Evening star., 1902-01-04

Bright Prospects Of the Market for
the New Year.
A PROPOSED AVENUE IMPROVEMENT
Owners interest in
Steam Railroad Plans.
ALTERS OF INTERES II

The forecast of the future of the realty
| market in this city is hopeful one, even
on the part of those who are accustomed
to take a conservative view of things. The
change in the conditions that have pre-
vailed here for some years, or since the
financial depression, has been gradual, but
at the same time it has been sure, and
there have been no setbacks. The market
was better during the year past than was
the case during the preceding year. and it
is the belief of those whose judgments are
of value that the same verdict will be pro-
nounced at the close of this year.
Perhaps the most promising feature of
the situation is the evident growth of the
city. However it may be explained the
ia ct remains that the city is forging ahead
in population This fact accounts in part
Tor the volume of the building operations
during the past year, and with the addi-
tions to the living accommodations of the
city has come also a Stiffening in rentals.
The demand for houses and for apartments
has been a genuine one, and it has as
sumed such proportions as to surprise a
good many observers who had become fear
full that the supply was exceeding the de-
mand. 1t has been demonstrated that such
is not the case and for this reason arrange
ments are being made for the erection of
other new buildings, so that with the OPEN
ing of the coming season it is expected
there Will be good deal of building ac-
tiVity.
Improved Street Railroad Systems
Now that the system Of street railroads
is so complete as to practically cover the
entire District, and individual taste and
preference can be freely exercised in the
matter of a choice in the location of homes
practically the entire area of the District
is open to the home seeker as well as a
large section of Maryland and Virginia
nn,,fi ir,,N 20 fl,I s,;n
fer to live within the old limits of the city
can do 50. while for those who prefer the
suburbs there are now none of the dsad-
vantages which formerly existed due to the
lack of rapid and direct means of commu-
nication between the business center of the
District and the outlying territory
Property holders and others are natural
ly interested in what will be the final de-
cision relative to the location of the steam
railroad depot in this city. The announce
ment that the president of the Pennsyl-
v&nia Railroad Company was giving con-
sideration to change in the plans SO as
to provide for union depot at or near the
present site of the Baltimore and Ohio de-
pot has served to unsettle the minds of
the citizens as to the future of certain sec
tions OF the city that will be affected bv
the proposed change.
The Purchase of Property.
AS is well known, both the PENNSYLVANIA
and the Baltimore and Ohio companies
Aiss'S slIiuiiSu iesi &c duuIllCLdl uOlQlGSS III
the southern part of the city and in the
northeast section. If the new plan is car
ried out some proportion of the new ac-
QUESTIONS, 1t is believed will be of no use
to the companies, while it will be neces-
sary to secure additional land if a union !
depot in the northeast is decided upon.
1t is known that the PENNSYLVANIA COM
pany has ceased its purchases in the south
ern part of the city, but that was done
prior to the bringing out of the present |
plan Of union depot, and is attributed
to the circumstance that about all the prop
erty has been secured in that locality at |
the prices which the company regarded as |
reasonable. Further acquisitions, it is sup
posed, will have to be made through the |
legal device of condemnation.
Some Recent Activity.
On the other hand, it is stated that quite |
recently the Baltimore and Ohio Company |
renewed the series of purchases which was |
begun some time ago with the view of ac- |
quiring property north of C street from |
North Capitol street to LIST street east, the |
location Of the depot under the plan which |
was authorized by the last Congress AS it |
is supposed that the proposed union depot |
Is to be north of Massachusetts avenue |
the course Of the company in making these
purchases is not understood. |
Ihere is no evidence that purchases have |
been made by the railroad authorities or on |
their behalf in the section north of Massa- |
chusetts avenue, the proposed site Of the |
union depot If there was any certainty |
that the plan as outlined would be carried |
out, men who see a speculative value in |
the property would buy with the view of |
selling to the railroad people.
Increase in Building.
A comparative statement has been COM
piled from the records Of the building in
spector's Office which gives the amounts |
as shown by the permits expended each
month for new buildings and repairs In the
District during the calendar year just end
ed and the year preceding
1900 1901 |
January. y.................. $222.2 S149074 |
FEBRUARY. ............. 334,7GS 27t797 |
March $50, ,i9f 764007 |
April. .................. 1.2T6.497 715513 |
May 500, ,365 6S9S19 |
June. ...:................ i ,234.4SS 1888 434 |
July. y...................... 800, 200 914552 |
August,