The herald., 1897-09-16
REAL ESTATE
Weekly Review 0fthe Local
Market
VALUES ARE STIFFENING
THE HARBoR DECISION A CAUSE
FOR ACTIVITY
Comparative Table Of This Years
Transfers With '95 and '96.
Other Markets

The streets Of the city present busy
appearance, and from the amount Of
building going on in the pricipal thor
oughfares the stranger is at once im-
pressed with the idea that the activity
shown at this season Of the year is some
remark on the part of new arrivals that
Los Angeles presents marked contrast
in its appearance of business movement
and progress, with the aspect of eastern
cities. especially with those of equal
size. The excellent system Of street car
accommodations affording electric tram
sit to almost every part of the city, and
the fine system of electric street lighting
the excellent character of the buildings.
the adoption of sanitary plumbing, are
all matters commented upon most favor
ably 1t is true that the condition of the
principal business streets, so far as their
paving is concerned, is not model one.
The asphalt, while the best material that
can be used, on account Of its elasticity,
noiselessness and durability, also re-
quires to be kept in repair The city
fathers and many property owners ap-
pear to have had the idea that a pave
ment once laid should need no attention
and should last forever. They are getting
cured of this notion, however, and it ap-
pears highly probable that the resurfac-
ing of Spring street, which is so much
needed, will be accomplished before the
winter rains set in. The folly of leaving
the street in it's present condition will
be duly punished, if persisted in. by the
property owners having to pay for an
entirely new pavement in a short time,
whereas it can now be resurfaced at q
comparatively slight expense.
Real estate agents have not made
much money the past few months. The
total sales have been lighter than usual
and it is doubtful whether more than a
small proportion of them have been a
source Of profit to the agents in the shape
of commissions. However, light busi-
ness is expected during the summer
months, and now the hopes of the agents
are fixed upon the fall business, being
greatly cheered by the la test news from
Washington. All are agreed that the
settlement of the harbor question will
give a great impetus to transactions in
real estate and will, more than any other
event that can be foreseen, tend to con-
solidate and stiffen values.
Agents report that inquiries have
been chiefly for cheap lots designed for
Improvement and occupation and there
is nothing doing in the speculative way
One dealer reports that he has an order
to buy on Spring street, between First
and Fourth to the extent of $50, 900, but
can find nothing suitable. There is no
doubt a large amount Of money ready
for investment, but choice business prop
erty is held at figures which will not
allow a sufficient income return to sat-
isfy parties willing to buy
The sale of seventy feet on the east
side of Hill street, between Fourth and
Fifth, for SIS, 500, which was reported in
The Herald of the 3rd instant, turns out
to have been an investment by Mrs.
Wilson, owner of the Broadway hotel,
who thus acquires property having a
frontage on the two streets.
COMPARATIVE STATISTICS
The total sales for August were 941, of
which 376 were for nominal amounts and
the whole considerations amounted to
$719, ,S24 as compared with $7S6, 1926 for the
same month of 1885, We subjoin a table
showing the transfers for the frs /
eight months of the year with compari-
sons for 1s95'96, which will be convenient
for reference: