Evening star., 1899-04-15
improvements That Are Being Made
in Various Sections.
PUBLIC and PRIVATE BUILDINGS
A Pleasing Example Of the Gothic
in Church Architecture.
IN BRICK AND STON E

A house is to be built on Goth street be-
tween Q and r streets northwest for Mr. j.
J. Darlington. 1t will overlook the triangular
square which separates Goth street at this
point from Connecticut avenue. The house
is to be built of red brick and brown stone
from plans prepared by Mr.. James G. Hill,
architect. 1t will have a frontage of twen-
ty-iive feet, and will occupy the last vacant
lot on the west side of that square.
Printing OGice Addition.
Plans are being prepared by Mr. James
G. Hill, architect, for the addition to the
government printing office building 1t will
really be the main part when it is COM
pleted, and will occupy the whole of the
south portion of the square where the pres
ent structure is located. The construction
is in charge of Lieut.. Sewell of the U. s.
A, while Mr.. Hill will attend to the archi-
tectural part of the work. For this i'm
provement Congress at the lasr session ap-
propriated 81 100000.
A Gothic Church Edifice.
The new church edifice of the Protestant
Episcopal parish of ST. Thomas at the
corner of 18th and Madison streets north
west, is practically completed, and it is
no" possible to see the effect of one of
the most harmonious designs for a church
building in this city. 1t is not a large
building, but in the conception of the de-
sign, as well as in its execution, it is like
ly to take its place as most notable
structure. AS an example of the earlier
types OF Gothic architecture 1t has much
to commend it. The outlines of the build
ing are graceful and harmonious and the
color scheme is one of its most satisfying
features.
The gray of the granite walls blends with
n 40 S13ta liat1
roof and the spire, which finishes the tower
that arises over the transept. The exterior
walls are of rough-faced granite, and the
inside surface is faced with the same stone
having, however, a smooth finish With
the exception of the oak wainscoting and
the roof which is ceiled with the same ma
terial and shows trusses of hewn oak in
its natural state, and the flooring and
pews, no wood is used in the construction
of the building.
Harmony of Design.
Even the stained glass Swhich fills the
long, narrow windows Is set in metal
frames, that were placed in the walls when
the, stone was laid. The pillars carrying
the tower at the four corners of the tran
sept and those which support the clere story
are Of stone. The details of the exterior con-
struction show the same careful regard to
harmony in the execution Of the design.
The tops of the pinnacles are of solid
stone, as are also the finals.
The type of Gothic which Is represented
by this structure belongs to period when
this style was not as highly ornamented
as it subsequently became, and so the de-
tails are comparatively simple. There is
but little carving. The main doorway from
18th street is marked by a retreating arch
of handsome design. while the gable in
this end is flanked by small towers The
entrance from Madison street is through
a beautiful porch. Buttresses along the
side walls furnish the support for the
weight of the roof and are finished with
pinnacles, while the weight of the spire is
transferred to the piers of the tower by the
device of flying buttresses.
The long narrow windows are filed with
glass Of such character as to enhance the
interior effects of quiet and repose.
A Subdivision of Land.
The prospect of rapid street railroad
communication with the city in the near
future has led the owners of tract of
land known as Woodbridge, represented by
Mr.. E. b. Townsend, to have it subdivided
according to the plan of street extension
The property lies along Rhode Island ave-
nue. near the bounds of the District, and
is also on the Washington branch of the
baltimore and Ohio between Langdon and
Rives stations A subdivision of this tract
was made some years ago, but no houses
were erected, and as the streets We're not
IN accord with the modern plan, changes