Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-19
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Addition to the Number of
Public Buildings.
LEGATIONS NEW HOME
SOME INTERESTING TRANSAC-
TONS OF PAST WEEK.
Proposed New Structures and the En-
1argement and Improvement
of Old Ones.
LEGATIONS NEW HOME

| VI olo SuSS.
A contract was made during the week
with Messrs Richardson & Burgess for the
erection of the home of the Chinese iega-
| ton in this city. The structure, which was
| designed by Waddy B. Wood, architect, is
to occupy practically the whole of the
| building space which has been purchased
| by the Chinese government at the north
| east corner of 10Th street and Vernon ave-
| nue. on the high ground just beyond Florida
| avenue. The design, which is in the Eng
| fish style with a tall roof and high gables.
| will be worked out with red brick and lime
| stone. The roof will be covered with green
| slate. The center feature of the front,
which will extend over eighty feet, willSbe
| the main entrance, which will be in the CEN
| ter and will be approached by a driveway.
Along 10Th street the house will front about
! one hundred and ten feet.
The main hallway will open into a CEN
trail hall of good proportions, which will be
| lighted from a dome ceiling in the roof of
| the house. This feature Of a central hall
| extending through three stories will be eff
| fectve as affording a spacious entrance to
the apartments on the several floors well
| as furnishing an abundance of light in the
interior.
Large Ball Room.
On each side of the entrance hall will be
| a parlor and music room, while opening out
| from the central hall the side will
| be the ball room and on the other the din
| ing room. A conservatory will be attached
| to the bah room, which viii overlook 10Th
| street while from the dining room. which
will be on the opposite side of the hall, will
be a balcony. The rear portion of the
building will be in a measure separate from
the main part and will be arranged for the
| use of the offices of the legation and for
the attaches.
With the exception of the smoking room,
all the space in the basement will be de-
voted to domestic uses. There is to be
library in the second floor. where the prin-
cipal bed chambers will be located.
Miss oberly's Residence.
An attractive residence has been planned
for Miss Oberly by Henry Simpson, archi-
tect the new house Is to be located on
goth street near Baltimore street, and will
occupy a twenty-five foot lot. Red brick,
! with white joints and stone trimmings will
be the material used in the front and in its
other details the design will be colonial.
The arrangement of the first floor will be
a parlor, reception hall and dining room.
the kitchen being In the basement. There
will be four bed rooms on the second floor,
and on the third will be attic room and
a servants room
Erection Of Public Buildings.
1t is probable that never before have
there been many propositions for new
public buildings to be located in this city as
is the case at present The beginnings in
several of these enterprises are provided for
in the sundry civil bill, which was reported
during the week to the Senate. The cree
ton Of fine structures is, Of course, a benefit
to the city. Perhaps more important con-
sideration than this activity-or proposed
activity-in government building is the
growth Of the government service. The de-
mand for additional room is one that has
become pressing in practically all depart
ments of the service, and the action of Con-
gress in providing for new structures is
simply to meet a real need and to attempt
to provide for the normal growth of the
administrative part of the government.
The increase in the population of the
country, as well as the taking on Of new
responsibilities growing out of the Spanish
war and the consequent need Of additional
administrative facilities, Is recognized In
fact, 1t may be said that at all times the
accommodations for the government service
are always behind rather than in advance
Of the actual needs, so that the provision
that is to be made in the near future is for
arrearages Of the past, well as for the
present and prospective necessities
Some Proposed Structures
There Is to be new building for the
Agricultural Department to cost two or
three d new 1OT the
State Department and Department of JUS
tice. respectively; an office building for the
President of the United States, and a fine
new building for the National Museum.
Then there are to be buildings erected at
the Washington barracks for the new War
College, and in addition a beginning is to
be made in the building of the memorial
| bridge to Arlington and also in the erection
Of the proposed Lincoln memorial In the
| light of these and other provisions for the
use of the national government at the capt.
tai city the plans prepared by the parking
commission for the Improvement of the
| city of Washington do not seem to be as
much for the future as for the present. 1t
| Is difficult for those of this generation to
realize the rate of progress which this city
! is making.
Army and Navy Club Building.
The changes in the building occupied as
| the home of the Metropolitan Club, st the
| southwest corner Of 18th and H streets,
| which, as mentioned in The Star, are con-
| templated in order to provide the addition
| al room which the growing membership
| makes necessary, mark a condition which
| is not confined to that organization. Plans
are under consideration at the Army and
Navy Club, at the southeast corner Of Con-
necficnf I he