Evening star., 1898-09-12
CATHEDRAL SITE
Change of Location fsr q the Proposed
Protestant Episcopal Foundation.
A. l. BARBER sEIlS lS fHE LAND
Purchases Another Tract, Where He
Will Build a. House.
HANDSOME PROFIT

The purchase by the Protestant Episco-
pal Cathedral Foundation of a tract of
land at the southeast corner of the Tenley-
town and Woodley Lane roads, as mem
toned in Saturdays Star, has aroused a.
good deal of interest among those who are
identified with that enterprise, as well as
among those who are concerned in that
locality and among citizens generally. As
stated in Saturdays Star, Mr.. A. L. Barber
decided to the Cathedral Foundation thirty
and one-half acres of land, the considera-
ton named being s24a.000 Tho sale was
made by Col. Robert I. Fleming as the rep
resentative of Mr.. Barber to Bishop Sat
terlee. who acted for tho board of trustees
of the foundation. The latter body held a
special meeting for the purpose of consid-
ering the matter. and decided to approve
the purchase of the ground. The trustees
have for some time past shared the opinion
of Bishop Satterlee that the location Sc
lected for the proposed cathedral and the
allied buildings at Connecticut avenue ex-
tended and Woodley Lane road was for
several reasons uhsuited for the intended
Uses. The ground. however, had been do
mated by Mr. F. G. Newlands and Mr..
WaGgl lnan for the cathedral, while it
would be necessary to buy outright an
other site, and the problem Of raising the
needed FUNDS was serious one.
It's solution was, however, undertaken
by the bishop. He was convinced that the
site purchased was almost an ideal one for
the purposes intended, being as it is an
elevated position amid many natural at
fractions and surroundings, and in the cen
ter of region that is believed by many
will be developed in the future into a pop
ulous section of the city's suburbs. 1t is on
the line of Massachusetts avenue extended,
and is readily accessible from the city.
On the other hand, it is stated that the
q " q he
deeds of gift will revert to the donors, is
geographically not well adapted for ca
thedral site, and its surroundings are such
as not to give promise of any large popula-
ton, at least in the near future, owing to
the fact that the Geological Park is on the
eastern bounds, and the grounds about the
residence Of the late Gardiner G. Hubbard
are on the western side. The old site con-
tains twenty-five acres and the new thirty
and half, and for this and the above con-
siderations among others, 1t was concluded
to make the change.
1t would not have been possible to have
undertaken the financial responsibility in
volved if it had not been for the energy dis
played by Bishop Satterlee, who succeeded
in raising the large sum of 100000 which
is the cash payment made, leaving a bal
ance of $145, 600 due on the property The
contributions were obtained from a number
of people to whom the subjectywas present
ed by the bishop. The largest individual
subscription was $4,000 but the name of
the giver is not mentioned. One-third of
the entire amount was subscribed in this
city. 10
Bishop Satteree has been so successful in
his efforts in behalf of this enterprise that
the future appears bright and promising
Owing to the probability that a change in
the site would be made. active work was
stopped some time ago in the erection of
the building for the Hearst School for Girls
the gift of Mrs. Hearst. The blans for the
proposed building are prepared. and one
fourth of the contemplated cost, which is
S2Oot00, is now in the hands of the trustees
ready for use.
Mrs. Hearst has been notified Of the pur-
chase of the new site, and when she comes
to the city and is consulted in regard to
the location of the structure active build
ing operations will be begun 1t will be
the first structure erected on the site. and
the first of the group of buildings which it
is hoped will one day adorn the spot.
The negotiations for the purchase of this
property have been in progress for nearly
two years. The owner, Mr. Barber, bought
the land March u, 1896. paying for it the
sum of S141 900, which was at the rate of
$4,000 per acre. He intended to erect there
a line residence for his own use, and had
asked Col Fleming to prepare plans. He
was not anxious to sell, and when he was
approached on the subject he finally fixed
his price at $500, coo This was more than
Bishop Satterlee felt ne ought to pay for
the property and efforts We're made to OBJ
tain better terms. The result was that the
hSures above mentioned was agreed upon
ana Mr. Barber, after holding the property
Tor little more than two years, sold it at
an advance of $1,000 per acre, which, allow
ing Tor interest and taxes, gives him a net
profit on the deal of about 800 600. This is
looked upon as one of the most profitabl
Investments made in real estate in this To-
caIlty for some time past
IT VIII be gratifying to the many friends
OF Mr and Mrs. A. l.. Barber to learn that
the sale of this land will not interfere with
thelr plans of erecting here a spacious resi-
deEce Tor their own use. MIR. Barber has just
purchased, through Col. Robert !. Flem-
lrg, from Mrs. Martha A. Hunt seven acres
OF land on the west side of the Teney-
town road. This site is on the brow of the
hill overlooking Washington and George
town and the river. and is south of Massa-
chcsetts avenue extended. The price paid
was $3'oOO, which is at the rate of about
so,ooo per acre. Mr. Barber has given
Col Fleming directions to prepare plans for
spacious house TO be erected on this site
IL Is 10 be built of stone brought from the
quafrles on the upper Potomac owned by
Mr.. barber. This stone was used in Bel
n ont, the house of Mr.. Barber at the head
OF l4th street, and in the Church of the
Covenant.