Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-01
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
An Active Demand for Houses to
Rent Reported.
MILLIONS IN IMPR0VEM EN- rs
Opinions as to Materials Consti-
tuting Fireproof Construction.
SOME n EW Blu ILDIN G S
SOME NEW Blu ILDIN G S

Real estate dealers busy just
renting houses and the season for proper
ty of this sort promises to be a very good
one. 1t is thought that those who spent
the summer away from the city rather
late in returning to their homes, and that
for this reason the market for rented
houses will continue to be active for some
time yet. Usually the demand comes first
for unfinished houses followed later with
inquiries for furnished dwellings. How
ever, there seems to have been a good deal
done in both classes, and it appears that
the supply is likely to be pretty well drawn
upon before the demand is satisfied. If
these indications are realized it will show
the population of the city is increasing and
will confirm the prediction so generally
made early in the season that after the
war good times would come to Washing
ton, and that the approaching winter would
be one of prosperity to the city.
Builds TO Suit Women.
A builder of houses for sale, in talking
about ventures in this line, said that what
ever success he had in building houses that
suited the taste of the people who wanted
homes arose from the fact that in selecting
design, as well plan for the interior
he had always kept in view what would
likely suit a woman. You know he add
ed, that while men as a rule supply the
money for the purchase of their houses 1t
is their wives who buy. At least that is SO
IN nine cases out of ten. Few men think
of buying a house without consulting their
wives, and the chances are that if they
make a partial agreement to buy the trans
action is apt to be declared off unless the
woman is pleased with her husbands Sc
lection. Women have the charge Of the
house and spend most of their time there
and 1t seems but right they should have
the determining voice in its selection.
'On this account the houses which take
best on the market and sell readily are
those in which the convenience of the
housekeeper has been consulted Appar-
emily small details are likely to decide the
question between two houses in the minds
Of buyers. This is especially the case in
the class of houses where the kitchen
comes under the immediate supervision of
the women of the house,
Two Millions in improvements.
TWO million dollars are to be spent in
street railroad construction in this District
during the coming fall and winter AS an
indication of the increasing importance of
this particular business, and also of the
growth of the population and the develop
ment of the city along all material lines
1t may be stated that this large sum of
money IS to be spent by only two compa-
MES, the City and Suburban and the Co.
lumDia.
IL,
authorize the issue of about $500 900 of
bonds for the purpose of supplying funds
Tor building the eastern extension of the
road and changing the motive power of the
city line from cable to the underground
electric. The new section of the road will
De along the Benning road and through the
village OF that name, and will be continued
to the bounds of the District
Connections With the City,
There has already been constructed in
part a railroad which is to go through
Marlboro, and thence to the shores of the
Chesapeake bay, and it is the announced
intention of the projectors of this enter
prise to arrange schedule so as to carry
passengers from the Treasury Department
to salt water in forty-five minutes. In ad-
dition to the pleasure resort part of the
scheme, it is believed that the portion of
Maryland through which the projected
road is to pass, and which has not now a
direct railroad connection with this CITY
will be developed into a truck farming
region, for the purpose of supplying the
Washington market.
1t is believed also mat, in addition to the
advantage in the proposed improvement of
the city portion of the lines of the old Eek
ington road, the contemplated re-euuip-
ment will also make tributary to the city
a large section of the outlying country In
addition to the immediate benefit which the
expenditure Of such large sums of money
will be to this city, the outlook is promiS-
ing for continued expansion.
In this connection it may be noted that
the Montgomery county authorities have
made contract for macadamiZing the old
pike from the District line to Rockville A
bond issue amounting to $4,000 has been
made to defray the expense, and it is be-
Heved this Improvement will enable the
market gardeners and others to deal more
freely with this city
As to FfreprOOf Constructions.
The recent fire which destroyed some Of
Z Ia II,c hJIiII on Il ct hac LODI
to more less discussion to the resist
ing power Of the various materials used in
buildings Those who have given the mat
ter good deal of attention do not claim
that any building can be made absolutely
freproof, unless some means were devised
of tireprooting the contents. 1t seems. how
ever, to be generally conceded that as far
as the building itself is concerned, stone
and brick and iron offer perhaps the most
effectual resistance to the advance of flames
of any of the building materials now In use.
1t happens, however, that, compared
with wood construction of this sort is the
| most expensive, and for this reason wood
still continues to figure largely as ma
terial in the erection of buildings designed
to hold valuable stocks.
There have been various devices resorted
to in order to make wood less inflammable
and as a result there is what is known as
the "slow-burning' construction. AS to the
| relative merits of the two classes OF con-
struction, there is naturally quite a diver
sity of opinion. In this connection, with
out attempting to pass upon the merits Of
the question involved, it may be stated that
the insurance companies have rendered a
judgment in q practical fashion by making
iron and stone brick construction what
might be termed the standard, and increas-
ing the rate the use of wood in a build
ing is increased.
Colonial Dutch Style.
The house which is being erected by Dr.
| Elmer Sothoron, 1921 street northwest, is
| interesting both an example Of a some
what new type of architecture in this city
and also as illustrating how an apparently
roomy house can be built on a narrow lot
The style of architecture is what is known