Evening star., 1898-07-23
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
An Interesting Phase Of the Street
Railroad Situation.
CITY And SUBURBAN LINES
What is Thought Of the Future
of Realty Investments
OME IMPROV EMENT rs

ME IMPR ROV E ME N 7 S
From the standpoint of the general public
there seems to be no question of the i'm
portance of some sort of an arrangement
being made between city and suburban
railroads by which people can go from the
urban center to all points within the Dis
trict b, the payment of one fare, and, if
possible, with no change of cars. Such
system, with the exception that passengers
are transferred at intersecting points to the
suburban line, is now in operation on the
Chevy Chase line of the Capital Traction
road. the only suburban line owned and
operated by city company, except the
lexington.
In the petition recently filed in the Dis
trict Court by the Brightwood Railroad
Company, asking the assistance of the
court to fix trackage arrangements between
that company and the Metropolitan COM
pany, it is stated to be the purpose of the
Brightwood company to secure a through
service for its own patrons.
A Continuous Service.
AS is well known, the termini of these
two companies are practically at Florida
avenue and Tth street, and if the trackage
arrangements are carried out as authorized
by law the service will be precisely similar
to that which is now enjoyed by those who
use the Chevy Chase line, with the impor-
tant exception it is proposed that the
cars of either or both companies are to run
on the tracks of the other, so that there
will be a continuous service from the heart
of the city out 9th street and thence out
the Ith street road to Takoma.
1t is not known, of course what action
the court Will take on this petition, or
whether the legal processes will be suf-
hcienty rapid to give to the public this
improved service at an early date but there
seems to be no question in the minds of the
residents in that locality of the desirab abIity
of having the proposed cooperation be-
tween these two companies.
Intent of the LegisIation
Whatever may be the outcome of the
present action, ii seems to be the opinion
of those familiar with the street railroad
situation in the District that y the near
future there must be some rather radical
changes in the relations existing between
urban and suburban roads. 1t is thought
that Congress by the passage of the law
which the Brightwood railroad now seeks
to have executed, and by still later legis-
lation, which allows all ntersecting or con-
meeting roads to run II alters over the tracks
of the respective lines, recognizes the fact
which has for some time been apparent
that suourbsn roads with no connections
with the center of the city are not apt to
prove financial success
There has been no instance of the kind
at least i'll this vicinity, and the suburban
roads, pure and simple, are barely able to
meet the operating expenses If they sue
ceed in doing that 1t is because this case
of the Brfghtwood road has an important
bearing on the entire street railroad prob
lem in this District that gives it it's main
Importance.
The Use of Trailers.
If the contention of the Brghtwood COM
pany is sustained by the court there are
other roads which, If not connecting, are
az least intersecting, and existing law gives
such roads authority to run the trailers
but not motor cars, over the roads inter-
sected by them. In the event the latter
law is executed then 1t will be possible for
the residents in the Tenleytown region for
example, to reach the center Of the city
by the payment of one fare and possibly
without changing cars
In case the Anacostia road changes its
motive power to the prevailing SYSTEM
then, according to existing laws, residents
beyond the Eastern branch can reach the
center of the city by the outlay of one car
ticket.
ming and on through to the District line
is made by the authority granted at the
last session of Congress to the Columbia
Railway Company to build extension
from the present eastern terminus of the
road along the Bennng road to the bounds
Of the District. By the law which was also
enacted at the last session of Congress CIV
ing permission to the lexington and it's
allied roads to consolidate, the patrons of
that line will enjoy a continuous service
from the Treasury Department eastward
through lexington, and thence out along
Rhode Island avenue extended to the Dis
trict bounds.
1t is thought there is now on the statute
books ample authority to bring about those
practical relations between city and subur-
ban lines which will result in affordng to
the public the facilities of communication
which the extent of the population of the
District now demands.
As to Tall Buildings.
The recent decision of the court sus-
tanning the building regulation of the Dis
trlct limiting, among other requirements,
the height of buildings on residence streets
to ninety feet seems to be in line with the
policy pursued in many of the leading
cities of the country in regard to such
structures. Even in Chicago, where the
tail building, so to speak. had its birth
and where perhaps the most towering ex-
amples of this sort of construction are to
be seen, building regulation is in force
which prevents any addition to the num-
Der Of such buildings and limits the am
bition oi owners OF real estate who wish to
improve their property to a sky line of
reasonable height.
While 1t is admitted that buildings of
this class possess certain advantages, both
to the owner and to the tenants, yet It is
also claimed that, as rule, they are not
desirable ne1ghbors. Those who occupy
the adjacent property find a lack of light
and air. the usual result Of proximity to
one Of these buildings.
Then, again, the charge is brought
against such structures that. as usually
built, they are not ornamental.
Not Very Attractive.
Many of them are planned as If only
one of the four towering walls are to be
visible to the public eye, and the three
sides ere treated like the rear walls OF an
ordinary structure. OF course If everybody
looked at such a building from the side
the architest intended, then their eyes
would rest on the finished front. But as
the public is obliged to see the raw sides
OF unfinished brick walls II they look out
OF their windows at all. the ornamented
front is of little practical value
In addition, such display of common
brick adds nothing to the beauty Of the
city, and, in fact, by a great many people
it is thought to be decided blot on the