Evening star., 1896-01-04
An Era of Activity Predicted for the
Near Future.
some OF THE ELEMENTS CT THEMARKBf
Increase in the Water Supply a
Timely improvement.
INTEREST IN ARCHITECTURE

| habit Of observing the tendencies Of the
| realty market that there is to be a decided
| improvem. mt in business before very long.
| There are various reasons assigned for
such belief but these, perhaps, are not of
as much importance as is the unanimity of
opinion which prevails as to the future.
Opinions may differ as to the carses which
may bring about change, but there seems
to be no variance as to the final outcome.
| 1t Is also believed that the conditions
| here are extremely favorable for the in
auguration of era of activity, and II is
thought that when such a movement be-
gins 1t will go with a rush that will stir
into the liveliest activity the entire real es-
| tate market 1t is natural to expect that
in this revival, as it might be termed. of
the public interest in realty holding there
will be something of speculative spirit.
Suburban Developments.
To what extent this latter will prevail Of
course, cannot be predicted. but 1t is al
ways an element of greater or less import
ance at time when the market is lively.
1t is probable that the continuance of the
work of developing the suburbs will prove
attractive fields for the investment of mon
ey. 1t may be said that only beginning
has been made toward the creation of the
greater Washington, which gives promise
But, however that may lie, the fact re-
mains that the work of Transforming the
country fields into city building sites has
only been fairly started. What form the
impetus to the Improvements, which have
already been begun, will take. of course it
is impossible to say. There are some d.
rections in which this object can be pro-
NOTED, that is, according to the Judgment
of men who are familiar with the subject.
One is the perfection, as well as the expan-
sion, Of the system of street railways. so
as to afford 10 the outlying sections cheap,
rapid ana easy communication with the
center of business.
Much has been done in the direction OF
building street railways and suburban lines
in the past, but much remains to be done,
and no doubt with the improved appliances
now available and the adaptabillty of cleo
tricity for propulsion purposes. both under
ground, and overhead, the progress made
will be both rapid and satisfactory.
=' Improvement of the Avenue.
AS the walls of the new city post office
building receive the finishing touches. some
idea OF the architectural effect when COM
pleted can be obtained. 1t is evident from
the remarks which are elected on this SUBJ
ject that there is Iivelier interest in the
appearance of public buildings than was
the case few years ago Now the princi-
pal thing seems to be in regard to the ap-
pearance of the building, whereas formerly
only utilitarian considerations would be
ture or the number of rooms which it con-
tanned. 1t is not expected that the highest
type of architecture would be shown in the
new building, mainly because it was erect
ed by the government, and, therefore, there
is not much disappointment expressed that
the new structure Is not of higher grade
than 1t is.
The building however, serves to call at.
tention to the fact, perhaps. more strongly
than ever before, that the Improvements
on the south side of the avenue are not. as
a rule, of the character which is creditable
to the finest avenue in the world. In the
same line the thought might also be sug-
gested that the available building sites
along the avenue might be utilized for the
location Of public buildings. especially as
the latter are sorely needed for the use OF
The executive departments of the govern
ment.
Increased Water Supply.
In addition to the satisfaction which the
average citizen naturally feels in the in
vestigation now being made by the govern
ment with the view of making use Of the
abandoned aqueduct tunnel. half of the
cost of which was betrayed by the District,
there is another important consideration.
and that is the increase in the water sup
ply which would be the result. Not only is
the city within the old bounds outgrowing
the present facilities for supplying water,
but there is that large region lying outside
these limits. which is rapidly being built up
by the over1owing population Of a great
city.
In suburban communities the water sup
ply Is a vital question, and, unless II
comes from some source not local. disease
and death are apt to follow in the wake of
any growth in population. 1t is, of course,
impossible to supply water from the or
binary city mains. and hence the value Of
this new aqueduct A large section of the
suburbs has been greatly benefited by the
establishment of reservoir at Fort Reno
lear Tenleytown. From that point pipes
hoy, haara N ho 10 Qrrx rHn tar ra
Brightwood. Takoma and intermedite
points.
An Apartment House.
Work has been begun on a six-story apart
ment house to be erected on the northwest
corner of Pennsylvania avenue and 25th
street, which is owned and designed by n.
I. Haller architect. The building will have
a frontage on Pennsylvania avenue of fifty
feet, and on 25th street one hundred feet.
The material used will be buff brick and In
diana limestone each front being orna-
mented with bay windows. There will also
be large tower on the corner. The roof
will be covered with Spanish tile The CEN
ed by a steel frame The building will he
provided with an electric elevator, and hot
water heat and electric lights.
Some improvements.
Two brick and frame dwellings will be
erected by ]. H. Lane on street north
east. lexington. They are to be two stories
high, eighteen feet front and depth of
forty-six feet. The fronts will be of brick
and wood, pitched shingle roof and dormer
windows
A. B. Morgan. architect, has prepared
plans for double cottage to be erected at
Langdon. 1t will be two stories in height
3Sx42 feet with attic and basement. The
steep roof will be shingled, and wide piaz-
zas will be bull: around the sides.
harc ,,,lp
pared by A. b. Morgan, two-story brick
dwelling on 9th street southeast, south Of
Pennsylvania avenue. The width is to be
nineteen feet, with a depth of fifty feet,
and in the construction of the front buff
triok and stone trimmings will be used.
The interior finish is to be white pine.
A Sure Test.
From Wegweiser.
A miser had died very suddenly. The