Evening star., 1900-05-19
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Some Of the Prevailing Conditions
Affecting the Market.
SECURING HOMES IN TIE SUBURBS
Tendency on the Part Of the
Probable Purchasers.
V A OUS Nj A L T Il r S

The south half of square bounded by
10th and 18th and B and G streets south
east, where We're formerly located the sta
bles for the horses used in drawing the
herdics. is to be improved by the erection
Of dwellings. The old buildings have been
removed and the fronts of the ground are
to be built up with modern houses.
The Old Chase House.
The old house at Edgewood, formerly the
country home of the late Chief Justice
Chase, on 4th street northeast just north
of lexington, has been torn down, and on
the site, which is the most commanding Of
the entire property, will be erected a build
ing for the use of st. Vincents Orphan
Asylum. The property now belongs to the
asylum and the proposed building is, OF
course. to occupy a good deal more space
than the old house, which was. however,
a -good-sized. old-fashioned residence.
Mr.. John S. Larcombe, under whose di-
rection the building is to be erected, found
in tearing down the old house that 1t was
built in unusually substantial fashion. The
brick walls We're two feet thick up to the
first story, and up to the roof line they
were eighteen inches thick. The new struc-
ture is to have a frontage of 235 feet, and
there will be three wings, each of which
will extend back 40 feet.
The central wing will have the dining
room on the first floor, an assembly room
on the second floor and the third floor will
be completely isolated from the rest of
the building and will be reached only by
a staircase, which Will be on the OUTSIDE OF
the structure. This part of the wing will
be used as contagious disease ward
There is to be basement under the entire
building and above the three stories Will
be an attic. 1t will be one of the largest
structures of the sort in this LOCALITY.
In North Chevy Chase.
r. W. Walker & Sons have sold lot in
fo (sI1yier Green
and the latter has begun there the erection
of A house for his own use. 1t will be two
stories in height and will have an attic and
wide porches. AS there is a water supply,
as we'll as sewer facilities. the house will
have the modern conveniences,
A house has also just been completed IN
the same locality by Mr.. W. L.: Lannins.
He began the work Of building this spring,
and now the house Is ready for occupancy
Hint of the Summer Season.
The usual herald of the summer season
ner,od of hot weather-has been enjoyed.
or. perhaps, more correctly speaking, en-
dured. bv the residents of the city the past
week. Some peonle are misled by such an
experience into believing that temperature
of a corresponding degree of altitude Will
continue right through until next fal How
ever those who are more familiar with the
wea ther as it is found in this locanty are
well aware that the meteorological condi-
ton of the past week was not normal, ana
that there are weeks of spring and early
summer weather to come. 1t may ne added
that there is no place in the eStmauon
of the citizens of the District, where a town
resident gets quite as much enjoyment OF
the summer season as he does right mere
This forerunner of the summer season has
inclined the thoughts of people to arrange
ments for the summer, and those who go
away, as well as those who stay at home,
are making plans Some people like to live
in the suburbs of the city during this
period of the year, while others prefer a
residence in town. The former class now
find a wider range of choice than ever be
fore owing mainly to the completion OF the
system of street railways. which furnishes
direct and rapid communication between
the center of the city. or the place where
NEST people earn their living. to all parts
of the suburbs and the adjacent sections OF
Maryland and Virginia.
Chances for Home Seekers.
A study Of the system Of street railways
as now found in this District would give
perhaps as graphic an idea Of the growing
greatness and prosperity Of the capital city
as is afforded by any other phase of Its
material development. Distance has been
obliterated as factor to the home seekers.
and miles now merely mean an additional
traction of time spent in transit.
The cheaper building sites which are al
ways found In the suburbs of city are
through this agency brought within the
reach of men of limited means, SO that in
a more general sense than ever before a
home is now a possibility to any man of
who is in earnest about becoming
his own landlord. 1t would be surprising If
this remarkable and unprecedented devel-
opment of the street railway system of the
city, which has taken place during the past
year, and is such notable feature in ma
terial growth of the community. is not fol-
lowed by a series of improvements in all
sections Of the suburbs. An increase in the
number of homes, as well in the number
of home owners, will be, in the opinion Of
many, the substantial results.
In another way the street railroads sup
ply public want which is manifested at
this season of the year, as they enable peo-
pie to crafty a desire to get out into the
country for a brief visit. They are the
poor mems carriages, and by their aid peo-
pie are able to see much of the beauty of
the suburbs Of the city in the dress Of
spring and of summer.
Bought for Homes.
While the real estate market has not
been in all respects what brokers and prop
erty holders had expected, still the demand
for incomepaying properties. as reported