New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-05

| name and ne time went on. and the scale
| OF diplomatic entertainments became larger and
more elaborate there was never question a.
| 70 the success OF the dinners and dances OF the
| German Legation. However the tide Of commerce
| swept to the west. hotels AMI stores sprang mp
around the old building and the legation was soon
| considered be downtown. Tie ncroachments or
business had. however increased the value OF the
property so that the possibility OF exchange for
| some lots or "A building IN the more fashlonaps
northwest was called 10 tho attention OF the Min
| is,er In the summer OF 1892 negotiations were en-
| tered into between the German Minister ana Major
| Thomas r. Ferguson, at present United States Mn
| lister to Sweden ana Norway. who owned a large
Aouse at so 435 Massachusets-ave.. on Highland
Terrace" Major Ferguson found the Massachusetts,
! ave house too large for his family. and as h.
| wanted an investment. decided that house m
| Ffteenth-st In growing business neighborhood,
was more suited to his purposes than a residence
| which might not be disposed OF 30 readily Ac-
| cordlngly Baron Clemens Won Kettler. ono OF the
secretaries Of the present Embassy. concluded the
| transaction ly which the German Government a.
| ouired the ~ ghland Terrace house and adjoining
lot in exchange for the Ffiecnih-st. property. Al
| though the latter cost tie Kingdom OF Prussia Il
| comparatively small sum OF money. the Increase
| in value was a. great that the exchange was con-
! sldered a satisfactory transaction and most
| ,roN,,hle Investment. In November Of 1892 the
| GERMAN Minister moved into the house. ball
room was erected on the adjoining loi during the
| following year the house was put into excellent con
| duion and well furnished. It's total cost t. III"
! German Empire being something over $4,000. This
nrice Is small when the Increase In value OF the
| first Investment is considered.
GREAT BRITAIN's POLICY.
The policy of the Government OF Great Britain Is
| never TO purchase land cxcep. in what are known
as the nrst-rate Powers Of the Congress OF Vienna
| This policy It appears. was departed from in the
| casa Of the United States: for the property now
| owned by the British Embassy was built by Sir
| rduard Thornton nineteen years ago.
| I, "a said that Sir Edward Thornton could have
bought all OF the land In the block. from the corner
~ Nst and COnnecticut-ave.. where the Embassy
ow Is for what IL has cost In comparatively recent
,,a.rs IN buud the addition. which is used ball
| ocu The Embassy building is now considered too
| ,r.u for many purposes While II was large for
oga,ion being in the largest legation owned BY
crcat britain in any foreign country. now that the
| ,rosentative here has received Ambassadoria
ra,k the building Is thought by Sir Julian Paunce-
.,e 70 he too cramped for the proper preservation
| =, the Ambassadorial dignity. The representatives
:, ,,e British Government here at least the younger
=, tho secretaries and attaches. would much prefer
az entire block OF ground, such as is possessed by
t,r,land I'm other countries. where they could have
har tennis courts and give garden parties OF sur
nassine splendor. There Is no way. however, OF
r.r.dving this defect without the purchase OF an
| ,her tract of land Although the property covers
hout a third Of the block bounded by Connecticut
ave \ and Nineteenth SITS. the ground Is SO COW