Evening star., 1898-08-27
4 MORE ACTIVE MARKET EXPECTED
indications Which Point to a Re-
neWed Interest of Investors.
SOME MPROV MEN T S

] vision q test is being made Of the practical
| workings of the law, will have something
| to report to the Secretary of the Treasury
| in regard to the advan tages and disad-
| vantages Of the law. Possibly Secretary
Gage will conclude to submit to Congress
| recommendations with the view of making
| the law more effective.
| 1t will be recalled that law was passed
some five year, ago authorizing the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to invite the competi-
ton of architects in the preparation of
plans for the erection Of public buildings.
At that time and since then, with the ex-
ception of the present year, all such plans
were made in the office of the supervising
architect, although the current work of
the office was in ITSELF as stated by sue
ccssive occupants of the place. sufficient to
take the entire time Of the head of the
office.
Not Worthy of the Nation.
One result of this system was a certain
monotony in the government architecture,
not to say medfocrity, and the feeling was
general that the structures erected by the
government were not worthy of the dignity
of the nation.
The law of February 90 1898, represented
| in part the effort made to correct this state
of affairs. 1t simply authorized the Sec
retary of the Treasury to obtain by compc-
tion amcn ng architects designs for public
buildings. Mr.. Carlisle. who was then at
the head of the department. was of the
opinion that the law was SO defective that
1t could lot be carried out, but when Sec
retary Gage came into office he said that
while the law might be defective the best
plan was to enforce it, and in that way
make plain the defects.
Cooperation of Architects.
In this view he met the hearty co-opera-
ton Of Mr.. Taylor, the supervising archi-
tect, who is in favor of some measure of
this character One difficulty in carrying
out the law is that no provision is made
for paying unsuccessful contestants in the
proposed competition for time and labor
| spent in the preparation of the plans. Such,
however, was the interest taken by leading
architects throughout the country that they
decided to take part in the competitions
without compensation, in order that the law
might be given a trial.
In accordance with the provisions Of the
law, three competitions have been held and
the awards made. Plans for an immigra-
ton building on Ellis Island have been
accepted and contract made for its con-
struction. Plans for post office buildings
at Camden, N. j., and at Norfolk Va, have
also been accepted. 1t is thought that
sufncient trial has been made of the law
and if the deficiencies are such as to make
necessary further action by Congress the
attention Of the body can be called to the
subject.
Buyers in the Market.
Business is picking up, is the opinion now
very generally expressed by real estate
dealers and others. When those who so ex-
press themselves are asked what reason
they have for such belief the response is
that buyers are beginning to make their ap-
pearance in the market again-or, rather,
to some extent possible buyers, as they are
mainly people who are inquring about
property. 1t is the belief that these in
quiries are to materialize in the near future
in purchases. At any rate, whatever sig
nlflcance is to be attached to these indica-
tons, there Is no doubt that better feeling
prevails
1t is believed by some dealers that the
volume of business this fall will raach good
proportions, and while a great rush is not
anticipated, yet it is thought that an en-
couraging beginning has been made and
that realty will be more in demand during
the coming months than has been the cas-
for several years past
The Kind of Property.
1t is not known, of course, what particu-
lar phase the expected activity will take
whether the demand will be for suburban
property or for city property, or, perhaps
Tor both. Some are of the opinion that peo-
pie Will seek income-paying properties
While others are inclined to the belief that
land having speculative value will be pop
ular.
1t Is thought that one of the effects OF the
development of rapid-transit street rail-
reads will become manifest, and according
TO some what Is known as the intermediate
property, or that lying between the busi-
ness center and the suburban sections. will
feel the influence of ths change
me ran In rents Is explained in part by
CaA aof1ft
points which, it is claimed make houses
erected in sections formerly remote from
the business center now comparativeIv
near The reduction in rents is also ac-
counted 1or by the scaling in the rate of
living, which has affected everything dur
ing the past few years.
1t is also claimed that whatever NAV be
sald about the ease of reaching distant
points along the lines of modern street rail-
roads, still people will not change thar
preferences in regard TO localities, and so it
| Is urged that what is known as intermedi
aye property will continue to be sought
| aIter by those who follow their own iuclina-
tions in selecting the location of their
| homes 1'-
| Some improvements,
| Two houses are to be erected at 300 and
| 2o2 IL 7th street southwest by ]. Scott and
] M. B. Brenizer. They will be two stories
| In height, 25x4S feet and the fronts win
be built Of press brick.
| three-story house will be erected at
1913 Maryland avenue northeast 1t will
be 2ox30 feet, and buff brick will be used in
! the front with stone trimmings.
| stone building is to be erected at sos
| AZ street. two stories in height, 25x3O feet,
| There Will be two slew windows
Four houses will be built by G. F. Wells
&c Co. at Ga to $40 Maryland avenue north
| east They wall be 1Slax36 feet, with press
] brick fronts and full bay window.
l IuiiuS Wenlg. architect. has rra roI
\ plans for seven two-story and cellar brick
dwellings to be erected at 7th and streets
southeast for Mr.. b. F. Saul. They are to
be is by 45, and contain six rooms and
! bath each. Red and buff brick and lime
stone trimmings will be used, with green
slate on mansard roofs and towers They
| will have furnace heat and cabinet man.
| tells. e. j. De Lacy is the contractor
| The same architect has prepared plans
| for cottage. 80 by 80, to be erected on
Frankfurt street, Eangdcn, D. C. 1t Will