Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-02
A Welcome Departure 1naugurated
in Municipal Architecture.
PLANS FOR TEE LEXINGTON SCHOOL
Dizziness Prevails in the Selling
of Local Property.
REVIEW OF CONDITIONS

recently adopted by the Comm ssioners to
employ local architects to make tine de-
signs OF new municipal buildings instead
OF having them drawn up as heretofore in
the office of inspector of buildings. Mr..
Cfarks plans call fer the construction of
building that would be an ornament to any
section of any city, and the new depart
ure in the architecture of municipal build
irgs which has thus been inaugurated will
doubtless be regarded as a proper cause
for conSratulation on the part of all citi-
zeEs. The lot to be occupied by the new
building IS 40 by - feet in dimensions.
and the building itself will be 81 by - feet
in size. The rest of the lot will be devoted
to play grounds. 1t will be constructed of
brick, stone and terra Gotta. with high
pitched roof of tile. The front on Quincy
street will be imposing in an architectural
sense, and its conception is chaste and ele
CANT. The broad double doored entrance
will be plsnked on either side with brick
Danelng and terra Gotta columns, and
above it will be a beautifully ornamented
terra Gotta tablet. bearing the name of the
school Above this again will be a por-
tico supported by four terra Gotta columns.
The brick arched windows will have stone
sills, and they have been designed with
keen view to afford:ng abundant light to
the interior.
The Interior Arrangements.
The building will be two stories and base
ment in height, and will be better arranged
for school purposes than any structure in
the District, and not surpassed anywhere
for the convenience of it's arrangement and
the perfection of its heating and ventilat-
ing appliances. The basement will be de-
voted to toilet room fer the girls, II by
% feet in dimensions. a toilet room for the
boys. 20 feet square. and play rooms for
the boys and girls, respectively, each ~ by
% feet il area. The center of the base
ment will be occupied by a furnace and
engine room, IS by 10 feet N size. and in
various sections will be apparatus for sup
plying fresh air and eXpelling the foul at
mosphere.
On entering the building at the first
floor there will be a wide corridor with
broad stairwayS extending to the base
ment and to the floor above. Beyond this
will be a central hall. 80 feet II inches by
1G feet inches in size. At either corner
will De school rooms, two being "a by -
feet in dimensions and two % feet q inches
by p feet in area. Contiguous to each
pair of rooms will be cloak rooms II feet
by in dimensions, as well as apartments
for the teachers.
rooms CT the same dimensions as those
on the first floor. There will also be a
library of ample dimensions. The spec1-
fcat:ons which were prepared by Mr.. Clark
character. and an equipment including the
latest hygienic plumbing and a number of
novel aids to the perfect heating and ven
tilation of the entire buiiGiI G.. The Specl-
fcat.ons have been printed and the proofs
are now being corrected. They will be
ready for distribution to the bidders early
next week.
Inquiry during the week among the men
who are foremost in transacting the real
estate business of the District developed
the fact that affairs of this character arc
in state of calm. Despite the prevailing
lassitude, however, there is no tendency
developed toward a dminution of conf
dence in approaching better times. we'll
known young man of ripe experience in
local zeal estate affairs, whose judgment
is widely respected. voiced the feeling of
the agents who believe in the solid rather
than the sky-rocket system of looking at
business and conducting it.
Real estate" said he to The Star re-
porter yesterday, lis one of the last things.
if not the very last thing, to decline in
value when depression settles on the coun-
try, and is always the last thing to feel
the good results of a general revival Of
business. 1 lever knew business in our
lire to be as dull as 1t is now, but l am
confident that the winter and early spring
will find activity returning and steady
of healthy sort. We are bound
to feel the effects of the general improve
ment of busir ess throughout the country,
and l find this opinion is shared by every
one l have talked with.
wv lille L was away my vacation re-
Gently l saw a Baltimore trades paper 1t
the cOncensus of the replies re-
ceived to a thousand inquiries propounded
to conservative observers in all sections of
the country. They were all to the same
very substantial improve
ment was evident in all lines of business
that mills were starting up. after pro-
tracted idleEess; manufactures were at
work again, and that everywhere signs of
an undeniable revival in trade were to be
a ms n Snrt he nj
ways depended on to give calm and i'm
partial view of things they are. and,
from my reading what L have described, /
am certain that our line of business in this
section will soon feel similar impetus.
While there is not much being done in
the selling line, the activity in the renting
of houses is unusually good. and all agents
who carry long lists of residences report
that the demand by house hunters is steady
and eager.
Among the architects there is an increase
of work, and many plans are being drawn
which will doubtless take substantial shape
either during the remainder of the open
season or as soon as spring weather allows
construction to be again undertaken.
Work on the new Catholic Hospital build
ing has begun, permits having been issued
10 President ]. Ravens Richards of George
town College. The structure will be erect
ed by j. Il. Collins. and will be plain in de-
sign. of pressed brick and three and four
stories in height. Architect c. Il. Kefer-
stein made and donated the plans
+. Atkinson has designed and John Simp-
son will build for the Cleveland Park Com
parry an attractive cottage on 34lh street
between Newark and Omaha streets. 1t
will be two stores and attic and the
terror will have numerous pleasing fea-
lures, including the entrance, the porches
and the extensions. the front will be of
shingle and pebble dash, with pitch roof
The interior will be tastefully arranged
and fitted with all the conveniences Fur
mace heat will be supplied. The cost will
be $500.
Mrs. *. L. Osborne has taken out a per-
nit for three dwellings, 16 feet 8 inches
front by 10 feet deep. to be numbered 1905,
110I and 1l09 Yale street, Columbia
Heights. They will be two stories and
cellar in height surmounted by mansard
roofs of slate and tin, and will have press
brick bay-window fronts. The interiors
will be fitted with all conveniences and fur
mace heated Z. Waltz is the architect
and w. S. Jones the builder. The cost will
be $10,JO0
Annie O'Neill will build a frame two
story dwelling, with rustic siding front
and a pitch roof. in Crowns subdivision
on the Conduit road. There will be bay
windows and porches. The cost will be
81, 100
C. T. s. Brent will build for ]. f. Francis
at No. 2104 Pennsylvania avenue a two
story red brick store and dwelling q by
20 feet in dimensions. with hexagon show
windows on the street floor. The cost will
be s., 500