The Washington times., 1902-04-27
Real Estate Men Look for
New Embassy Building.
LEGISLATORS WILL CONTROL
Power of Appropriation Rests in Hands
of Incoming Body - Diplomats Now
Occupy Rented Building - Site Al
ready Chosen.

Local real estate circles are at presen
somewhat interested in the election:
which take place in France today fol
members of the national Legislature. a!
the members chosen will assume charge o.
the appropriation for the erection of the
French embassy building n this city.
The sum to be devoted to the structure
rests entirely with the incoming body. II
neighborhood of 100000 or 100000, will
be appropriated. II will be recalled that
last year 100000 was expended for the
purchase of a fine site. comprising nearly
an entire block on the south side of S
Street, between Twenty second and Twen-
ty-third Streets.
In Rented Quarters.
At present the embassy is occupying
rented quarters. If the new French ma
tional legislature is liberal in its alIpro-
priations this condition will be remedied.
and offices supplied for :hc working force,
as well as home for the Ambassador
The structure will be designed by The
government architect of France. who has
already made one trip to Washington to
look over the site. lie VIII probably re-
turn here in the near future 10 look into
the matter still further. The ex, =r.or OF
the building is intended to be a pleasing
type o. French architecture. and stand
as a type CT the domestic building de-
signs OF that country.
French Style in Favor
As is well known to those who have
given attention TO the present tendencies
in architecture in this city. some of the
more notable buildings are now designed
in the French style. and in many instances
familiar types of Partisan houses have
been reproduced. The examples vary all
the way from what might be termed IN
example of the highly decorated style.
such as is found in the Townsend house,
to the simpler forms where the CLASSIC
features are not overlaid with ornamen-
tation. The Library Of Congress build
ing also affords an example of the highly
decorative in French architecture. while
the State, War and Navy Department is
a palmer type.
The new house Just completed by Mrs.
Slater on Eighteenth Street near Street
is an example of the French style. some
what restrained in tie tendency toward
elaborate decoration. but the principal
claim Of this house TO attention is the fact
that instead of occupying all the building
space. generous reseI vations were left on
both sides for light end air. The criu-
cism that is directed against the Letter
house. and also some others OF the morr
pretentious residences OF the city, is that
they are entirely tco l3.ge for the lots OF
which they are located. The policy OF get.
ting as much house as possible on the
smallest allotment of and has too many
illustrations.
Apartment House Building.
The building of apartment houses aas
by no means ended, and those who are
familiar with the situation are of the
opinion that it will continue for some time
II is. OF course, realized that the supply
NAV at any time exceed the demand, but
It does not appear that the limit has as
yet been reached. Several men who are
interested in property of this sort and
have built quite good deal are neverthe-
less beginning TO anticipate an sesrstoek-
ing the market, and one effect Will be
that their operations this season Will not
be as extensive in this particular as was
the case last year.
II is thought the first evidence Of oyer5
doing apartment house building will be
unaffected In the falling off in the rents
Of those structures which, in comparison,
are not l,oked upon as quite up to The
standard This will be brought about. II
is believed, by tenants leaving buildings
when they find they can better themselves,
and thus making necessary. perhaps re
duction n the rents. The doctrine of :he
survival of the fitteft- IL is thought, viii
prevail in this mat ler. and SO the struc-
lures that are built In the most substantial
fashion are likely to be those that will
succeed in the competition.
The announcement was made during the
week of the intention Of Secretay Hay TO
improve his holdings at the southeast cor
per of Connecticut Avenue and l. Street
by the erection OF large apartment house
Mr.. HAYS agents. Fitch. Fox e. Brown.
state that this will be one OF the most ex
tensive enterprises OF the kind In the
city, for the reason that the frontage on
Soth Connecticut Avenue and l. Street is
unusually ample. and the space not only
permits a building of large size. but will
AFFORD opportunity for an attractive archi-
tecturai effect. The plans are being drawn
by James G. Hill, architect
Progress Being Made.
Progress in the erection of the great ad-
dition to the establishment of Woodward
& Lothrop. Eleventh and + Streets, is
more noticeable. now that the iron wok
is rising above the first story. During the
past week the arrival of iron that had
been delayed made il possible TO 20 on
with th.t part OF the building operations
As there is a difference of six feet in the
level at Eleventh and + Streets and on
Street between Tenth and Eleventh
Streets, the main floor will be below the
street level on G Street There is to be an
unbroken stretch of floor from the +
Street front right through the square to
G, and. In order TO maintain uniform
level, there will be steps leading up TO
the egress doors on G Street.
The builder, Mr. EGmonston. has been
inable TO exhaust the water that came TO
he surface as soon as a certain level WAS
cached As rapidly as the water was
pumped up more flowed in, showing that
he theory recently advanced OF connec-
ion with one of the old streams that ran
through that section of the city was the
correct one. IL Is apparent that while the
Itream was arched over that probably the
,ottom was Of earth, and so where the
ormation of the ground is favorable the
water escapes on each side and ascends 10
Is level. Fortunately the level OF the
vater is below that of the concrete floor
ng. which is TO be on the basement OF the
Iew section, and so when that Is down the |
gcter will not give any trouble.
Some New Houses.
An attractive addition to the residences |
N Binney Street. between Fourteenth and
fifteenth Streets, is TO be made by the
ouses which are TO be erected on the 4