Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-16
Site Therefor Purchased by the Dis
trict Commissioners.
LAND KNOWN as FHE RUPERT TRACT
Located West of Brightwood
Avenue, Near Petworth.
THE PRICE PER ACRE

The District Commissioners today pur-
chased from HenryJ. Rupert. about one-half
Of what is known as the Rupert tract,
located west of Brightwood avenue, about
opposite Petworth, as the site for the NUM-
cipal hospital. The tract purchased by the
Commissioners. comprises 31.7 acres. and
was bought through Messrs. Rosenberg
and Company, real estate agents, of 5O3 E
street, the price paid, being 5000 an acre,
the amount Of the purchase money being
$63, 400.
The current District appropriation bill,
provides the sum of 100000, or so much
thereof as my be necessary, for the pur-
chase of a site for the proposed municipal
hospital, and authorizes and directs the
Commissioners Of the District to make the
selection and purchase. In compliance with
this requirement Of the bill, the Commits
sioners early last July. invited sealed pro-
posals for the sale OF SUCH a site, the pro-
posals to be received until noon, July 81.
Some fifty proposals were received by them,
about every section of the District being
represented, and one or two sites being
within the city limits The prices ran from
about $50 an acre, to several thousands.
The Commissioners personally inspected a
number of the sites thus offered, among
which was the one purchased by them to-
day, but subsequently they rejected all bids
The Rupert tract was again offered, and
several weeks ago the Commissioners ap-
pointed a commission. consisting OF Capt.
D. D. Gailard, senior assistant to the En-
ward the health officer, and Mr.. w. P.
Richards, engineer in charge of extension
of streets, to examine the various sites Of
fered and report those deemed most de-
Sirable.
Report of Commissfon.
The commission submitted its report sew
eral days ago, and it is said to have elimt-
mated about twenty of the sites, and to
have mentioned the remaining ones in what
Is believed to be about the order Of their
desirability. The Rupert tract Is repre-
sented to have been one Of the sites which
seemed to the commission most desirable.
all things considered, and the Commission
ers recently again personally inspected 1t
and others, finally determining that it was
the most desirable from every point OF
view.
The Rupert tract originally comprised
about sixty-four acres, and the District.
therefore, secures nearly half of it. 1t was
owned by the late John RUPERT, reverting
al his death, several years ago, to his tive
sons, the title later vestira in Henry j.
Rupert, one Of these sons, lrom whom the
District will derive its title The tract pur-
chased, as described an the proposal by
Messrs Rosenberg g. CO., contains 3l.7
acres, more or less being bounded on the
Brightwood and Iowaavenues. on the south
by Richmond street and the northern
boundary of the Heitmueller tract, and on
the west by Arkansas avenue said streets
and avenues being in accordance with
plat made and surveyed by August Hurg-
dorf, Allen s. johnson and Louis II. En-
inert, trustees. The owner. in making the
offer, also agreed to donate or dedicate,
without cost to the District, the following
streets and avenues running through said
tract, they being designated on the survey
above referred to as Iowa avenue, Arkan-
sas avenue. 18th and Utica streets.
Location of Ground.
The site purchased Is about ten minutes
ride from Florida avenue by electric street
cars, Is particularly we'll elevated, but very
little of 1t being below grade, and is wooded
to a slight extent. 1t is understood that it
is the intention Of the Commissioners to ex
tend 18th street through it, which extension
will divide it about in half. the extension
of Iowa avenue making that thoroughfare
practically its entire eastern frontage.
Several weeks ago the Commissioners pur
chased a lot in Petworth, or in its tmme-
date vicinity, for which they paid, it Is
stated, % cents per square foot, while they
secured the site for the municipal hospi-
tai at about 20 cents per square foot less.
The purchase of the site Is said to repre-
sent one of the largest, II not the very
largest purchases of real estate ever made
by the District, and yet the Commissioners
will have expended but little more than
siX-tenths OF the amount provided by Con-
gress for its acquisition The balance of
the apprOpriat ton will, of course. remain in
the treasury, but 1t is understood the Com
missioners will ask Congress to authorize
them to use it in connection with the APP
preparation they will endeayor to secure at
the coming session for the erection Of the
necessary hospital buildings and the i'm
provements of the grounds and approaches.