Evening star., 1895-04-27
Property Holders and the Proposed
Street Extension Plan.
TIE IMPORTANCE OF PROMPT ACTION
An Encouraging Degree of Activity
Noted in the Market.
ONE IMP EMENTS

ment that the Commissioners had approved
the first section of the map containing the
plan of street extension. This action may
be considered closing the main portion
of the preliminary work in carrying into
execution the law of 1893. 1t Is known of
course, that before this plan can have legal
existence 1t must be approved by the COM
mission provided by the law. consisting of
the Secretaries of War and Interior and the
ckief of the army engineers.
1t may be presumed, however, that 1t will
not be necessary for the commission to en-
ter into the consideration of the numerous
and perplexing details which have occupied
the attention of the engineer department of
the District government for so many
months. 1t is probable that the considera-
tlon winch the commission may give to the
matter will be confined to the points of de-
parture which have been made from the
plan of the city.
In this particular the Commissioners
nave, as authorized by law, exercised their
discretion, and it is probable that the su-
pervision of the commission will be directed
toward determining whether the Commits
sicners have exercised wisely the rather
generous discretionary power which was
conferred upon them.
The Individual VS.. the Public.
No doubt the property owners whose in
terests are affected by this map have al
ready formed decided opinions on this
question. 1t may be taken for granted that
no map will meet the variety of conflicting
views which exist on this subject 1t is
natural that each owner of property should
desire that the streets be extended with as
little damage to his particular holding, and
with as great advantage as is possible. 1t
would seem that this Is a case where the
individual interests are expected to give
Wayeto what Is concluded to be the inter-
ests of the public.
1t Is evident from the new map, the cut
of which has appeared in The Star, that
the system of streets and avenues through
out this new area, as it may be termed,
does not have the uniformity which is a
feature of the plan in the city. 1t is evil
dent that the Commissioners have, to a
certain extent, devised the plan on basis
of compromise and have endeavored to ap-
ply the city plan to the existing streets
and avenues beyond the old bounds of the
city.
The City's Plan.
No doubt considerations of economy have
la gely influenced the Commissioners
In this matter. or perhaps it might be more
correct to say that they endeavored to
bring the cost of the proposed extension
within the bounds of a reasonable, and
perhaps it might not be too strong term
to use. possible public expenditure. How
ever that may be- 1t will no doubt be dis
appointing to some to note in the proposed
plan the divergence from the plan of the
city and the introduction of streets and
avenues that deviate from the straight
lire.
The main reason in the opinion of those
who favor a strict application of the plan
of the city to the country lying beyond the
old urban bounds is based on the belief that
this system of streets and avenues is the
most effective in point Of beauty and the
me st conducive to public health and con-
venience that has ever been devised. There
seems to be no question but that this fea-
tGre of the nations capital is generally adj
mired and commended and it is therefore,
not surprising that there should be an
earnest desire on the part of many that the
greater Washington should enjoy the same
advantage which the founders of this city
have given to their descendants.
An Encouraging Activity.
The growing activity in the real estate
market continues to be one of the en-
Indications of the present season.
There is quite good deal of building going
on, and plans are being projected which, If
carried out, will add materially to the cur
rent volume of business. At the same time
there is demand for unimproved property,
and while the sales are not numerous they
are sufficient in number to show that the
investor is looking about. There is quite
good deal going on in suburban property.
A number Of transactions have been closed,
ard, although the amount represented by
such as would have attracted attention
two or three years ago, still what is being
done shows evidences of healthy condi-
tion and gives promise of more active
future.
Two Hotel Enterprises.
Reference was made in The Star some
weeks ago to an enterprise which is being
worked up for the erection in this city of
a large hotel. The details Of the plan
have only been decided upon in general,
but the purpose is to erect in a convenient
locality in this city hotel structure, oc-
cupying an entire block, which is to be
in every sense of the word a 6rst-class
modern hotei. Those interested in this,
scheme have not as yet reached the point
poets are favorable that the money will
be secured and that this enterprise, which
involves the expenditure of a couple of
million dollars, will be carried out.
There is another enterprise of a some
what similar character which a number
of capitalists have under consideration.
In addition to the use of the buildings for
hotel purposes, 1t is proposed to provide
A large sum of money will be required
to carry out the plans as now proposed,
and as soon as the funds are assured they
will be carried out.
The Building Record.
The record of the building inspectors
office for the week ending yesterday shows
a total of thirty-one permits issued for
erection of new dwellings at an estimated
aggregate cost of 5000 divided among
the several sections of the city as fol-
lows: Northwest, fourteen permits, $500;
southwest, one permit, $1,000; northeast,
seven permits, s17. .450; southeast, one per-
nit, S, 500; county, eight permits, $19,35O.
Some improvements.
A three-story store and dwelling is to be
erected by Charles F. Hale on 18th street,
a short distance south of New York
avenue, from plans made by w. Bruce
Gray, architect.
Plans for three houses to be built on
Holmead avenue have been designed by
Joseph C. Johnson, architect, for Frank w.
Troth They are to be three stories in
height, 17x5O feet, and will have fronts of
press brick and brown stone.
; NJ. Hunter Jones, architect, has prepared
plans for a building to he erected at the
corner of 14th and H streets northeast for
W. E. CAM. 1t is to be three stories in
height and 20xS1 feet. On the first floor
will be two stores, on the second floor a.
hall, and the third floor will be arranged
for the use of societies.
J. D. Gibbs has had plans prepared by N.