The Washington times., 1902-09-21
Property Owners Also
Disturbed Over Fuel
Question.
RENTS FOR FLATS ADVANCE
Almost Impossible at Present to Secure
Desirable Houses-But Few Remain
vacant-Extension of Massachusetts
Avenue an Improvement Desired.

80 are much interested in the coal
strike, inasmuch as their interests are
being affected, as are also those Of the
housekeeper. Especially are the owners
Of apartment houses and office buildings
much perturbed over the situation, in
asmuch as they must furnish heat to
their tenants. In most cases. too, the
tenants have leases which extend for a
year or more, and thus the owner can
not raise the rent to cover additional ex-
penses.
The present condition is an extraordi
nary one. but 1t is generally believed
that there will be drop in the price
Of coal at no late day. The owners of
apartment houses insisted on the lease
Tor q year in the past. as many people
have rented property for few months,
and on leaving. the city in the summer
have stored their furniture and given
up their apartments. Thus the real es-
tate broker. representing the owner. to
protect his interests, has drawn the
lease for year at stipulated rental,
and now must bear the burden.
Fuel Bills to Be Met.
their apartments for the winter must
suffer, for rents have been advanced in a
number Of the large hostelries and
apartment houses, as a result OF the
strike in the coal regions. In the office
buildings. also, the agents must consider
A. >Ads<s-c,1 oxoapdytvra IN ha mot n,
the fuel bill is no unimportant item in
large buildings. Many OF the agents are
adopting the plan suggested by the Dis
trict Commissioners, which is to be used
in the public schools. Of burning layers
of soft coal and coke. With this there is
. danger that the anti-smoke laws will
be violated.
There is no doubt money could
be saved by living in flats, but with the
advance in the rental of apartments, the |
general public must look to some other |
expedient. At this time it is almost i'm |
possible to secure desirable houses, and
those which are in fair shape are not on
the rent bulletins week before they are
snapped up. As those who have delayed
have been left in the iurch, so it is with !
people who have waited until the lastl
minute to rent a house for the season.
One of the best-known brokers in the
city has been forced to pay two months
additional rent in order to secure a
house for occupancy during the winter.
For some months past he has been resid
ing in an apartment house with his fam
lily, and ii will be a month or more be-
fore his lease is up. On account of the
great demand for houses he was COM
pelled to advance money on home sew
eral weeks ago, which he will be unable
to take possession of for a month or
more. When a broker is subjected to
additional expense in this manner, it can
be appreciated that the general public
will get none the better of it.
Needed Improvement.
An Improvement of much interest to
the National Capital is the extension
Of Massachusetts Avenue, from Belair
Heights to North Georgetown, and the
of an enormous fill with
culvert over Rock Creek. An appropria
lion Of $3.50 900 was made by Congress
Tor the work between Belair Heights
and the Observatory Circle, which in ,
cluded $235, 900 for the bridge and filling,
y. 200 for the purchase of the ground,
md about $4,000 for grading. No al
|owance is made for the land donated for ,
Avenue beyond Rock
Creek, or for the considerable amount of
grading done at private expense. 1t will
require nearis two years to complete the
work.
Massachusetts, Avenue is now practi-
ally untraveled beyond Belmont Road
from that point westward hardly a doz-
n vehicles traverse it in the course of
week. Facing upon 1t are half dozen
blocks Of splendid building property, but
With Massachusetts, Avenue in its pres
mt condition. they form in the arm OF
Rock Creek an area so difficult of ac-
ess that they have been practically un-
lsed. When Massachusetts, Avenue is
attended it will connect this territory
With all that part of Georgetown now
cached by narrow driveway known as
Lovers Lane and the whole distric.
ontiguous to the Naval Observatory
rounds. This tract. on the other side
4 the stream. is as completely isolated
or business purposes as that on the a
asst side of the creek
The effect of this extension, then, will S,
hord transport facilities to two large
nd valuable property holdings. Both a
re exceptionally well situated That or ],
he east side OF the stream provides 2
3gical expansion for the most fashion d
bic section of the northwest. That on
he west side offers the home builder the b.
TnHn nm MT A 1Tnn