Evening star., 1896-09-19
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Progress Of Improvements Along
Pennsylvania Avenue.
CONTRACT SYSTEM IN PUBLIC WORK
Some of the New Structures Which
Are Being Erected.
MATT E r S OF l n TIE r z s T

Plans have been prepared by w. Bruce
Gray, architect, for new front in the
buildings 1109-1l11 Pennsylvania avenue,
occupied by Moore & Leding and oy Snyder
Il Wood. The new work is to be mainly of
copper, and will be an Improvement to the
appearance of these places of business. 1t
is not unusual to chronicle improvements
made in the business property along Penn
sylvania avenue, although some years ago
1t was the exception rather than the rule
when owners of property along this
thoroughfare were willing to expend money
for such purposes
AS every one knows who has watched the
progress Of affairs during the past few
years, there has been marked change in
this respect along Pennsylvania avenue,
and number of modern business buildings
have been erected. Changes and alterations
have been made in old buildings so that
they have been practically transformed
into new and well-equipped structures
While ii is true that everything has not
been done in this particular that is pos
sitle, ard doubt in the opinion of some
very desirable and necessary. still the
business facilities on Pennsylvania avenue
show a decided improvement over what
was the case few years ago.
Handsome Structures.
During the past year two notable addi-
tions have been made to the buildings along
the avenue. They have not yet been COM
pleted, but 1t is evident that they not
only well adapted for business purposes,
but they have a good deal of merit from
an architectural standpoint and form
handsome additions to the attractions of
that historic thoroughfare.
one of these buildings Is located on the
north side of the avenue just east of 14th
street and the other is on the same side
just west OF 18th street. In both Instances
the new structures take the place of build
ipgs that were IN use for a good many
ye&rs-one, in fact, beirg of such antiquity
that on the occasion of its removal il was
deemed of sufficient public interest to have
picture of it published in The Star, ac-
companied by brief history.
1t Is evident that the avenue, which has
been for so many years the principal thor
oughfare of the city, and which in the de-
velopment Of the business sections seemed
to be for time overshadowed in impor-
tance by other streets, is keeping pace with
The general progress of the community,
and Is still entitled to the claim which
places 1t among the leading business thor
oushfares OF the city. 1t Is believed by
some that the future will see still a more
important Development of Pennsylvania
avenue as business street.
Days Work vs.. Contract.
1t Is understood that the District Com
missioners in their Forthcoming annual re-
port to Congress intend to urge upon that
body the advisability of change in the
system of constructing public buildings In
the District-thdt IS, those built under the
auspices OF the District Eovernment-by
providing that instead of inviting bids and
awarding the work to the lowest bidder
II snail be done under direction of District
officials at days work.
Every year school houses are erected
now and then an engine house and other
buildings which are needed for local pur-
poses, and the average forms quite a re-
spectacle contribution to the total of buili-
Ing operations This proposed change will
De one OF 1mpOrt6 nee to building interests
Public school Designs.
The school houses of Washington In
some resIRcts have served as models for
other cities. During the latter part of
Building Inspector Entwisles term Chief
Architect Brady, who is now building in
spector, introduced an innovation in the
design for public schools. Before that
time II had been the policy of the Com
mlssioners to erect buildings of many
stories. Experience. however demonstrated
that 1t was not only safe, but more eco
nomical, to erect these buildings on a small
er scale and build more of them. 1t was
then that the two-story eight-room school
house plan was adopted, and since that
time, with the exception of the High
Schools. all school buildings erected by
the District have been of this type.
All plans for District buildings are pre-
pared in the office of the inspector OF
buildings, and subject to the approval
of the Commissioners. At the present time
the District has invested in school build
irsss alone nearly S3,0OO0OO. and when the
cost of the ground upon which they are
built is taken into consideration the ag-
gregate will foot up at least 81 600 900 more
When an appropriation for a school build
irS Is made the building inspector sets
about drawing the plans for the same
After these have been completed they are
submitted to the Commissioners for their