Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-02
Auction Prices Paid for Property in
Business Sections
CITIZENS ADD TO BEAUTY OF The CITY
Method Of Facilitating Work Of
Putting Up Buildings.
V IOUS Nj Ate R S


street northwest, by which the purchaser
agrees to pay ST 500 The lot has 'front.'
age Of &c feet and depth of 100 feet. and
the improvements consist of a three-story
dwelling house. Owing to the condition OF
the building and the fact that In its pres
ent shape It is not fitted for use in a BUSH
ness locality, the value Is supposed to be in
the land and on this basis the price paid
per foot was about 5000. In the latter
part of March this property was offered for
sale at public auction. but was withdrawn,
the highest bid. s26. 600 $40 per foot. not
being acceptable to the trustees. 1t is
stated that the purchaser intends to hold
the property an investment. and that
such changes will be made in the building
as will adapt 1t for use for business pur-
poses.
The transaction is of interest. as throw
ing some light on the value of property in Il
block where there have been but few trans
ferS. The property adjoining the above on
the south was bought at public auction
about twelve years ago by Judge Cox. IL
has frontage of p feet and a depth OF
about II feet and contains LIT square
feet. The price paid was over s13 per
square foot. The next transaction in this
locality occurred some five or six years
later. when the property on the opposite
side of the street and adjoining the new
by The Evening Star Company for use as
a press room. This property has 'front.'
age of rs feet and depth of 100 feet and
the price paid was $500 which is at the
The Care of Lawns.
One of the reasons why the beauty of
the city is so conspicuous, especially in
what may be termed its natural features
is the care and attention which is given by
householde1s to the lawn spaces or park
ings in front of the residences. The trees
which line the streets, and which are, OF
course. in front of the houses, are planted
and cultivated at public expense. and 1t
may be added that their luxuriance and
vigorous life are a testimonial to the ex-
pertness of the knowledge that has directed
the work. The householder keeps the park
ing in order. If he were SO inclined this
space might be allowed to waste and to be-
come bare of all vegetation. AS 1t happens.
he is not so inclined, at least not IN any
numbers. and even the remnant Is grow
ing smaller each year. There are but few
cases, comparatively, from one end of the
city to the other, where public spaces in
front of nouses are entirely neglected. An
instance of grass being allowed to run riot
or perhaps entirely worn down. is so rare
as to be conspicuous, and even the house
holder who might be disposed to be care
less about such matters is sure to note the
contrast between his own forgotten lawn
space and the trim. well-kept turf next
door; and the chances are he will en-
deavor to Turkish up little.
SeriOua Drawback.
1t is probable that the most glazing en-
amples Of such neglect on the part Of
hcuseholders are to be found in sections
OF the city where people Of means have
built homes. In some cases the occupants
of a home have left the city for a few
months without making ARRANGEMENTS to
nar for nd
conscious of the blotch upon the appear
ance of that block caused by their neglect.
They do not see the rank grass growing
beside the smooth lawns, but the people
who remain in the city do, as do the numer-
Gus visitors who find the summer season
the most convenient time to visit the ma
tons capital. AS the latter drive or walk
along the tree-lined streets, and look at the
soft setting of smooth green lawns which
give the houses the appearance of being
II; a park the harmony as we'll as the
beauty OF the spectacle Is rudely broken
by the wild and disordered condition of
some neglected premises.
All residences which are closed up owing
to the absence from the city Of the owners
are not made conspicuous in this fashion.
The fact Is the great majority of people
leave directions to have this duty per-
formed in their absence in the same fashion
as II they were at home.
In this way they contribute their quota to
the joint efforts of the government and
WHICH TtSufl III Tie lTdCttcdt-
ly unanimous verdict that this is the most
charming city in the world.
Due to Private Enterprise.
At this season of TIE year people spend
a great deal of money in flowers and plants
and in labor which is calculated to improve
and beautify the grass plots both in front
and in the rear Of their houses. 1t is found
that vines of many beautiful kinds which
flourish here and there are trained to run
over the houses and on the porches and
along the front steps. In addition, growing
plants and flowers are cultivated in window
boxes and along the lodges of the stone
houses. strange as 1t may seem when
speaking of homes in a city. are often lit
orally through bowers of greenery and n
profusion Of Towering and foliage plants.
The effects produced are indeed surpris-
ing. and may cause the observer to stop
and wonder If, after all, he Is really In a
city.
To Facilitate Building.
A derrick built on the cantilever principle
is being used in the construction of the Of
flee building at the northwest corner of 7th
and streets northwest. The wooden
structure upon which the arm of the der
rick rests was built up in the inside of the
old building portion of the floors having
been removed for the purpose. When the
structure was completed the process of re-
moving the old building was begun at the
ton of the walls, as is usual, but instead Of
sliding the bricks down an incline or throw
ing them to the ground, the big basket car
ried on the arm Of the derrick was brought
to the place where the men were at work
and filled with the brick. 1t was then
swung around and lowered to the street.
where the contents were emptied into carts.
The wooden beams and other material
found In the building were lowered by the
same agency, the facility Of the work being
increased by an arrangement which per-
mits the basket to slide from one end to
the other of the long arm, SO that 1t can be
brought to any point within the founda-
ton, and then by being run out to the end
of the arm the basket and its contents can
be carried beyond the walls of the building
to wagons. When the building was down
the basket was lowered to the foundation
and as the earth was removed 1t was load
ed into the basket and placed in the wa
CONS The same agency Is being used in
bringing the material needed for the walls
to the workmen. SO that the derrick Is used
from the beginning to the end Of the pro-
cess Of building. and the contractor, Mr..
James L. Parsons. says its use results In q
great saving of time.
The Tally Property ut Auction.
During the past few weeks real estate
belonging 20 the heirs Of 1ne late Michael