteen dollars per foot. and perhaps more,
are looked upon as reasonable prices for
business property, while il is not consid-
cred at all extraordinary for forty fifty and
sixty thousand dollars and upward to be
paid for single residence site Mr.. Letter
alone paid over a hundred thousand dol
lars for the ground where his residence Is
located, and there is no doubt but that this
| record will be passed by some one who IL
able and willing to put up even a more
elaborate home than that OF Mr.. Letter.
our Manufactures.
The surprising extent OF the manufac-
turing interests Of this city was revealed to
perhaps a majority of the citizens in the
statistics gathered by the late census. Ii
was not supposed generally that there were
manufacturing establishments here which
in the aggregate employed many thousands
OF men and turned out annually a product
valued at several millions. but this il the
case. and II is evident that these concerns
a.,
II is not thought that this city will ever
become a great manufacturing center or
roted for its productions, but sill. In a very
important way, IL will continue TO give en-
ployment to a great many. and by It's man
ufactures add TO its material wealth.
An instance OF the way In which many
OF these establishments grow In importance
is seen in the large building which has just
been erected on the corner OF B street ana
Arthur place opposite the Capitol Park.
This is a structure OF brick. 81 feet front
and 100 feet in depth and four stories In
height 1t is erected by Mr. A o. Bliss.
who Is engaged in the manufacture Of pat
ent medicines, and while he does not occupy
the entire building for his own business. yet
he uses a considerable portion OF It.
Extensive Building Operations.
An interesting statement has Just been
completed by the inspector Of buildings.
which shows the estimated aggregate values
OF the building operations In the District
for the past ten years. The total amount Is
placed at sec. 456. S9l and is divided among
the different years follows: 1884 s. S2s-
$50; 1855. 800, 234; 1855. s5.2ss.2I2; 1857.
T.109. ga; 1883. 50. 2o9. 994; 1889. sei65 us,
$780, 81. 752, 1913; 1891, s.. s04. 3ol: 1882 s90ss,
oo4; 1898. 50. 205. 3d.
Some New Buildings.
Peter NJ. Dubant proposes to erect q four
story and basement structure. to be known
as the Cambridge fats, on / street between
9Th and 9Th northwest 1t will contain eight
fats of four rooms and bath each, and In
the basement there will be a dining room
Plans for a residence. TO be erected for Mr.
J. ]. Shedd. on Rhode Island avenue be-
tween 18th and 10th streets. have been pre-
pared by Mr.. James C. Hill, architect IL
will be a three-story structure, with q front
OF ught-colored brick and stone.
Ladies' Physical Culture Glass.
The class OF young ladies who are study
ing physical culture at the Carroll Insti-
tute gymnasium under Prof. Joyce gave an
interesting exhibition before a lot of ladies
Thursday afternoon. Under the Leadership