Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-03
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Emmons S. Smiths New Building on
Market Space.
DESCRIPTION OF CHINESE LEGATION
Almost Regal Appointments in the
Ministers New House.
OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST

The permit for the building of the new
Boston Variety Store, on Market Space be-
tween 9TH and Sth streets, was issued this
week to Mr.. Emmons S. Smith, and work
upon it Is being pushed day and night, two
forces of men being engaged Arc lamps
furnish the light for the work at night
and it is expected that the lower stories
will be occupied for business by September
l next. This building when completed will
be radical departure from the Washing
ton style of business houses, being new in
regard TO many of it's features. Its front
of white brick, terra Gotta and stone, is OF
superior type The building is of the
steel frame conStruc ton, a series of zee
bar columns at intervals of about eighteen
feet supporting the whole Each of these
columns rests on a single individual founda-
ton of steel beams irbedded in concrete
Each pit has been dug down to certain
uniform depth, and tests have been made
to find just what weight this earth would
safely sustain, and the foundations We're
then spread TO cover such an area as to dis
tribute the different loads uniformly over
the computed area, thus to insure equal, Ii
any, settlement ct all columns. When it is
explained that the different columns are
calculated to carry from 40 to 80 tons
each it will be realized what an important
element these second foundations are.
The New Chinese LagatIOn.
The Chinese minister is fortunate in Sc
curing so beautiful building as the for
mer residence of Mr.. T. Frank Schneider,
at the corner of 18th and Q streets. 1t was
already commodious house, but the addi-
tens now being made to it Will make 1t even
more thoroughly well fitted for the home
of great diplomat. The addition contains
fifteen rooms, with bath, ard a large office
room for the use of the minister and mis-
secretary, the official entrance to which
viii be through the green court from I
street. The older portion of the building
which is but six years old, by the way, is
constructed of white stone In the most
striking style of architecture, ard it's In
terror is in perfect keeping with its elegant
outside appearance. The double drawing
rooms are furnished in white with pink
decorated walls and painted ceilings. Plas-
tic columns stand at their ends, and plas-
tic embellishments beautify them through
out
The large hall is in oak with a massive
staircase of the same and a large stone
mantel. The walls are tapestry covered
The reception room is magnificent apart
ment of oriental type. The walls are of
East Indian onyx and mahogany with gold
decorated woodwork The ceilings are OF
plastic and silk, and Egyptian scenes paint
ed Oh canvas are set in the W all and cell
ing panels. The dining room is the large
and elegant hall finished in oak in the Ro-
menesque style, with oak-beamed ceilings
high oak wainsco,ing and with plastic pan
els and friezcs decorated in blue.
a Magnificent Ball Room.
In the ball room, which is thirty-five feet
square, with a ceiling twenty-one feet high
is feature seldom seen in a private dwell
ing. This is a massive redstone arch, with
span of seventeen feet, springing from
II
orchestra gallery, which is also constructed
of redstone, beneath which is a fireplace
with seats on each side.
All the stonework is carved and arranged
In such fine proportions that one Can hard
ly realize that much massiveness car
be SO successfully used in a single room
In the center of the ball room ceiling is a
stained glass dome twelve feet in diameter
ana ten feet high behind which electric
lights are arranged. The walls of this
room. are decorated In red and old ivory
above the eight foot of wainscoting OF
panel oak, and contains has relief figures
ana tropical plants of plastic In old ivory
finish. life-siZe bronze lien stands on 9
PEDESTAL at the foot of the few steps lead.
iEg TO the entrance of this ROOM
Norkmen have been buSily engaged dur.
ing the past two weeks in repainting, re.
decorating and overhauling the house gen.
eraly, and when IL is completed and its
forty odd rooms newly furnished the Chi.
nese minister to the United States will
probably occupy more elegant quarters
ttan any other representative Of his coun.
Try elsewhere in the world. The legation
Will take possession August l.
The Record of building Pcrmits
The record of permits for the building OF
Kew houses and alterations of old ones dur
ing the hsoal year just closed does moi
snow such depressed condition of affairs
when compared with the fiscal year proceed
ing as was generally expected four month.
ago. The number of permits issued durine
the year ending June 30. 1885, was /. 1854
during the year ending June 80, 1887, the
number issued was 1,622. For severa
months OF the last year business of all sorts
was completely unsettled by the nationa
campaign and the vital questions so i'm
| portant to every branch of trade which
were in course of settlement. During thi.
period Of doubt and fear there were few
| permits issued, and 1t is only within tn,
| last three months that the energetic build
| Ing inspector and his amiable assistant
| have been kept busy to any great extent
With all these adverse conditions taken in
| TO consideration the record for the fisoa
| year 1S96-'y7 Of the building operations Il
| a very creditable one, and shows plenty O
! confidence in the present and future Of til,
national capital, SO far as its growth an,
| development Is concerned.
| Real estate agents report dullness In OF
| erations during the week, which Is onl!
| natural when annual settlements are betnI
| made. and the majority of persons witt
| money are esohewing business and seek
i ing summer comfort in ease and idls lanes,
\ far away from the worry and care of bust
| ness. Many deals are spoken Of as beini
| in prospect. however, and inquiries from
| outside capitalists who are seeking safe in
| vestments appear to be more numerous
! The record of the last six days in June TO
! deeds recorded in the District shows IL
| were filed. while during the last six days o
| June, 1897, 81 were filed. This Is only
very small straw, but 1t shows at least tina
| sales of real estate have not diminished, q
| so popularity supposed.
| An Issue Over Projections.
| The permit for the addition to the Arm
| Hotel, which comprises q six-story an,