Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-05

the city streets are extended through IL on
grade. The Phelps property, at the head
line. The grade of 10th street has recently
been reduced. SO that 1t can be used in the
daily traffic of city. and in other respects
which might be mentioned the portion of
the suburbs adjacent to the boundary Of the
city Is rapidly becoming part of the city,
not only In name, but in all the features
which distinguish the city.
sometimes people criticise the present
mode In the development Of the city by
saying that the building sites in the city
are not yet occupied and therefore there
Is no need Of providing city lots in the
suburbs. They even 60 30 far as to calcu-
late how many square feet Of building lots
remain within the limits Of the CITY not
yet built upon. and then estimate the num-
Der OF years 1t would take at the usual rate
or growth to occupy all this space with
residences. While 1t Is undoubtedly true
that there are vacant building lots within
by which people can be compelled to either
build house on q certain lot in a certain
locality or not at all. 1t seems hardly profit-
able to discuss the question at all. II the
people want to build In the city and have
the money to do 10 there is no law which
can prevent them. and for the same rea son
they can go into the suburbs as far as
they see Mt and locate their hearthstones.
The Demand for More Room.
However In spite of these very order,3
people, who evidently amt like to see
vacant ground in the city, the suburban
population is rapidly increasing. During
the last few years the water system and the
sewer system has been extended in the
suburbs. and II the Com nissioners had the
money great deal more would be done In
that direction. II Is ridiculous to suppose
that city that has attained the popula-
ton that this city has and X forging ahead
at the rate the United States census shows
that 1t is will be confined to the limits
which were fxed more than a hundred
years ago by the first President Of the
United States.
Building From the Bottom On.
The residence at the corner OF c xnecti-
cut avenue and X street. which h; . recent
ly been improved by the new swner Mrs.
washington Mclean. excites a good deal
Of attention. There used to be high steps
In front leading to the parlor floor and q
rather high terrace at the front and sides
OF the house. The steps and tho terrace
have both been removed, and the main en-
trance is now on level with the street.
The result Is that another story has prac-
tically been added to the house, as the
basement Is entirely above ground A some
what similar change is being made in the
Stanley Matthews house, corner Of Con-
necticut avenue and N street. which was
recently leased by Mr. Mendonca. the Bra
lillian minister. Unlike the Shepherd house
the basement was not used except for the
kitchen and other domestic purposes. It
was not available for office rooms or BILL
Hard rooms. When the alterations now in
progress are completed the basement story
will be entirely above ground, and the house
will be enlarged practically by the addition
OF an entirely new floor. This method Of
increasing the capacity Of house by add
ing at the bottom instead OF at the top Ii
not a new one nor is 1t peculiar to this
city. but 1t serves its purpose just as we'll
as If 1t was entirely novel.
The Private Stable Nuisance.
The residence occupied for SO many years
by the late Justice Hunt, at the corner of
Connecticut avenue and De Sales street,
had astable attached to 1t. with an entrance
from Connecticut avenue When the stable
was first erected the locality was not very
thickly built up. but since then houses
have been put up all about It, and II II
probable that the sounds and smells of the
stable. as is usual in such cases, have pene-
trated the dining rooms and bed rooms and
parlors Of the adjacent houses. 1t Is now
being leveled to the ground because the
space can be occupied to better advan-
tage. But 1t serves to emphasize what
everybody knows who has had the misfor-
tune to come within the range Of the Gu
rious regulations governing the erection