Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-29
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Building Operations as Viewed From
One Standpoint.
MISTAKEN IDEAS ABOUT HOUSES
Advantage of Small Houses in De-
sirabIe Residence Localities.
A GROWING POPULATION

4 man who Is extensively engaged in
building operations In this city con-
tractor said the other day that he had
much work he was able to handle, and
that he had just signed a contract to erect
> house which would cost about 10000.
Owing to the rather inactive real estate
market, the average citizen, whether in
terested in property or not, will no doubt
be rather surprised 10 hear that any one
in the building business has much work
as he is able TO do. but this experience,
while not a general one is probably not
uncommon, as any one might infer who
has watched the progress of building
operations during the past few months.
While relatively speaking, the real estate
market is not active one. yet it does
not follow that there is no business at all.
Plans for Houses.
This is the season of year when the de-
tails OF plans for new houses which 1t is
proposed to start during the coming fall
being finally decided upon. Architects
and clients are in consultation, and the
plans are carefully considered. AS a rule
Fl man builds a house but once in a life
time. although the saying is that one must
really build a house before he becomes
competent for such an undertaking. 1t
fellows that person is just as apt to
MAKE mistakes In determining upon the
features of house as he is in settling up
any other matter of business or per
SOnaI concern.
There is such a wide diversity of taste rs
to style and architecture and really lit
tie latitude of choice in the design of the
ely house that one opinion about the eX-
terror plans Is as good as another, but in
regard 10 the size and the arrangement of
the interior there is certainly much to be
learned from experience. In building
houses, as well as i'll other things people
q get for batr
money as possible. and they run I'D
houses three and four stories and extend
them back a bundled feet or more, when
two ami one-half stories and depth of 10
or 30 feet would have been ample
About Small Homes.
The house builder is always beset with
the thought of what some one else might
think of the house in case it should be
placed on the market for sale, and he cal
culates that the more rooms he has the
larger will he the rental in the event he
wants to rent. and the bigger the price in
case he should sell. As this is very gem
efal notion, the result IS that the proper
ton of small houses to large houses es-
necinlly In popular residence sections Of
the city, Is very small, and those of the
former kind are seldom unoccup:ed The
fact IL overlooked that small house is
more economical than large house to fur
nish. TO heat and to maintain and for this
reason such dwelling is In demand hy,
persons whose incomes are rather limited.
The practice of occupying almost all of
the building lot as a site for the residence
iiscir seems to be on the increase. and in
tie opinion of some the result of this will
be that IN few years houses with smnIa
back yards Will be in great demand Artar.
awhile people Will find that It Is more nd
Fantageous to have generous area for Air
ara Hight In the rear Of their houses than
that there should be three ana four rooms
In depth on each floor
Suburban Population
One of the officers of q suburban railroad
said the ether day that while the business
OF the road has been larger during the sum-
nier months than was the case during Il e
winter. he finds what he terms the per-
manent travel is increasing. This means.
O. course. that there are more people living
along the liie of the road this year than
was the case last year. These people have
gone OUT there and established their per-
Wanens residence. and in this way their
patronage continues through the summer
ard winter
The business Of all the suburban rail-
roads leading ont from tho r., ,,oo,