Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-25
Whatls Thought Of Proposed Changes
in the Highway Act.
THE BUILDING RECORD FOR THE YEAR
Rentals for Property in the Bust
ness Section of the City.
SON E NEW Blu IL d / n G. S

tractive as that of the original city, are
beginning to feel that practical way out
of the street extension maze has apparent
~ been found The action of the board of
trade at its last annual meeting in adopt
ing the report of the special committee pro-
posing amendments and notifications of
the highway act has served, ii is thought.
to clear UP, to large extent, the Amos
phere of hopelessress which hung over
this question
There is no doubt that the highway act
has operated to prevent not only the I'M
provement but the sale of property in the
sections of the suburbs most affected. 1t
has cast cloud upon the title to property.
as owners We're unable to know when the
government would take their property, and
whether they would receive adequate COM
pensation in the event the title passed from
them.
Defects in the Law Corrected.
The impression seems to be general that
the experience since the passage of the
act of 1SS and the discussion of the sub
1ect has made il possible to provide for the
application Of the plan of the city to the
suburbs at a comparatively slight cost to
the public. and with the least possible de-
lay and Vexaton TO property holders. AS
those familiar with the proposed modiiicft-
tons of the law say, provision has been
made for prompt condemnation of the land
needed and for as equally prompt pay
ment for the property taken.
There seems to have been an impress ion
that the proposed new legislation applies
only to the covered by map No |
but. as explained by the District Commits
sloners, who are in substantial accord with
the board of trade on this subject it affects
the entire suburbs, and the estimated cost
represents the total for making the extern
sions provided for through ali sections of
the suburbs.
1t seams TO be the opinion if Co ,gress
VIII take prompt actor a great OBJ
stacies VIII be cleared away that now
prevent the investment of capital in SUI
burbal property and in its Improvement,
1t IS claimed that such legislation will be-
especially important in view of the proba-
Die tendency in the expected activity in tho
real estate market during the coming spring
Season. and. it is argued, there should be
nc reason except the wisdom of the invest
mehl 10 interfere with suburban property
as factor in the market
Water and Sewers in the Suburhx
The growing Importance of the numerous
communities of which Washington is now
the center is shown in a variety of WAYS
Especially significant In this connection Is
the announcement that a meeting of the
citizens Of Hyattsville has been called for
an early date to consider n plan for pro
WONG mat town with a water and sewer
system A similar improvement Is being
CONSIDERED by the citizens OF Takoma and
as mas been stated in The Star, n is nos
SiDie lhat during the session of the AIarv-
iand legislature this year that body will he
asked TO give the necessary AUTHORITY tn
tne municipal authorities of Takoma to
issue bonds the proceeds of the saIe Of
which TO be used in supplvinp tba -
with water and sewers Iva
TT Is admitted by some of the citizens of
sitiaS a.; .ldt sewers are not pressing neces-
slues Just at present. but as bonds are tn
DE issued 1t is thought best 10 make an.
ioah instead of possibly hereafter fudin.,
IL necessary TO issue another set of bonds
" nat both these communities are strf wing
after and what other communities ,t.ba1.
needs now or will in the future is an inde-
penuaht water supply. 1t is believed that II
water can be obtained that Ia free fror,
III Pur1ues a long step has been taken to
secure freedom from infectious diseases in
community of medium size
"hen such water supply is obtained
tHeA the local sewerage cannot AFFECT i,
even though the means of its disnosaI q ro
soHlewnat crude. The air is a great disin
1ectant and unless houses are built in a
,n S4nipact manner than is the case with
.ue SUBURBAN settlements near this citv
the greatest dangers do not come from y
lack OF sewerage system.
Rents for business PROPERTY,
AL THIS season of the year leases on
business buildings In many cases termi-
nate ana In considering a question of re-
he"ai poth tenants and landlords natural
~ discuss the subject Of rents 1t is not
always that the views OF these two parties
are ahtaeonistic, as it can readily be under
stood that the interests of both are tden-
ticaI. and while a landlord wants to get
as good return as possible from his In
yestment in the property, at the same time
ne does not desire to fix a rent which a
tenant would be unable to paw or which
building
Property owners like permanent tenants.
and on the other hand men in business
prefer to stay in the same building if other
considerations are favorable. 1t is stated
mat the rents named In the leases which
have thus far been made for property oc-
cupied for business purposes. whether for
short or long periods are about the Same
as they have been for the last four or Ave
years This is regarded as an Indication
that values of business property have re-
NAMED hrm In spite OF the financial de-
preston which has been common to this
city. as the rest of the country
Pennsylvania Avenue Pronertx.
A sale recorded during the pas,
week Of the property $40 Pennsylvania ave-
nue. northwest by the trustees of the Cor
coran estate to James f. Baines The
lot Is % by III feet and the improvements
consist OF a two-stOry brick building cover
Ing the entire lot. The price paid was
$3.50.
Favorable Building Record.
sion OF the building inspector, there have
been issued since January last I'D 10
date 80 permits to build which "a inst
forty-five in excess of the number of per-
mits issued during the corresponding per-
fod OF last year. 1t is estimated that the
amount OF money expended In doing the
work which was authorized by these per
mits Is IN excess of that which was ex-
pended Tor the same purpose during the
previous year In other words, more build
ings were erected during the past wear
than during the previous year. and more
money was expended for buildings
To Change the Rink Building.
W. F. Wagner, architect, is preparing
the plans for the Roman house." which
as stated In The Star several days ago, fl
Is proposed to erect on the Rink site. New
York avenue between 18th and 14th streets
The plans first submitted In the appli.
cation for building permit did not meet
In the opinion of Assistant Building In.