Evening star., 1895-03-09
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
The Satisfaction Over the Action
About the Water Supply.
EFFECT ON PROPERTY INTERESTS
In Regard to the Location Of the
Printing Office.
SOME IMP ROVEM ENTS

The connection between the property in
terests of the city and the water supply Is
SO intimate that it is hardly necessary to
say that the action of Congress in making
an appropriation for raising the dam has
given immense satisfaction. 1t is import
ant, of course, to citizens generally that
there should be no diminution in this vital
feature of modern life, but to those who
have property to sell or contemplate en-
gaging in building operations it is of the
highest consequence that there should be
no doubt about the ability of the District
authorities to supply all the water that Is
needed. 1t goes without saying that people
are not going to build houses in a section
of the city where there is a probability of
any falling off or stoppage of the water
facilities.
During the past winter rather uncomfort-
able proximity to this condition was the
experience in several quarters of the city.
The absolute necessity that something
should be done to increase the water sup
ply, as well as the active work of the citi-
zens in calling the attention of Congress
20 the matter, resulted in an appropriation
sufficient to accomplish the desired inn
provement. AS is well understood, the
growth of the city is largely responsible
that is available for the use Of citizens. 1t
is estimated that when the dam is rails
ed, as contemplated, the supply will be
sufficient for number of years to come.
However, the continued growth of the city
and the expansion of it's territory point
to a time in the near future when a further
enlargement of the water, supply of the
city will be necessary.
Utilizing the Water Power.
1t seems likely that in the coming years
the power which Is found in those points
in the river where the descent of the vol
ume of water IS quite pronounced will be
utilized. 1t is recognized that there is an
important commercial element in the river
which is not being put to any use. Some
years ago company was organized to en-
ploy commercially the power at Great
Falls. About year ago charter was Sc
cured from the state of Virginia, under
which this company was reorganized. and
a grant was also obtained from the state
of Maryland. The Virginia charter, which
was approved March 3, 1894, required that
work under the charter should be begun
within one year. Recently the company
began the work of sinking a shaft on the
site Of the proposed power house. The
plan of the company includes the erection
of dam across the river this side of the
government dam. and the purpose is to
furnish electric power for commercial and
other uses In this city.
There has been another enterprise pro-
at the Little Falls. Some months ago a
large tract of land was purchased on this
side of the river at this point and it is
stated that the projectors intend to estab-
liSh plant there which will furnish cleo
trio power in this city. Beyond the pur-
chase of the land in the case of the latter
enterprise and the beginning of the work
of excavating a shaft in the case of the
former, nothing further has been done, al
though 1t is stated by those interested in
both these schemes that other details will
be given practical shape. In this connection
1t might be interesting to state that one of
the current rumors in regard to the pur-
poses of those who recently purchased the
Georgetown and Tenleytown railroad was
that they looked forward to securing the
power for running the road from the plant
to be erected at the Little Falls 1t was
represented that the running expenses of
the road would be much lessened in this
way. However, those who are interested
in the new management of the road, as
well as in the Little Falls enterprise. do
not substantiate this runor. 1t is. how
ever, given as an indication of the interest
which is being taken in the use of the
water power of the Potomac.
Printing Office Site.
There was another appropriation made by
Congress which is of considerable interest
locally, and that was the one providing
s121 GOO for the erection of a fire-proof
building as an addition to the government
printing Office. The Importance of this law
ditional public building is to be erected
here or in the amount of money to be ex-
pended but in the indication which some
seem to think is found in this action OF
Congress pointing to the retention of this
important branch of the public service on
the site where it Is now located The gov
ernment printing office Is the center of
quite populous section of the city. Houses
have been built in that locality and other
improvements made for the accommodation
of the employees of the printing Office
While 1t has not been seriously proposed IN
the long discussion over the question OF the
selection of a site for the proposed new
building to go to another section OF the
city, still no doubt those interested In prop
erty in that locality look upon this latest
piece of legislation with great satisfaction.
If the printing Office is not to be removed
from the present site, there will be no ap-
prehension of change in values, such as
a shifting of the location OF only lew
squares might cause
Building Record.
The building inspectors record for the
past week, ending yesterday, shows tnat
twenty permits were taken out for the
erection of new buildings, aggregatng in
cost $4,000, divided among the several
sections of the city as follows: Northwest,
two permits, $1,000; southwest, one per-
nit, 81 200; northeast four permits slo,2o'
southeast, one permit, Sl'Zoo' ana county
twelve permits. $12O,6OO
Some Improvements
F. d. Foster has planned the erection of
five brick dwellings, at Nos. 1850 to 1858
Columbia avenue, Columbia Heights.
They will be three stories high with cellar,
2Ox36.6 feet, and heated throughout by hot
water. They will be built of pressed brick
and brown stone by Charles Campbell. A.
b. Morgan is the architect.
George c. Walker has commenced the
erection of three rec brick DWELLINGS. at Nos.
three stories high, with cellar, 16Sx32 feet.
A. Vanhorn is the architect and builder.
Samuel Smith is erecting a two-story and
cellar brick dwelling, at $40 7th street
northeast. 1t is to be 17x46 feet, and will
be built by Leether Tansiel
Lucy York has commenced the erection
of four frame dwellings. fronting on How
ard avenue, Barry Farm. They will be
two stories high, 14x4O feet, and will be
built by James NJ. York & Son.
Charles Hawkins has planned the erec-
ton of two-story brick. dwelling at 735
4th street southeast. 1t is to be 17x26 feet
and will be built by George Heithley.
F. s. Carmody has commenced the erec-
ton of four pressed-brick dwellings at