The Washington times., 1902-06-29
Number of Changes, But
Property Of Small
Value.
SUMMER VACATION PLANS
Record Breaking Season Coming to a
Close-Large Transactions Expected
in the Fall-office Buildings Going Up
Building Active.

Real estate men arc much interested
in the pending measures before Con-
g+ess. particularly the income-tax fea-
ture of the District bill When the prop
osition was first submitted it was de-
cided at a meeting of the Washington
Real Estate Exchange, which is com
posed of most of the local brokers. 10
make fight against the measure. This
was done not so much to defeat legisla-
tion as TO secure the best measure pos
sible for the business interests. They
succeeded fairly well, and practically all
the brokers are satisfied with the out
come. Other provisions of the District
bill also meet with the approval of this
class of business men.
Real estate transactions during the
past week were quite numerous, but
the properties involved were small and
medium values. There are few new
> deals being entered upon at this time.
and the brokers are kept busy closing
those which are already under way All
OF them are looking forward TO their
vacations, and some have already taken
short trips away from the city The rule
of closing the offices at l o'clock Satur-
! days, which is forgotten during the busy
season, is now being strictly adhered to,
and only a few of the large offices are
found open after that hour. The season
just being brought to a close has been
record-breaking one, and it is expec-
ted that in the fall there will be more
large transactions. Even yet there are
some few large ones involving tens of
thousands which will be closed soon.
Building Operations Active.
Building operations have assumed a
very active state in recent weeks and
everywhere the mechanics can be seen.
st work. There is much remodeHng GO
ing on, while there are probably more
new buildings in course of construction
than for number OF years past. The
high price of building material has tend
ed to interfere somewhat with one or
two large projects. but as a rule those
for which plans have been drawn are
being put up. 1t has been noticed that
there are not as many apartment houses
planned as last spring, but many new
residences and score or more of large
once buildings are now under way or
soon will be-
Much attention has been attracted to
the manner in which the improyements
provided for by Congress are being made
at the White House by the rapidity with
which the work is being performed In
sh5rt time there Will not only be a new
once building to the west of the present
structure, but the old mansion will be
SO changed that it will be hardly recog
nizable& $475,0O0 will be expended in
improvements alone and in addition
= ample money has been provided for the
new office building. Mr. Glenn Brown
OF this city, has charge OF the work,
although the plans were prepared by
Mchlm. Meade q White of New York.
Interior Removed.
During the past week hundreds of
workmen have been kept on the move
and the whole interior of the old struc
ture has been removed, while the work
OF construction on the new building
which Is to be erected west of the pres
ent one is well under way. 1t is ex-
pected TO have the work completed in
about four months, so that by the end of
October it will be available for occu
pancy. On the street between the White
House and the Navy Department a frame
structure has been put up where the
craftsmen are preparing the plans for
the changes.
While nearly half a million dollars Is
4 n ha al.I Sv.,
an old building the character of these
VIII well repay for the expenditure. II
is intended to cover the entire expendi-
ture for decoration and refurnishing as
well as remodeling. While the exterior
walls OF the house are not 10 be touched
and the Interior arrangement is not to
be changed except in instances where
deviations have been made from the
original plans, still 1t is proposed TO
fire proof the entire first floor and the
ceiling Of the East Room. Iron beams
are to take the place of the wooden
1oists and the spaces between will be
spanned by brick arches.
Floor of Stone.
The entire floor OF the entrance vesti-
bule as well as the floor of the hall or
corridor extending in front OF the tier
of rooms on the south of the building,
will be of stone. The principal change
in the interior Will be the taking away
of the staircase at the west end of the
corridor and throwing that space into
the state dining room, thus giving
much-needed addition TO that room.
There will be doors opening from the
corridor into the state dining ROOM just
as they are from the corridor into the
East Room.
The staircase that gave access to the
Presidents office VIII be the only one
between the two floors, while the stair
way into the basement will be trans
formed into a wide and generous flight
built OF stone. II will be by this latter
approach that the guests at all public
functions will reach the main floor. The
approach 10 the public entrance OF the
White House. which will be on the east, !
will be along the colonnade which will
mark the range OF what were termed
Offices IA the old days when structures
of the colonial type made provision Cor
the servants and the domestic depart /
ments in that fashion.
Above this range Of Offices VIII be a |
terrace which viii be tiled with stone |
and viii be approached through an open /
Ing from the East Room. a correspond /
ing terrace viii be on the west side Of /
the house. with access to II from the |
state dining room.
The New Offices.
The Office building which is being