The times., 1899-08-14

Certain activity in real estate south of
Pennsylvania Avenue and between Thir-
een-and-a-half and Fourteenth Streets
has, during the past week. aroused the
speculative gossip OF that locality. For
some time the agents OF corporation inter-
ests have been securing options on real es-
tate from and including d Street, Ohio
Avenue, Thirteen -and-a-half and Four
teenth Streets. Several pieces of this
property have been purchased by a we'll
known Street real estate broker, who is
said to be representative in that capacity
Of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and who is
now collecting the rents therefrom. The
transactions have been conducted, ii is
said. m the name of the Union Transfer
Company, which is owned and controlled
by the railroad, ostensibiy for the purpose
Of enlarging its stables in d Street.
Il is well known that the Union Transfe-
Company has secured all the ground in d
Street running from its own buildings to
the corner Of Thirteen -and-a-half Street
and also ground in the middle OF the Ohio
Avenue block.
Private individuals have also purchased
several. of the lots and are acting in con-
junction with the Union Transfer Company,
which, il is believed has secured an option
on the Thirteen -and-a-haif st. eet property.
Lines have also been out for the David
son estate, embracing a frontage OF Ito
feet-ia Ohio Avenue and running west
around the corner and taking in about
ffty-three feet frontage in Fourteenth
Street, joining the James Miller estate,
about seyenty-fiye feet front, and includ-
ing the Walter property 10 Fourteenth and
d Streets. The acquisition of this prop
erty, together with what il owns already,
viii give the company about two-thirds
of this important square. The ultimate
object is TO secure this entire square
through the Union Transfer Company, and
the opinion forces itself upon all interest
ed parties that the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company is not acquiring this immensely
valuable property for the mere horse
stable and Wagon-houses of its transfer
company.
Some Of the parties who have given op-
tions on property in Ohio Avenue. and
Others from whom options are solicited,
have fixed the price upon the land as high
as SO per square foot.
IL seems evident 10 the owners OF the
properly located south of the Traction Com
pany's old power house site and extending
10 the Governments possessions on the
south that a still hunt is being made 10
obtain ali the ground described LOT tle use
OF the different systems of the Pennsylva-
MIA Railroad Company entering the city.
Reticence appears 10 be the watchword OF
the railroad agents. BY prosecuting these
quiet deals with the holders the property.
il IS obvious. can be secured at a much
lower figure than il could be otherwise OBJ
tained. This property has already advanced
between 10 cents and rs cents on the square
foot since the beginning OF these negotia-
tions, during the last six months.
IL is said that when the railroad people
get control OF the property south of ID
Street, negotiations viii be reopened for
the power house site on Pennsylvania Ave
nue.. Agents Of the railroad company are
quoted as saying that if they desired the
property purchased for union station ii
could terminate il on Street But the
project, as exclusively stated in the Times,
is 10 secure also the power house site, and
thus have frontage on Pennsylvania Ave-
nue. for the new station. In connection with
this project Congress. il is said, will be
asked TO close up Thirteen n-and-a-hal
Street as q public thoroughfare, thus Civ
ing the railroads increased room and great
ly improving that locality. The present
plan, IT is said, is 10 enter the station by az
elevated road through Fourteenth Street.