Evening star., 1898-04-30
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Property offered at Auction and the
Price Obtained.
A LARGE ADDITION TO A HOTEL
The Decorative Effect of Window
Boxes Of Growing Flowers.
SOME IMPROV ENTS

During the past week a piece of property
was offered at public sale which attracted
some attention, for the reason that in that
particular locality the property does not
often change hands The real estate in
question is known as 1416 l street north
west and is on the opposite side of the
street from the residences occupied by
Senator Chandler, John w. Thompson the
Mexican minister, John w. Foster and
others The improvements consisted of a
frame house with stable located on the
rear of the property. Some value was as
signed to the buildings in the estimate
made of the probable market price CT the
property, but. generally speaking the lot
was the valuable factor. 1t has a frontage
OF twenty-five feet by depth of 14S feet
and the total area comprises 1886 square
feet. 1t was offered for sale by Mr.. Chas.
G. Sloan, the auctioneer, and the highest
bid obtained was about $3.50 per square
foot, which the executor refused to ac-
cept, and so the property was Withdrawn.
A rather remarkable circumstance in con-
nection with this property is that the alb
stract of title shows only two names from
the time the government acquired the title
down to the present day. For nearly half
century it has been in the possession of
one family. and the sale was made by the
executor in order to settle the estate.
A Hotel Addition.
A deep hole is being aug in the rear of
the Raleigh Hotel, where the foundations
will be laid for an addition to that build
ing. The entire lot, which has frontage
OF some IS feet on 18th street by depth
OF 100 feet. will be occupied by the new
ten stories, and the walls will be built Of
steel beams filled in with brick and stone
TIE construction will be fire proof through
out A feature of the interior arrange
one great room 1t will be known as the
hanqueting hall, and there it will be possi-
bic to seat at tables 400 people. On the
ground floor the space afforded by the new
aGd1tlon Will be devoted to large recep-
ton room. which will include the present
cafe for ladies.
Flowers MS House Decorations.
A custom which each year is becoming
more general of ornamenting the parking
in frcnt Of residence sections of the c,tv
and also the windows of the houses with
Towering and trailing plants adds much
to the attractiveness of the city. At this
season of the year, when Washington is
F ok1ns SC bright and fresh in its spring
garb there is perhaps no part in the gem
eiai chorus of approval which goes up from
Visitors to the capital city that is more
theme the floral effects which are seen in
and about the private residences
IL Is thought by some that this custom
is not so general as it might be- but each
year more people fall in line, and now 1t is
quite common to see the window boxes
aglow with the brilliant colors of spring
flowers. Some residences are specially
notable in this respect and that Is true Of
the house occupied by Vice President Ho-
bart. AS every one knows, this is one of the
nf .itI y, ,joI
has been changed for modern uses without
being marred, and although built in the
early years of the history of the city 1t
today occupies conspicuous place among
the handsome residences of the city.
A Line of Color.
The quaint old balcony which runs along
the front of the house. as well as the
rounded bay window, is marked by line
of color formed of growing Towering and
foliage plants. On the window lodges of
the lower story are also growing flowers
and in the lawn are beds Of choice spring
varieties.
1t is not too much to say that while the
appointments Of the house attract atten-
ton, yet this specially seasonable decora-
tfon is a detail in the picture that will no
doubt be carried away in the minds of
visitors and will be recalled long after per-
haps more important incidents of the visit
to the capital city have been forgotten.
The beauty of the flowers, however is not
enjoyed alone by visitors, but by residents
and there is no doubt that people who have
money to spend can find no better way
than this to make their homes attractive
and at the same time contribute to the en-
joyment of their fellow citizens.
Some improvements.
A store building Is to be erected by II.
K. Fulton at 314 9th street northwest. 1t
viii. be three stores in height 2j by 100
feet. with Roman brick front. fiat tile and
tin roof and large show windows. The
building will be heated by steam or hot
water.
Arthur Keith will build a dwelling at
2214 Goth street northwest. The house will
be three stories In height, 20 by AZ feet,
with brick front and pitch slate roof.
Josephine A. Stewart will erect a frame
residence on Military road, Brightwood, 81
by 80 feet. 1t will be two stories in height,
with siding front and pitcn shingle roof
The Metropolitan Railroad Company will
shortly begin the erection of a railway
waiting station on Beth street between
Prospect avenue and N street, from plans
prepared by Appleton P. Clark, architect.
The building will be q by 81 feet inches,
with front of gray brick and white terra
Gotta trimmings. A waiting room toile.
rooms and cellar underneath the build
iEg for heating apparatus are included in
the plans. the waiting room to be finished
with glazed mottled brick and have terra
Gotta maEteL.