Evening star., 1899-03-04

would be possible to frame a set of ree,l-
lations to provide for every contingency.
and so it has been thought best to retain in
the Commissioners the power to give relief
or TO provide for special cases, rather than
to depend upon the course of legislation in
Congress, which, it is thought, is not rapid
enough to meet the demands. of such a
nature.
Some of the Provisions.
Under the terms of the new law no build
ing shall exceed 90 feet in height on a
residence street nor 110 feet on a business
street, except on business streets or busi-
ness avenues 100 feet wide, where a height
not exceeding 1870 feet may be allowed 1t
is also provided that the height of buildings
on corner lots shall in all cases be regu-
lated by the limitations governing on the
broader street
To those who are opposed to the erection
Of what are known as sky scraners, and
are therefore in harmony with what is be-
lieved to be the spirit OF the law. it will
no doubt be recognized as a misfortune
tEat the law does not apply to the height
OF federal or municipal buildings in the
District; in fact, such structures are ex-
pressly excluded, wniehfgoes to indica te
that possibly Congress intends to repeat
the experiment begun in the structure
which for some unknown reason is termed
the city post office Building, of erecting
lofty tenement struct ures where space thus
secured can be farmed ont among the vari-
Gus bureaus Of the executive departments
1t certainly costs much less to build two
or three additionalsstorieso on a foundat ton
that has to be provided at any rate than
to secure independent sites and build sep
arate buildings as they may be needed for
the use of the government in this city. At
the same time, this commercial spirit of
plainly trying to get the most for the mon
ey, While 1t may be welcome to the share
holders in a corporation, is not an especial
ly gratifying exhibition on the part of a
great government at the capital city.
Admiral Selfridgc's House.
The residence which Admiral Selfridge has
erected on Columbia road near Kalorama
avenue, and which he has but recently oc-
cCpied. attracts good deal of attention
because of the rather unusual color of the
brick forming the outer walls. The shade
is rather light, but that effect is modified
by the use of brick with dark spots. The
combination gives a varied appearance
The house is 4 spacious structure, and the
general treatment of the exterior suggests
the colonial style of architecture.
An Apartment House.
VIM r. Ward win erect four story and
cellar brick and stone apartment house on
4th street between + and G streets north
west, opposite the pension office building.
The front will present pleasing combina-
ton of Indiana limestone and mottled brick,
topped off with a massive cornice of cop
per. The building will contain sixteen
apartments of five rooms and bath, each
surrounded by fireproof partitions .The
floors of the main hall and stair hall will
be tiled. and the stairway will be of iron
The building will be heated by steam. Mr.
b. Stanley Simmons is the architect.
Some New Buildings.
Five houses are to be erected at 645 to 653
f street northeast by L. B. Bunsey from
plans prepared by A. B. Mulett & Co,
architects. They are to be two stories in
height, 16x36 feet, with press brick fronts
and bay windows
Thomas L. Rishei will build four houses
from 13 to 10 7 street northwest They will
be two stories in height 1GX32 feet, with
fronts OF press brick and stone
on s street from No. 5G to Go, Ray z.
Middaugh will build three houses two stor-
les in height, with press brick fronts. From
60 to 6s S street. John w. Gregg will erect
three houses with press brick fronts.
r, Two houses are to be built by Mrs. G: F.
Hartigan at 1918 to 1220 18th street They
VIII be two stories in height, 15x32 feet,
and the fronts win be select red brick.