Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-21

sentative:
ION account of the extraordinary labor
troubles of this summer we have reduced
our working force to a minimum. We will
finish up our present contracts, but may
not undertake any new ones until business
is more stable in the building trades. Other
contracting firms are reducing their work.
ing forces. Capitalists are not willing TO
invest, owing to the depressed state of the
building trade through the labor troubles.
Until the labor conditions are more stable
there is little encouragement for intending
builders
This City as Residence.
One phase of the placing on the market
the property known as Connecticut Avenue
Heights is the issue by Mr.. Fulton R. Cor
don, the agent of the property, of an I'M
usually elaborate booklet giving account
of the advantages of that location. While
the letter press is an excellent piece of
work, it is likely that more general interest
will be aroused by the pictures. By means
of half-tone plates printed on good paper
fine views are given of residences and
scenes in the city and out of it. In other
words an effort has been made to show up
some of the beauties and advantages of
Washington, and the inference, which is
borne out thus far, Is that in its continued
growth the same excellence will character
ize the newly built up portions.
Two-Story Flats.
1t is expected by Mr.. L. E. Breuninger to
make Improvement on his property at
the southeast corner of 18th and D streets
northeast by the erection of a row of two
story flats. This style Of structure has
proved to be popular and quite a number
have been put up in different sections. Each
floor is a complete house with separate
yards and cellars.
Changes in the City.
There is a general impression that this
city is increasing in popula tion-that is, 1t
Is general as far as the people are con-
cerned who do not come in touch with
many of the activities which indicate the
city's progress in that respect. AS 1t hap
pens the entire body of citizens is not
hunting houses to rent or to buy and many
are not In a way to know how the
business Of the city Is increasing In most
cases they are so occupied with their own
affairs day by day. that they have neither
the time nor the inclination to observe what
is going on all around them
1t is astonishing how constant such OH
servation must be in order to keep posted
In regard to the progress made. There are
many persons who have not as yet visited
the new driveway which has lust been
opened from 18th and B streets to the Long
bridge, following the line of the river bank
The chances are that they have not been in
That locality for some years. and 1t is safe
to say that under such circumstances even
the Oldest inhabitant would hardly know
where he was.
The Growth Eastward. rssf
Passing across the city to the eastern
end the explorer of the new places to he
found in ones own home city would look
with genuine surprise upon the rows Of
houses that now not only come up to Lin
coin Park East Canit0l b,,f
actually extend several squares beyond that
point. 1t is no longer possible to gain an
unobstructed view of the hills beyond the
Eastern branch over the stretch Of COM
mons, Tor there are too many houses, and
streets which have been for so many years
on paper are being opened. AS the visitor
turns to the north, well as to the south
he Will not look upon vacant squares.
Following the line of Florida avenue as It
bends to the northwest, another series of
remarkable improvements is seen in what
is known as the Bloomingdale region, along
list street northwest. Here rows and rows
OF houses stretch along streets which, as it
seems. brief time ago were not in ex-
istence. The marvel of this rapid develop
ment appeals to even those who are most
familiar with it's progress, as it has sur
passed even the most sanguine expecta-
tons. A new city has sprung up there
with its churches and stores and homes
AS one approaches this section from the
west Rhode Island avenue instead of stop-
ping at LIE Droit Park, now opens up be-
yond and stretches it's broad length to the
Bladensburg road.
A Long Line of Improvements.
The building of houses in the section to
the west popularity known as Columbia
Heights has not yet ceased any more than
is the case in other sections of the city,
but 1T is a constant source of amazement
to look upon the rows OF houses which
now extend from the 7th street road west
to Rock creek and almost as much farther
north as Florida avenue used to be from
the northern limits of the original Columbia
Heights subdivision One of the great
changes wrought in the familiar appear
ance of the country has been the opening
of 10th street and the extension of the
car line through to Park avenue.
The extension of 10th street means more
than supplying another thOroughfare, for
in opening that street in a straight line it
was necessary to make many changes as
houses were occupying the space. These
have been removed. and the ground has
been graded, so that the transformation
is a more thorough one than might be ex-
pected. This is especially true at the juno
ture of 10Th street and Columbia road for
a number of old buildings have been taken
down and the appearance of the locality
much changed
is gradually creeping to the edge of the
ravine that confines the stream at this
point, and the crossing of this line of sep
aration in building operations has already
been made. The completion of the new
bridge over the creek at Connecticut ave-
nue. will, no doubt, be followed by more
building on the west side of the stream.
The water has already been bridged at
the crossing of Massa chusetts avenue, and
this will doubtless have the influence of
making available building sites on the west
side. 1t has certainly served to call at
tention to the inadequacy of the means of
reaching Georgetown from the city, and
has revived the agitation for a new bridge
across Rock creek somewhere in the Vi
cinity of Q street.
Soldiers Home improvements.
Plans have been made by w. M. Poindex-
ter architect, for an addition to the hospi-
tai building at the Soldiers Home. The new
part will occupy a site to the north Of the
present structure. and will be connected
with 1t by wing. In point of size the new
part will be quite as large as the existing
hospital. and when it is completed the ia
cilities of the institution will be much in
creased. The material used in the construc-
ton and the design will be similar to those
of the present building.
Mr.. Poindexter is also completing designs
for a handsome structure which is to be