Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-05
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Operations of the So-Called Massa-
chusetts Avenue Syndicate.
PROGRESS THAT has BEEN MADE
Favorable Market for Realty Offered
at Auction.
SOME IMPROVE ENTS

terest of a favorable statement made by
| ex-Representative Hemphill and those as
ISOLATED with him in securing the money
needed to consummate the deal which was
made last spring. AS is well known, Mr..
Hemphill secured options on practically all
the land between Massachusetts, avenue
extended and Connecticut avenue extended
from Rock creek to the Tenleytown road.
A company was organized. and it was de-
cided to place bonds aggregating five mil
lions of dollars.
A short time ago ii was stated by Mr..
Hemphill that he had secured subscriptions
for over three millions of this amount, and
he thought that the prospect of getting the
balance was favorable. 1t is understood
that subscriptions have been secured prin-
cipally in New York and Boston. and it Is
expected that the cooperation of capital
lists in Chicago will be secured.
The price agreed upon to be paid for he
property is about three millions of dollars,
and X is proposed to expend the additional
amount in making improvements and in
adapting the land for building sites. 1t is
the intention to open up the entire tract
for settlement. The projectors of this en-
terprise state that 1t is the plan to begin
the work of improvement as soon as the
property is secured. Their option expires
on the LIST of November.
Large properly owners.
The tract of land contains about four
hundred acres, and is made up of the hold
ings of different property owners. Mr..
John w. Thompson is the largest owner, as
he controls some two hundred and forty
acres, which lie on both sides of Massa-
chusetts avenue extended from Rock creek
to the Tenleytown road. The next largest
tract is owned by Mr.. Thomas Waggaman.
who controls one hundred acres within the
bounds of-what is known as Woodley
Park. .-i-------.
property Of Mr. Francis @. Newlands, who
is the owner of the old Busey place, and
also of Woodley, which is now the summer
home of President Cleveland. Owing to
the large amount of land involved, as well
as the money which 1t is proposed 20 cx-
pend, this enterprise, If carried out, is re-
garded as likely to be Of the greatest ma
terial benefit to the city.
Railroad Company's Property.
1t is expected that the Metropolitan Street
Railroad Company will have the F street
line equipped with the underground cleo
trio system some time next summer. The
cars on this line will be operated from the
power house which Is located on Az street
rear the entrance to the grounds of the
Washington barracks. The company will
then have no further use for the property
the p street bridge, where the stables arc
now situated. are
This is quite large tract OF land. and
it is probable that as socn as favorable
opportunity presents itself 1t will be SUBJ
divided into building lots and placed on
the market. The influence of such an i'm
prcvement will be felt throughout quite a
large area in that locality, and no doubt
a style Of house will be erected that will
correspond with those on both sides of
Rock creek. It may be that this will serve
as another forcible Illustration of the dis
advantage of leaving the gorge of Rock
creek an open ditch as a barrier between
sections Of the city.
Realty mt Auction.
During the past week a number of inn
portant sales of property at auction have
taken place. and good prices have been
secured. Auctioneers state that they find
now a greater interest on the part of the
public in such events than has been the
case for some time past. They say that
sales are unusually well attended and the
bidding lively ard well contested. Good
prices, they say, are obtained, which, in
their opinion. shows that there is a de-
mand for property.
In Suburban Communities.
One of the evidences of the increasing
importance of the suburban communities
is the attention which is being paid to
such subjects as the water supply and
sewers. A few months ago the residents
Of Kensington, Nd, discussed a plan for
supplying that community with a sewer
system. Now the Village Improvement
Society of Hyattsville is giving consider
able attention to the subject of securing q
water supply. 1t is proposed to build a
reservoir and to pipe the water through the
streets of Hyattsvile and into the houses.
1t is quite evident that as population
I
ditions Of living materially change. The
well which furnished an ample supply of
pure water may be effected by the close
proximity Of neighbours barn OF out
house. AS the number Of residents in
crease the contamination of the soil is apt
to become a serious matter. The solution
of the difficulty is thought by many to be
the establishment of an Independent water
supply which would insure the residents a
pure article of that necessary item in
everyday life.
Mr.. GraDgcr's Purchase.
A purchase of quite large building site
in the residence section of the city has
just been made which has more than q
passing interest. 1t is the fine lot at the
southeast corner of 10th and Madison
streets, having a frontage of Az feet and
a depth of 100 feet. 1t was sold by E. C.
Baumgras, real estate dealer, for Mr.. r.
Goldschmidt to Mr.. John T. Granger Of
rev 1Ork. IL IS the intention CT the new
owner to erect on this site fine resi-
dence. Mr.. Granger has also purchased
from Mr.. Goldschmidt house No. 1441
Rhode Island avenue, which he intends to
occupy until his new home is completed.
Some New Houses.
Plans have been completed by George s.
Cooper, architect. for five three-story
houses, to be erected at the northeast cor-
ner of 14th street and Kenesaw avenue,
Columbia Heights. The fronts are TO be
built of buff brick and light-colored stone,
and the high pitched roofs will he covered
with Spanish tile. The interior arrange
ment of the houses includes central re-
ception hall, where the staircase will he To-
Gated. The woodwork of the first floor will
be finished in white and in the upper floors
in appropriate colors.
A block of six houses will be built on
Bancroft place, Washington Heights, by
James ]. hampton, from plans prepared by
Francis & Schneider, architects. The
fronts are to be of light-colored stone. One
of the houses will oe occupied by MI, :
hampton, and at the entrance will be -
double arch stone porch. There will be
tower projection, and the roof will be COW
cred with tile. Buff brick, as well light
will ha in he