Evening star., 1898-03-12
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
The Local Street Railroad Situation
Attracting Attention.
FOR INCREASED FRANCHISE
New Houses Contemplated in the
Northwest Section.
BU ILDING OPERATIONS

Is I / LID n G OP e r. ATION
The attention of the public has been
directed more or less during the past week
to the local street railroad situation owing
principally to legislation now pending be-
fore Congress, and which has been discuss
| ed by committees and at the public ses-
sfons of the House and Senate. Speaking
| In general way, the greater part of the
| additional franchise privileges asked for
grow out or the necessity, which has been
more pressing each year, of providing
means of communication for the increasing
| number of people who have or want to
have their homes in the suburbs
In many instances, the building OF s,1brr-
ban roads has preceded the population. and
in others they have been built to supply
existing needs. AS rule, the prospects Of
suburban roads are largely in the future,
| although, as it happens, practically all such
enterprises here are able at least TO meet
their operative expenses with their re-
oeipts
Reasonable Allowance
1t is not believed however, that the aver
age road having a country route is making
any great amount of money, and this fact
seems TO be recognized by the authorities
Al any rate. there appears to be DISPOSE
ucn to make reasonable allowances For
example, the Senate in considering the bill
providing that roads using the overhead
trolley should be equipped with the double
trolley instead of grounding the current, as
Is done at present, thus liable to damage
Underground pipes and electrical wires
stipulated that the roads should be re-
CURED to supply this equipment within the
discretion of the Commissioners
In this way it would be possible for the
District Commissioners, IN their Judgment;
TO protect public and private property from
the inroads of electrolysis, and where the
dangers from the latter source are conn
parauVeiy slight they would be able to re-
lleVe railroad from the necessity of going
10 the expense of putting in the double
trolley.
In pursuance of what is regarded as the
same policy the District Commissioners
nave recently granted a further length of
time for the experiments with the Brown
sssteln, which is in use on the section of
the Capital railroad from the Navy Yard to
the Anacostia bridge. Those who are in
terested in this system believe that it can
be made a practical success and IL this be-
lief is vindicated IT will certainly be a great
benefit 10 the smaller roads, because they
| will be able to secure an underground cleo
trio system at a much smaller outlay than
would be needed to equip With the system
Fnow in use on the two principal street rail-
reads in this city.
Two New Houses.
Plans for the erection of two handsome
DIV Nellings on the south side of California
| avenue betw ween Connecticut avenue and
Phelps place, Washington Heights for Zach
NJ. Knott & Co. The houses will be colonial
IN character, broadly treated and delicately
bsearried out. The bays will have large
three-light windows on each floor the first
and third floor windows having stone heads
and the second floor ellipticai arches with
the tympanums filled in with festoons SO
characteristic of this style of architecture.
Tie fro ntS will BE- faced with buff Roman
brick, the first floor being rusticated. There
will be buff Ohio stone bands and trim
mlngs. The buildings will be surmounted
with rich ccrnice and balustrade over
the entrances the stone balconies will be
ST pported on stone columns and carved
brackets and will have wrought iron bal
cony railirgs of delicate design. The base
will be of stone, as also the screen walls
of the entrance steps and platforms The
depth of the buildings will be 81 feet and
each house will be 20 feet wide, and will be
entered through spacious hail leading to
the parlor, reception hall and dining room.
All these rooms will be en- suite, the OPEN
irgs between exceptionally wide, and oppo-
site each other Will give an uninterrupted
view from enc end of the suite to the 9TH
er and will afford facilities for entertain
ing.
In the reception hall will be a handsome
screen with three arches supported on
fitted columns: through the center arch
the spacious open staircase will be reached.
The dining rooms will be paneled and will
have a rich buffet recess and china closets
with metal lights. Behind this room will
be the back stairway. From the dining
room there will be an entrance to the pam
try, which will be fitted up with all the
modern appliances, and with a stairway
down to a pantry under. The parlor will
be finished in white, and the halls and din
ing room in oak, and will have open fire
places and cabinet mantels to match the
rooms. The billiard rooms in basement will
h,xvr al 1N-s,1
place, while the entrance lobby and bath
rooms will have tile floors and walls. In
each house there will be eleven rooms, bath
and furnace rooms, complete with modern
electrical appliances. The houses will cost
about $4,000 w. w. Souder is the con-
tractor.
Some New buildings.
Plans for a row of eight houses to be
erected by the Sanitary Improvement Conn.,
pany on Bates street between p and o,
1st and North Capitol streets northwest
have been completed by James C. Hill.
architect, and the contract has been
awarded to w. L. Turner Each house is
to be IL feet inches by 60 feet, and Will
be two stories in height, each story con-
tanning forr rooms and a bath.
The same architect has also completed
plans for the erection of an addition to the
residence of Henry S. Matthews, Both and
streets northwest The new part Will
contain dining ROOM
A stone, stucco and frame dwelling is to
be erected by the Cleveland Park Com
pany at 2941 Newark street The house
will be two stories in height, 60 by so feet,
and will have a high pitch shingle roof
A store building is to be erected BY NJ.
Gatti at 304 10th street northwest and eX-
tending to 1905 c street. 1t will be three
stories in height, with frontage of "a feet.
Press brick will be used in the construction
of the front.
A house is to be erected at 1909 E street
northwest by Elizabeth o. Callaghan- 1t
will be Is feet front and IL feet deep, and
two stories I'm height.
three-story addition will be erected by
Mary v. Goundie to the dwelling 800
street northwest
True Bills Returned.
The grand jury yesterday reported in
dictments as follows: Cornelia Downing.
alias Correlia Jackson. bigamy; Frederick