Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-15
Entire Square to Be Improved by
Erection Of Houses.
THE DEMAND For RESIDENCES
Transactions Which Make the
Spring Season a Notable One.
LOCAL D8U RE S

was finally completed, through the B. H.
Warner Company, during the week one of
| the largest private real estate deals ever
consummated in the District of Columbia.
Although this transaction has been pend
ing for some time the papers were not
placed on record until Tuesday of this
week, when George w. F. Swartzell sur
viving trustee, representing a syndicate,
transferred to Eugene e. Gaddis an entire
square of ground Columbia Heights,
containing nearly 24O, square feet, for
the price of something over $s5,OOO The
square is bounded by Princeton, Harvard,
7th and 10th streets. Mr.. Gaddis at once
dedicated to the District "a street through
the square between 9TH and 10th streets,
which is now known on the official records
as Dearborn place." and then resubdi-
vided the entire square into 176 building
lots, each having a frontage of 17h feet.
In the new subdivision, as shown by the
official records, there are "A lots on the
south side Of Harvard street, a on the
north and "A on the south side of Dear
born place and A on the north side Of
Princeton street. The present owner ex-
poets within fourteen months to have each
of the 176 lots improved by a modern, up
to-date home for the home seeker of mod
ern circumstances and who desires to live
in first-class residential section, such as
Columbia Heights is known to be. The
confidence which financial men have in
the PROJECT Is SHOWN Dy tue TACT Ihat II Is
well known in business circles that Mr..
Gaddis has been promised a building loan
to improve the entire square of nearly
100000 at low rate of interest.
Features Of Modern Homes
The houses about to be constructed will
be two Stories red press brick bay windows
with stone trimmings, concrete cellar, fur
mace heat, six rooms, bath, reception hall,
china closets, coal and gas ranges, electric
gas lighting, three cabinet nantels, papered
in solid coiors throughout In addition to
this each house will be provided with
electric lights and telephones - luxuries
heretofore only enjoyed by the wealthy
and planned and arranged, looking to the
future, so that another story can be added
and thus make them nine-room modern
houses at a small expense. 1t is the In
tention of the owner to build the entire 176
in blocks of twenty-five at a time, and he
expects to break ground on Harvard street
for the first twenty two Monday morning
AS an evidence of the activity In the real
estate market and the demand for six-room
modern houses on Columbia Heights. 1t is
only necessary to say that Mr. Gaddis has
already sold four out of his first block of
twenty-five, although he has not yet
broken grOund-the purchasers in each case
making cash deposit based upon the
drawings. and agreeing TO wait until No
vember for completion. The contracts for
the building Of the houses have been
awarded to Messrs. Melton and Ryan.
The Rock Creek Drive.
A graceful structure Is to span Broad
branch near its Juneture with Rock creek,
replacing the old bridge that has done serv-
Ice for so many years. This new addition
to the attractions of Rock Creek Park has
been designed by Mr.. Glenn Brown, archi-
tect, by direction Of Captain Beach, District
Engineer Commissioner, who is In charge
OF the park. It is not only to take the
place of the old bridge, which was never
ornamental, but will also be an essential
part of what has come to be known as the
Rock Creek drive. This beautiful addition
10 the country roads about this city takes
the visitor through section of the Rock
creek region which has hitherto been mac
cessible. But few ever penetrated the
rocky Businesses which constitute rare
feature OF this broken but picturesque
country.
Now however, owing to the good manage
ment of Captain Beach and his intelligent
appreciation OF the beauties of the place, 1t
Is possible to drive or walk over a perfect
park road directly through the heart of the
Widest section Of the region mentioned
Starting at the southern end of the grounds
OF the zoo and, following the course of the
stream, one can now drive as far north
as the Military road. IT is the purpose to
continue this road north to the bounds of
the District By turning west on the Mill
.aty road, 1T Is possible for those who love
natural scenery to continue in much the
same attractive surroundings as in the
PARK, Tor what may be termed the Woods
ROAD Will soon be reached. This runs south
10 the Broad Branch road The former is
a comparatively new driveway and is
hrst-class modern road
Manufactured in the District.
The attention which has recently been
called to opportunities offered in and near
the District for the establishment Of manu-
featuring plants has apparently attracted
the notlce or a number of people who are
engaged IN that line of business, and also
OF those who are looking forward to branch
ing out along these lines In the latter case
tne projectors are endeavoring to determine
.ie most favorable Location for such an UNI
oertaklng. Those who have been identified
with the recent revival Of interest in this
SUBJECT lind themselves in communication
with people who have ideas or plans Some
have been genuinely surprised to find how
many enterprises Of this character are ap-
parently only awaiting some slight encour-
agement to start. In fact. 1T is apparent
that something Of the sort is being devei-
oped constantly, and the point is, what pro-
portion can be located so as to become trib-
utary to this city instead of going else
wnere! IN many cases those who are pro-
noting such schemes are in need Of money
to make the start. and 1T la largely due to
this fact that attention is called to them.
The Local Conditions.
There Is evidently favorable public SEN
timent here at this time, and, as Is we'll
known. the amount Of Idle capital is large,
SO that 1t would seem there are likely to be
some practical results to come from the agi-
tation Of this subject. 1t Is believed that in
the case of locations along the Potomac and
away from the city the conditions are
as favorable as can be offered in other
places. and If such is not the case. it would
be wise to ascertain what are the differ
ences. and to what they are due.
1t Is thought by occupying the compare
lively cheap land near this city and estab-
fishing there manufactures as we'll as the
homes Of the employees, thus securing the
benefit OF the low price of land and also the
cheaper rates for most articles Of food, es-
pecialiy those that are furnished from the
country IN the Immediate vicinity, that the
advantages of location near this city will
appes! to those who have money to invest
and that they will bring their plants here
rather than go to other places.
II upon investigations 1t is found. however,
that these or other conditions are not as
favorable as exist elsewhere, It would be
well. 1t Is thought, to know exactly what is
the cause, with the view Of providing a
remedy and removing any discrimination
that may exist against this city: There is
CnnfinnoS 80,