Evening star., 1899-01-28
Opinions in Regard to the Cost of
Building Materials.
MONEY SEEKING INVESTMENTS
Some Measures Indicating the
Continued Growth of the City.
POWER PLANTS

The building trades, as well as those who
have money invested in real estate, were
interested in the statement published dur
ing the week in The Star that the price of
brick had been advanced 81 per thousand.
1t is not thought this change in itself is of
much general consequence, but as an in
dication of the Improvement in business
conditions which warrants such a step on
the part of material men, it is looked upon
as significant of the return of the better
times about which so much has been said.
The addition to the cost of a house in
paying 81 more per thousand for brick
would mean in the case of the average
house an increase of about $50. 1t is pos
sible other material men may conclude that
the era of low prices is over with them
also, and that they may now venture to
restore the scale which existed prior to
the recent financial depression. There has
been, it is stated, no change in the rate of
wages fixed by the unions.
Eject of Property Values.
1t is thought that even if there should be
a general but moderate advance It would
not rnfavorably affect property values as,
it is argued if it costs more to build houses
the value of houses already built VIII ad-
vance.
In this vie~ the value of improved prop
erty will advance or at least stifen under
the Influence of the enhanced cost of build
ing. Whatever may be thought of the eff
feet of higher prices for materials. it is be-
lieved the coming season is to be marked
by healthy moveme-t in the real esta te
market. There are Indications pointing to
this. and perhaps the main one Is the ah;in-
dance Of money and the desire for profitable
invest mertS
It is possible to find customers for prop
erty which Yields a reasonable return on the
money and in cases of unmDroved prop
erty. which possibly has been purchased
when the market was more active than has
been the case for the past few years
there is a disposition on the part of
some owners 10 let the property go at a
figure which will return to them the prin-
eipal and a part. If not all, of the interest
charges.
For Street Extension.
During the past week two bills passed the
House of Representatives. one providing for
the extension of Massachusetts avenue
southeast to the District line. and another
fer the extension of New Hampshire ave-
nue.. The latter simply provides for a more
direct connection with the city streets Cor
that section Of the avenue which has been
opened up through the subdivision of Pet
worth, while the former is in line with the
spirit of the street extension law which
recognized the necessity of applying the
plan of the city to the sections of the Dis
trict beyond the old bounds of the city
On Massachusetts Avenue Extended.
Mr.. Charles w. King will begin the erec-
ton in short time of row of three
houses beyond Sheridan Circle, on Massa-
chusetts avenue extended. With one ex-
ception this will be the first improvement
made on that thoroughfare west of the
circle, and for that reason will mark
phase in the progress of the city in that
direction. The ground was subdivided into
building lots several years ago. but i'm
provementS have Deen slowly made, al
though at the time the locality was looked
upon being some distance away from
even the residence section of that part of
the city. During recent years. however
going on.
1t is now proposed to open street
through the Kali tract, also other streets
SO that the subdivision of the land from
Rock creek northward to Washington
Heights will be completed. 1t is the belief
built over Rock creek, and Massachusetts
avenue opened through to the Teneytown
road, and beyond that, the tide of i'm
provements will be turned more fully in
that direction.
Modern Street Railroad System.
The new electric power station of the
Capital Traction Railroad Company IN
Georgetown is attracting a good deal of at
tention among railroad men, as we'll as en-
gil eers Throughout the country, on account
of the completeness of the plant and ,ts
modern equipment. In recent issue of the
Engineering News of New York there is a