Evening star., 1901-12-07
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
What is Being Done in Various Sec
tions Of the District
PROGRESS In TIE CIFY'S GROWTH
Preparations to Meet the Demand
for More House Room.
OF INTEREST

MATTERS OF INTEREST
For a number of years past there has
been more or less talk among real estate
brokers in regard to forming an organiza-
ton on much the same plan as that on
which the stock brokers and the insurance
men come together. 1t Is thought by some
that the meeting held the other night is an
encouraging beginning, and the prospect
of having some kind of an organization of
those engaged in the realty business is at
least promising. The committee appointed
as the result of the interchange of views
by the brokers who attended the meeting
is to report a plan of organiza ton, and if
that receives the cooperation and support
of sufficient number of brokers it is be-
lieved the effort will prove to be successful.
One of the ideas in coming together is to
establish a central place where property
for sale or rent, property wanted and
money to loan, or loans wanted, can be
bulletined, SO that the needs as well as the
resources of each member can in this way
be readily made known to all the others
Auction Sales Room.
In connection with this it is proposed to
have a feature which is common in other
clt1eS, by eSldDllSnlnS an auction room,
where at a certain hour property directed
to be sold by the court or by trustees or
individuals can be offered. 1t is believed
that having such sales at suitable hour
in place readily accessible to business
men will increase the attendance. In addi-
tion the sale will not be dependent on the
Wea ther, and the property will not be
offered in the open and in front of the
premises it can be put up even if there is
storm outside: In this way the disappoint-
ments, as well as the expense, of postponed
sales can it is believed. be done away with
The present situation among the real es-
tate dealers is compared by some who favor
an organization to that which existed
among the dealers in local securities before
the organization of the Washington stock
exchange. 1t is argued that if such in
stitution is useful among the stock brokers,
to say nothing of similar union of the
insurance men, it certainly will be of bene-
fit to real estate brokers'.
An Expanding City.
The process of changing real estate part
nersh4ps into corporations has been going
on steadily in this city for some time, and
now quite number of companies are doing
business which was formerly conducted on
the partnership plan. The latest addition
to the real estate corporations is the Mil
lerShoomaker Real Estate Company, with
offices at 1923 and 1928 sd street. 1t is
based on the business formerly carried
by l. E. Shoemaker and that of ]. Barton
Miller, and these gentlemen have associated
others with them in forming the company.
i ne motive in such changes is undoubtedly
due to the increasing Importance of
business, and that comes, of course, from
the expansion of the city in all it's material
interests.
The change in the character of the retail
commercial business within the past ten
years or so makes a remarkable showing
when reduced to prosaic statistics, and the
showing is more notable when one consid-
ers what the stores used to be and what
they are today. AT the same time the
| growth of the business section of the city
has gone ahead steadily. that a good
deal more territory is occupied by busi-
ness places than used to be the case.
Growth of Resident Section.
| Resident sections have been pushed so far
out over the farm lands that formerly skirt
ed the borders of the city that it is a mat
ter of surprise even to many Washing
| tonians, to find how far out the closely
built up streets of the city extend into the
country. This movement has undoubtedly
been accelerated by the rehabilitat ton and
extension of street railroad lines and
while the cars are not. always run as fast
| or as often as some people think should
be done, still it is generally recognized that
Washington has the best street service
in the country, and that7it is now possible
to live in the suburbs without giving up
essentials in the way Of advantages to the
family. These and other features in the
recent years of the city's progress have
bearing on the business int terests of the
community, and it is not surprising to note
evidences of growth and expansion.
American University Buildings.
The excavation for the proposed new
building on the grounds of the American
University, to be known as the Ohio build
ing, has been begun Such progress has
been made that it would be possible now
to lay the corner stone, but owing to the
location of the site from the citv
and the condition of the roads as they are
apt to be at this time of the year, it was
concluded to defer the formal ceremonies
until the more genial weather of the spring.
This new structure, which is really me-
mortal to the late President Mckinley, will
be larger than the white marble building
first erected on these grounds.
There is to be a central portico Of the
classic order, and each side will be
wings. After the Ohio building will come
the Pennsylvania building, which will con-
tribute to what will really be a noble group
of academic edifices. The fine architecture
| of the individual structures, well as the
harmony of the groupings, will be in keep
ing with the fine natural surroundings.
From the high elevation there is an ex-
tended view, which is only limited by the
hazy line of the Blue Ridge.
Purchase OF n House.
Frank c. Roach has bought, through B.
H. Warner Company. from William ].
Palmer, the house known as No. 1856 Ken
SOn street, 1Or $l2,DU0.
Mount Pleasant Houses.
A row of five houses is to be built by
Charles w. King on Sheridan street, Mount
Pleasant, just east Of 10th street. These
houses are to be two stories in height
and each will contain seven rooms and a
bath. Mr.. King recently built number of
houses on the same street. farther east,
and has disposed of them through the Of
flee of Ii. X. Howenstein, real estate
broker.
For New Building Sites.
The grading of streets in the new SUBJ
division of North Columbia Heights is to
be pushed forward as rapidly as possible.
Mr.. Fulton r. Gordon, who has charge of
the property, has decided to make available
for building purposes the twenty-five acres
included within the tract which has been
given this name. 6 Its location, north of
Holmead Manor a7d between I4th street
! and Brightwood aEenueS makes it. in his
opinion, especially adesirable for immeda ate
improvements.
Y. M. C. A. Building Addition.
The directors of the Young Mems Chris