Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-13
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Grading and Opening Up Massachu-
sets Avenue Extended.
FEATURE OF AN ATTRACTIVE AVENUE
The Steady Progress in the Line Of
Suburban improvement.
ME- NEW BUILDING

gagged in grading a portion of Massachu-
sets avenue extended, being that section
which lies between the new observatory
grounds and Rock creek. The avenue has
been graded from the Tenley road to
the observatory grounds, where it follows
the circle which skirts the northern edge
of that property. Congress recently appro-
priated $4,000 for this work and 1t may
be possible that the grading can be COM
pleted to Rock creek. 1t is the expecta-
ton that an appropriation will be OBJ
tanned for the erection of bridge to
span the creek on the line of this avenue.
There is bridge short distance north
of this point which was erected by private
enterprise several years ago, but it was
only intended to serve until a permanent
structure should be erected forming a con-
tiruation of the avenue.
In the event that the plans Of the trus-
tees of the American University are car
ried out and the initial building of this
great enterprise is erected during the
present year 1t Is thought that active
measures will be adopted for :he opening
up of Massachusetts, avenue from the Ten
leytown road west to the grounds of the
university, which. as is well known, front
on the Loughboro road.
The extension of the avenue east of the
creek and to the bounds of the city was
accomplished several years ago, and IT is
now quite popular driveway for those
That portion of Massachusetts avenue
within the old bounds of the city is one
of the longest avenues in the urban plan,
as well as one of the most attractive.
Along its entire length of some three miles
there is double row of trees on both
sizes, and this feature alone would entitle
1t to the distinction of being one of the
most remarkable city streets in the world.
1t is not unusual to find in other cities
similar wealth of arborlal beauty for
few squares on some street, but there Is
how y,s-to of he m
tinuance of such feature for more than
three miles. The partially completed ex-
tension which ends at the Tenleytown
road will add another three miles to the
lergth of this avenue, and there is no
doubt that in course of time similar
scheme of tree planting will mark the new.
section.
Suburban improvements.
The extension of Massachusetts avenue
passes through about the center of tract
of lard which company recently organ
lied proposes to acquire and inaugurate
there a series of extensive improvements
so as to make the section available for
building purposes. 1t is said that the Or
ganizers of this enterprise are engaged in
raising the money in order to elect the
purchase of this land and II their efforts
should be successful and their plans are
carried out large sum of money Will he
spent in grading and opening and improv-
Ing streets. Whether this scheme maternal
growth of the city will be accompanied by
a continuance of the development which
has already begun throughout that section.
A similar line of improvements will no
doubt follow the course of the extension
into the suburbs of other streets and ave-
nues of the city, and in several sect1ons
considerable progress has already been
made in that direction. AS has already
been pointed out, suburban settlements not
only thickly dot the territory within the
bounds of the District, but have extended
.,,k@ nvnd vinta n ne
there is no question but that this process
will continue as the center of all this activ-
ity which is the city itself, expands in pop
ulation and in business Importance.
Senator wolcott's Purchase.
A sale of some interest was made recently
by Fitch, Fox & Brown real estate brokers,
for Mr. Gardiner G. Hubbard. A vacant lot
on the east side of Connecticut avenue be-
tween NJ and streets, adjoining the resi-
dence of Senator Wolcott, was sold to the
Senator for $4,000 The lot has frontage
of 30 feet. Senator Woloott leases the
house which he has occupied during the
greater part CT his term of service in the
Senate. and it is among the possibilities that
he will in the near future erect a hand
some residence this site. In any event,
he expects to build addition to the
house. which will give him place for his
library.
One of the singular circumstances that
sometimes occurs happened in connection
with the sale of this lot. 1t was the prop
erty of Alexander Graham Bell, and for a
number of years he used an old building
which stood on the property as his labora-
tory. 1t was finally torn down, and since
then the property has been uninproved.
He had donated the property to the Volta
Institute, which vas founded by him and
is located in Georgetown. and the lots had
been on the market for sale for some time,
but no purchaser had put in an appearance.
Some weeks ago, In talking about the
matter. Prof. Bell 1aughingly remarked
that he supposed that as long as he held
the lots they never would be sold. Mr..
Hubbard. who is his father-in-law, offered
to take them off his hands. and Mr.. Bell
accepted the offer A day or two after this
agreement had been made. and, of course,
before the deeds for transferring the prop
erty could be recorded, Senator WolcOtt,
entirely on his own motion, made an inquiry
of the agents of the property as to the
price, and decided to buy it, The sale of
the property so soon after Mr.. Bell had de-
termined to part with it may have been
merely a coincidence. but it was certainly
a striking and peculiar one
The building Record.
During the week ending Yesterday there
were issued from the office of the inspector
Of buildings twenty-one permits to build
new houses at an aggregate estimated
cost of s7S33O. The northwestern section
had four permits at S4l.50o then came the
county with fourteen permits at S345oD
The northeast had but one permit charged
against 1t and that was for $500 The
southwest had one at 81, 500, and the south
east one at $3.50.
Some improvements.
Columbia Heights gets fine improve,
rnent in the new dwelling which is being
erected on Bacon street by George II. B
White The house will be three stories
with cellar, having a frontage of twenty
one feet by depth of seventy-five feet
1t will have all modern conveniences ant
will be heated by steam.
Ground has been broken for the erection
of a three-story brick dwelling at 100.
Rhode Island avenue for Louis r. Peake
W. F. Mcclure is the builder.
Work has been commenced on a three
story brick dwelling at 1910 Rhode Islan(
avenue for +. z. Reside. w. +. Mcclure
is the builder.
j. II. Lane is building four brick an(
frame dwellings at 80, 81, 3l2 and 313 s
street northeast. The houses will be TIVE
stories high and heated by furnace. He il
also building two of the same style O.
dwellings at $40 and 312 Randolph street.
oF dwellings, Poll