Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-14
Large Expenditures of Money.


session of Congress it is estimated that
about twenty-five million of dollars WIFI be
extended here in public works during the
next three or four years In this sum is
included the amount which is to be spent
in the erection of union railroad depot
and the elimination of grade crossings. II
il reasonable to expect that during the next
few wears business here will feel the I'M
pulse which is due to placing in circulation
such large sums of money 1t is also
natural to suppose the growth in the pepu-
lation which has been SUCH marked fea-
ture of the development OF the CITY ourins
the past few years, will continue, Sc tnat
the market for houses will be stimulated
1t is highly probable that private pu!idlng
will increase and that arrangements VIII pe
made to spend more money in such direc-
lions than would have been the case II the
large disbursements for public buildings
were not in prospect. In fact, 1t Is easy to
understand that in all directions the ma
terial interests Of the city will be very
sensibly affected by this accession to the
accommoda lions which are to be provided
for the government, and also for the I'M
provement of the steam railroad facilities
of the city.
When, in connection with the latter, it is
considered there Is already in operation a
complete system Of street railroads, which
not only provide for the needs of the city,
but Of the suburbs, then the possibilities OF
the growth Of the population are increased.
In addition to the urban and suburban rail-
road facilities. work is in progress in build
ing an electric line between this city and
Baltimore, and also to Annapolis.
Room for Expansion.
Already a line is in operation connecting the
city with Laurel, a point half way between
Washington and Baltimore. Plans are also
under consideration for an electric road to
the Great Falls and also to Fairfax Court
House, so that with what is already in
existence and the new lines to be built
Washingtons transportation facilities and
connection with outlying points in the tribu-
tary territory is approaching completion.
The area available for the growth Of the
city is by no means narrow one; there is
an abundance Of room for expansion.
In one sense the action of the last Con-
gress Is the result of the Spanish-American
war, for the increase in the army and
the navy. and in the civil establishment Is
due to the expansion Of the territory of the
country, and this is having its effect in this
CITY, The new bureaus in the newly organ
lied Department Of Commerce largely
spring from the same source.
Crowded Government Buildings.
It Is also true that much Of the additional
Office space which the new buildings will
furnish will only make good what has long
been in arrears, for 1t is well known that
for some time the government buildings
nave not only Deem OVcTCTOWueO Dul MANY
rented places have been occupied The main
increase in the clerical force Of the depart
ments has already taken place, so In that
particular the effect of the late war has
been felt here. While 1t Is not likely that
there will be such sudden increase in the
force of the government as took place
following the war, still the normal growth
Is a steady one from year to year.
The policy Of Congress has been hereto
fore, and no doubt will continue, to provide
new buildings at the nations capital only
when the necessity becomes so urgent that
1t is impossible to defer action. There is no
question but that after the new quarters are
available there will still be leased buildings
occupied by the government, and some Of
the public structures will continue to be
uncomfortably crowded.
Prices at Recent Sales.
Several recent sales of building sites are
of consequence, as affording some idea of
current values. Two lots have just been
purchased by Mr.. A. j. Parsons at the
northwest corner Of 18th and r streets.
The dimensions are hfty-two feet one inch
by one hundred feet. and the total area
3. $50 square feet. The price paid was $1S,-
%. For the corner lot, which was pur-
chased through A. d. Addison. real estase
broker, In connection with Westcott &
Story. 81 per square foot was paid while
for the adjoining lot. bought through Mr.
Addison. in connection with the Thos. J.
Fisher Company. real estate brokers', 50 per
foot was paid.
A lot on the west side Of Connecticut ave-