Evening star., 1895-10-12
Mrs. q. s. Grants Purchase of the
Edmunds House.
PRICES COMPARED, PAST And PRESENT
Street Railroad Development and
the Effect on Properly Values.
SOME IMP VEMtNTs

| recently by Mrs. u. s. Grant of residence
| in this city, which aroused considerable
attention in real estate circles. was the
| pi zee paid. Other incidents Of the transac-
ton which were of more public importance
and especially gratifying to the citizens of
Washington were, for example, that Mrs.
Grant intended to make this city her per-
| nianent home, and that another name had
been added to the list of distinguished peo-
pie who prefer this city as place
of residence. 1t is recognized that Wash
| ing ton is increasing in attractiveness as a
city Of homes, and each year there are
such substantial evidences of this fact as is
presented in the recent acquisition of 4
| home here by Mrs. Grant.
| People, however, who are interested in
real estate values note with a feeling of
| satisfaction that while Mrs. Grant secured
a handsome house for home, she also PAID
a price which serves to show that the mar
ket for Washington realty Is a strong one.
| 1t is stated that John B. Wight, the agent
OF the owner, ex-senator Edmunds, obtain
| ed for his client $4,000 for this property.
While this is fair price for the property,
yet comparison Of the valuation OF the
| ground as it figured in the sale and what
Senator Edmunds paid for it some seven
or eight years ago shows decided appre-
citation.
| As an Investment.
! ing a frontage of some fifty feet and a
! depth of 1876 feet to an alley, was thought
| to- be worth, in the estimate of the vaine
OF the property, about $4.5O per square foot.
| 1t is probable that Senator Edmunds did
| rot pay more than $50 for this lot. There
| Is no doubt that tine Senator not only re-
ce:Ved back the money which he had ex-
pended on the property, but in addition an
amount which doubtless represents good
percentage of interest on the sum invested
1t is not generally supposed that high
| class residence property is apt to prove
good investment, and If that Is true. GER
| tainly ex-senator Edmunds has filed an ex-
| oel tion. 1t may be added that Senator Ed
| n.unds does rot stand alone in this respect,
as there are a great many instances where
| tive investments. This Is topic which Is
| of considerable interest at this time as the
season for leasing furnished houses Is just
about opening. and the owners are consid-
| ering the possibility Of securing tenants
| for another year or for a term of years.
Some real estate dealers who have a good
deal cf experience In handling this class Of
| property are of the opinion that first-class
houses. fully furnished, yield a better re-
| turn than most any other kind Of prop
erty. OF course, the wear and tear on the
eieeant furniture and hangings is con-
siderable item, but that is covered, as a
rule. by the additional rent, as well as W
the liability of the tenant, who agrees to
turn over the house to the owner in the
IL,
the natural wear and tear.
Suburban Development.
The consolidation of the Washington and
Georgetown with the Rock Creek Railroad
Company is looked upon by property own
ers as likely to have a favorable effect
upon suburban holdings along the line of
| the latter road. In view of the public at
tention which 1t is believed has turned and
will be turned toward property in that
locality, a number of the property owners
are clearing off the underbrush and in other
respects improving the appearance of their
holdings with a view of possible demand
for them either as a whole or in building
sites. 1t is thought that there will be quite
movement in property of this character
whether this is the case or not the i'm
provements made will have good effect
generally.
A Modern City House.
People who, from necessity, are obliged
to inspect houses either for the purpose of
buying or leasing, often have ideas occur to
| them which, in their opinion, if carried out,
would add materially to the convenience and
comfort of a modern city house. For exam
pie, some people are. of the opinion that a
storage room for vegetables would be a val
liable addition to the housekeeping arrange
| ments of city residence. Such room. of
course. must be shut off from the heat of
the house and open to the air So that the
food of various kinds can be safely kept
Where a house has sucn room, food can
be bought in quantities and thereby make
| great saving to the housekeeper.
A Spacious Home.
A handsome residence is to be erected by
Mrs d. D. Cotton, the widow of Gen. Col
ton of San Francisco. 1t will be located on
the east side of Connecticut avenue, be-
tween @ and R streets, and short distance
south of the handsome residence of Col.
Francis Cotton, who Is a cousin of Mrs.
Cotton. According to plans, which have
been drawn by c. B. Keferstein, architect,
the house will have frontage of fifty feet,
but will not occupy the entire lot, space
being reserved at one side for light and air.
This spacious frontage will be utilized in
providing an interior which is usually gen.
erous for city home. The style of archi-
lecture adopted is the Italian renaissance,
and the treatment of the front Will be SIM
pie, yet on broad lines.
Admirably adapted to this style will be the
material which will be employed 1t will
be an English basement house. and in the
first story a light stone will be employed
and in the upper stories a brick which Is al
most white. There will be a cornfce of
stone surmounted by stone balustrade
All the openings will be trimmed with stone.
One Of the architectural features will be
the main entrance, which will be marked
by an arcade and a lcggia. At the second
story there Will De TWO DdlCOnleS OF stone.
The entrance hall will be 3Ox4O feet, and will
contain a broad platform staircase. Open
Ing from this hall will be dressing rooms,
which are intended for use on social occa-
siors There will be a large central hall on
the first floor 1Sx45 feet, and at one side
there will be broad fireplace.
The dining room will be 20X3O feet and at
one end will be circular projection with a
window seat. There will be conservatory
attached to the dining room, and, opening
from the same room, will be a breakfast
room In the front and on the other side of
the central hall will be library and par
lor. All the rooms in these floors will be
finished in hard wood. There will be a
passenger elevator in the house.
The Building Record.
The building record for the week shows
a healthy increase over last week. For the
period ending yesterday twenty-five per-
nits were Issued for new dwellings, at an
aggregate cost of s76.220. This was divided
among the several sections as follows:
Northwest-Fourteen permits, at $49,62O
northeast, four permits, $4,000; southeast.
one permit, 5000, and county. three per-
mits, 50 600.
Some improvements.
C. H. GLADDEN., architect, has prepared