Evening star., 1901-02-09
Improvements in Contemplation and
Purchase Of Building Sites,
LARGE CAPITAL IN BRICK INDUSTRY
Considering Climatic Conditions in
Selecting a House Plan.
Nj ALTERS OF INTE r E S L


square and seven stories in height, and
will contain 175 rooms. Mr.. T. F. Schnei-
der, architect, is drawing the plans, and is
also one of those principally interested in
the undertaking. Light-colored brick and
stone and terra Gotta are to be used in the
construction of the front. The floors in the
Railways are to be tiled and the main cor
ridors will be finished in hard woods.
A lot has been bought by Philip H. Gros-
venor on the west side of 18th street near
Massachusetts avenue where he intends to
erect a residence for his own use. The lot
has a frontage of twenty-five feet and ex-
tends back to the ground about the resi-
dence of Mr.. Alexander Graham Bell, the
father-in-law of Mr.. GrOsvenor.
Plans are being prepared by Marsh &
Peter for a residence for Mr.. Herman Hol-
leri!h, to be located near the Tenleytown
road. 1t will be designed for use as a sum-
mer home and will have wide porches. The
same architects have also designed an ad-
dition to the country residence of DR.. s. s.
Adams, at West Springfield, N. H., which
will increase the comfort of a home which
is occupied during the summer.
Modern Banking Building.
The new building for the Riggs National
Bank on Pennsylvania avenue, opposite the
Treasury Department, is attracting a good
deal of attention among business men, es-
pecially as it is so near completion that
very good idea can be had of its exterior
appearance and of the interior arrangement
and decoration. The latter Is in keeping
with the dignity and richness of the
terror, and the entire structure. from every
point of view, is looked upon a credit
to the city and an impressive illustration
OF the growing importance and extent of
local business interes.s. This building may
be regarded as an example for all classes of
n6 fC hp1
W | lead the way for improvements Of
like nature by other banking institutions
of The city.
In some cases spacious and modern struc-
lures are now occupied but in others the
old buildings that were designed for condi-
tions that have entirely disappeared still do
service. The national bank next to the
Riggs in size is the Metropolitan National
which is located on 18th street between F
and G streets The building occupied by
this institution is one of the old landmarks
in that locality, and, according to current
gossip 1t is the intention to erect a more
modern as well more convenient building.
1t is stated by the officials of the bank,
however, that such a report is premature,
having been taken in this particular, but
that undoubtedly something of the sort will
be done. The exact date when the old
structure will be replaced by a new one
cannot be given. In fact the directors of
the bank have not as yet taken the matter
up for consideration.
The Local Brick Industry.
While this is the dull period in the year
for the makers of brick, still those interest
ed in this important industry of the city
looking forward to the coming season
with good deal Of confidence that busi-
ness will be brisk and that the expected
activity in building will result in a large
demand for this product. There are some
promising indications that they will not be
d sappointed in rhis particular, for 1t is be-
lleved there is to be quite good deal of
building, not only of dwellings. but of
structures for the convenience of the grow
ing business interests of the city. AS stated
the business OF making brick is one of the
most important of the numerous industries
which occupy the attention and the capital
of the people Of the District, and it is one
that has been expanding for the past fifteen
years to such an extent that now there
are comparatively few plants within the
old limits of the city.
Up to that time the supply of brick for
the local market, which includes practically
all used here, except, of course, some of
the colored varieties, was obtained solely
from the yards within the old urban limits
Owing to the growth Of the population and
the lessening of the area available for clay
the brick makers, one after the other, have
moved their yards, so that today nine out
of the fourteen concerns are located at
the southern end of the Long bridge.
The great bulk of the yearly consump-
ton here, which ranges from eighty to
one hundred Millions is now made outside
Of the old city limits.
Mr.. Theodore L. Holbrook. the president
of the New Washington Brick Machine
Company and of the Standard Company.
the latter representing most of the COM
paniies here. Is Of the opinion that the
amount of money invested in this industry
Is about $2.OOO.OOO. A large force of men
Is employed and 1t is estimated that the
cost of the productive expenditure by
o1vy;,. %H1 1o
runs up to more than half a million Of
dollars each year.
Theory and Practice in House Designs
1t is evident from the experience of those
who have come in contact with people who
are about to build houses for their own use
that certain theories. which, when adj
vanced. are apt to receive practically uni
versal assent are almost as generally treat
ed as mere distractions when the chance
comes to put them into actual practice
This is illustrated in providing for such a
common feature of house as its ventila-
ton There is no one who claims to be civ
ilized but will agree that there should be
abundant facilities for light and air in all
dwelling houses. and yet when the oppor-
tunity comes to give a practical demonstra-
ton most people abandon their theories
without a sigh rather than to go without
some freak Of fashion which they know is
in the houses Of their neighbors.
In the same way people will be uncom-
Portable in their person and suffer actual
pain rather than not to wear some article
! Of clothing which happens to be in the
style The degree to which fashion die
tates the kind Of house one should build.
and how 1t should be furnished, is quite as
far reaching and fully as, arbitrary and
| tyrannical as any edict of the sort relative
| to wearing apparel. However. at this time.
when building plans are apt to be consd-
cred, 1t might prove to be of help to some
| one who is trying to rid himself or herself
| of the tyranny of fashion or Of public opin-
| ion, or whatever it may be that makes one
! do things contrary to his judgment and
| good sense. to lay emphasis on the i'm
| portance of giving prime consideration TO
| climatic conditions in the planning of
houses.
| A house that is not comfortable In sum-
mer or at least as much SO as Is possible,
| Is not suitable living place for the average
| resident Of this city. There should be wide
| openings. and the sashes so hung that prac-
tical.v the entire spaces can be used and