Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-29
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Plans for the Proposed NUM-
oipal Building.
EXHIBIT OF DRAWINGS
INVESTMENTS OF REALTY AT
TRACING MORE ATTENTION.
Safety of Money Invested in Property
Recognizable Purchase OF Land
for the Carnegie Institution.
EXHIBIT OF DRAWINGS

The early part of next month. according
TO the terms Of the architectural oompett-
lion for furnishing the design OF the pro-
posed municipal building, which is to be
erected on the south side Of Pennsylvania
avenue between 1914 and 1+hh streets, the
drawings are to be submitted and the jury
Of award is to begin its work. Twelve OF
the leading architects Of the country are
busily engaged IN preparing for this con-
test and the result Is looked forward to
with much interest, not only on the part
of the public which Is concerned In having
as handsome and suitable a structure
erected as possible, but by the members
OF the architectural profession.
In some respects the contest Is one OF the
most difficult that has been undertaken for
some time, owing to the diversified require
neuts of the numerous bureaus of the Dis
trict government which are to be housed
in the new building. To provide the &C
commodations asked for, and at the same
time design an exterior that will be accept
able for such important structure, Is a
task of great difficulty. Each of the twelve
competitors will submit ten drawings, COM
priSing three elevations. six ground plans
and one section
Exhibition Proposed.
It is expected the jury of award will COM
plete it's work in the course of a few days,
and 1t has been suggested by MIR. Glenn
Brown to the competitors that after the
jury Is through with their plans they should
allow them to be publicly exhibited. 1t Is
believed that this suggestion will be ac-
equitable to those who have gone into the
contest, and in that event the public will
have an opportunity of seeing how the
problem has been treated by the various
contestants.
The occasion will derive additional inter-
est from the fact that the American Insti-
tute OF Architects will be holding its an
uual session in this city. At these annual
gatherings the principal architects of the
country attend and the exhibition will at
tract great attention from the visitors
Investment Features.
Conditions in the investment world at
present naturally turn the attention of in
vestors to such substantial opportunities
for placing their money as is afforded by
real estate. There are few openings for
the placing OF money that are equal in the
realty market 1t has two features which
commend it to most minds, and the first
is that it is a species of property that re-
mains within the management OF the IN
diVidual He does not place his funds in
the hands of others when he buys real es-
tate. Then, again, amid all the fluctuations
ana changes real estate never disappears.
It remains, perhaps with diminished value,
but still there is something to show an in
yestment has been made.
There are very few men and women who
do not anchor good portion of their means
to real estate while perhaps they are TAX
ing ventures in stocks and in speculative
enterprises When the time of depression
comes they at least have the satisfaction of
knowing that their holdings have not en-
tireIy disappeared. In addition to such adj
vautages is the further one of the income
paying properties of realty and the chances
OF appreciation so that after a time the
investment shows comfortable advance
over the original amount invested.
a Future of Expansion.
This latter phase IS especially true of
property in the larger cities of-the coun-
try. and in no place is it more applicable
than in Washington. Here the increase of
tie population and the growth and develop
ment of the city is assured as the country
advances There is no question that this
city is going to continue to improve, and
that the next decade will witness as great
a change in conditions has been the
case during the period just closed.
The number of public buildings will be
added to as well as the volume of the an
nual expenditures of public money, for
the country grows the facilities of the gov
eminent here must keep pace with the
needs Of the citizens, and all that means an
nations capital. 1t needs no argument to
show that a country without outlying ter
riJory. as was practically the case with
the United States prior to the Spanish
American war, needs less in the way Of ex-
ecuJiye machinery than it does under pres
ent conditions.
The same principle applies to the increase
in the population o. the country, and
the history of the city proves, it's develop
meut has kept pace with that of the coun-
try, and with the increasing interest and
pride of the American people in their ma
tional capital. 1t is easy to understand the
forces that will be working to bring about
the continued material success Of Wash
tngton.
Sale of 18th Street Property.
An auction Of realty that proved to be Of
some interest was conducted last week by
Mr.. James W. Radcliffe, auct!oneer, who
offered at public sale the property 731 18th
street northwest. Owing to the dimensions
Of the lot. the Improvements not being of
any consequence, 1t was not thought there
would be much demand for 1t. The 'front.'
age of the property Is only fourteen feet.
while the depth Is seventy feet: the total
area is therefore $50 square feet. The bid
ding proved to be active and quite a strong
competition ensued, with the result that the
property was knocked down to James II.
Gibbs. whose bid was $500, or over 81 per
square foot. The purchaser owns the ad-
joining piece of property, which gives him
total frontage Of some twenty-nine feet.
The Carnegie Institution.
The action of the board of trustees OF the
Carnegie Institution at Its recent meeting
in this city postponed for a year at least
the determination Of the question to
whether a tract OF ground this city Is
to- be purchased for the use of the new
organization. The determination OF that
question must await the settlement OF the
scope of the institution and exactly what
Its line of work will be. II Is the belief of
some that there should be no attempt TO
erect series OF buildings where students
can pursue their studies. The opinion Is
held that the purposes of the founder can
be better carried out II merely an executive
office Is maintained in this city, from which
the administration of the large fund in
trusted TO the care OF the institution can be
carried on. In this way 1t is believed aid