Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-07
Fire Limits and Something About
the Erection of Frame Houses.
PREPARING APARTMENT HOUSE PLANS
Buildings Especially Adapted for
Homes in the Suburbs.
SOME IMPRO VEMENT

said, in discussing the District of Columbia.
that no city in the United States was better
protected against frame houses than Wash
ington. And this is correct, for there are but
two sections in the city proper where a
frame house may be erected, that is the
small territory east Of 18th street east and
the one south of NJ street between the Navy
Yard and James Creek canal. 1t Is here the
fire limits do not extend, and frame houses
may be erected.
On the other hand, the fire limits embrace
a large section of the District outside of
the city limits, and as improvements prog
ress, and sections are improved, the fire
limits are gradually extended Just at this
time proposition is under consideration
to extend the fire limits on the north to
Spring road, and it is expected within a
short time that the order will be issued.
Whenever the fire limits are extended
there is always rush for permits to build
frame houses within the limit embraced,
and when the applications are refused
there is great Indignation. The property
owners never seem to want frame house
until they realize they cannot build one.
The fire limits are considered ample, with
the exception of the small extension noted
above or the north, for many years to
come.
Present Fire Limits.
will not be necessary for twenty years. At
the present time the limits ave:
From Florida avenue and 18th street
east, On 18th street to Georgia avenue
Georgia avenue to 18th street east, 18th
10 9TH street, 9th street east to NJ street
south, VI street south to west hank of
James creek. James creek to = street south
to Water street, Water street to :iJth street,
To
to 2Sth street, 18th street to q street to
Mill road, Mill road to Rock creek, Rock
creek to- 6 point where Ontario avenue in
tersects the eastern line Of the Geological!
Park: thence southwdrdiy along the east
ern line of said park to Adams Mill road; ;
thence along Adams Mill road to Columbia
road; the..ce along Columbia road to 18th
street west extended; thence northwardly
aiong 18th street extended to Park street: ;
thence eastwardiy along Park street to nth
street west extended ard Mount Pleasant
avenue; THENCE eastwardly along Mount
Pleasant avenue to Whitney avenue, and
eastwardly along Whitney avenue to 7th
street west extended; thence to Corcoran
rad, Corccran road and due east to 1st
street west, 1st street west to lire OF T
street north, and due east line of r
street to ID street east; thence south on ID
street to II street north extended; thence
east along r street to Corcoran road;
thence along Corcoran and Olivet roads
to main tracks of Baltimore and Ohio
railroad; thence southerly along sad
tracks to @ street north extended:
thence easterly on o street. to Trinidad
avenue; therce northerly along said Trini-
dad avenue to Mount Olivet road; thence
easterly along Mount Olvet road to B,a-
densburg road; thence alcng Bladensburg
road to the intersection of 18th street east
and Florida avenue.
Proposed Apartment Houses.
Inquiries are still being made by prospec-
tive h11ilIerS of ha
inspector of buildings has answered two
such applications this week. The owners,
except in rare instances, keep the location
of the proposed buildings great Sc
cret, and it is only after the most
minute questioning that the informal
ton sought is obtainable. For instance a
gentleman well known in real estate cir
cles appeared at the District building this
week anG stated he was about to erect a
larS" apartment house. He wanted some
information concerning the thickness of
walls. The inspector first asked the dimen-
sions Of the building, which We're reluct-
antiy given. 1t was to be a house fifty-five
feet front by a height of seventy-five feet,
running back 100 feet When asked the To-
cation, for The building regula tons are not
applicable alike to all parts of the District,
he vaguely answered Columbia Heights
and vould say no more. 1t is evident that
the prospective builder does not want to
make known his plans until after all de-
tails are settled, and he has obtained his
permit
Another inquiry was also made during
the week regarding an apartment house,
but the applicant, when pressed, said he
was only getting ready.
Homes In the Suburbs.
Considerable attention has been given to
the subject of suburban architecture in re-
cent years. and it has naturally been one
OF increasing interest in this locality, owing
to tho large number of people who have es-
tablisned homes in the country about this
city 1t Is believed by those who are in Il
position to form an accurate judgment that
this movement in it's local phases has prac-
tically only begun There is a large area
Of land within convenient distance of this
city forming admirable sites for homes.
and the advantages of a suburban resi-
dence are being more thoroughly under
stood and appreciated
For those who ere contemplating erecting
mouse IN the country at this time there
are some suggestions that can be made
which, If carried out, would cot only re-
suit in a more slightly structure, but in
s speia convenience and comfort in the
dally nome life. There is one mistake that
people make, and that is, they find it
d.ficult to free themselves from the con-
ception of what house should be- which
IS based mainly on their acquaintance with
city houses. AS is well known, the aver
age city house is built on an inside lot of
contracted dimensions. All the air and
sunshine that such house gets is from
the front and rear.
Study the Points of the Compass.
On the other hand, in the country the
building site is open on all sides, and the
important question to be decided by the
prospective builder is. how it should be
planned so as to make the most of these
The majority of people oc-
,upy their homes in the country the wear
round, and it is, therefore, an important
matter to locate the rooms so that they
will have the benefit of the morning and
sun, as may he desired It is
true that the chosen lot may front on some
street, but 1t is not necessary that the front
entrance should be Oil the same side of the
house as the street.
Some people like to have the sun in the
lining room i'll the morning, and others
have a preference for living room which
s bright and CHEEKY throughout the entire
lay In a general way, it may be seen that
t Is advisable for those who are thinking
lbout building to give careful attention to
The points of the compass.
Colonial Feature.
There is another general feature about a
house interior which is of considerable con.
sequence in this climate, and that is the ar
of the interior so that there can
be q free circulation of air throughout the