Evening star., 1903-08-15
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
What is Going on in Way of
Building.
IMPROVING THE ROADS
BEGINNING OF THE WORK ON
18TH STREET.
The Verdure of Spring Continues to Be
Feature of City
Vegetation.
IMPROVING THE ROADS

The engine house and water tower at the
Fort Reno reservoir will form an architec-
tural group of much merit. The conspc-
uous position of the structure, occupying
as it will one of the highest points of land
within the vicinity of the city, justifies the
attention which the engineer officer of the
District has given to the exterior form
He has made use of the services of Wood
Donn &. Deming, architects, who pre-
pared the design. The group has the SIM
plicity as well as the dignity, of the Nor
man style of architecture. The tower Is
about sixty feet in height and is good
example of the sturdy strength of which
such structures are typical.
New Masonic Temple.
1t is expected that it will be poss BILE to
begin in the near future the work of build
ing the large structure that is to be the
home of the Masonic fraternity in this city
The detailed drawings are being completed
in the office of Wood, Dom Deming,
architects. This building will overlook the
plaza at 18th street, New York avenue and
II street. The broad western front of ma
sonry will only have a single opening in
each story so that the effect of the mass.
combined with good outlines will be to
make it an impressive structure.
Work on County Roads.
An important feature in the work of the
Improvement of the county roads during
the current year will be the paving and
macad IA MIXING of large section of 10th
street. The old civil divisions of the Dis
trict are still adhered to, perhaps for Of
fetal convenience, so that the term coun-
ty roads includes all roads that lie outside
OF the original bounds of the city. 1t will
no doubt be information to a large number
of people to whom Florida avenue has no
more significance than any other street
that il marks the original northern limits
OF the city and that in the days when
there more than one form of local
government within the District the terms
county and city had practical meaning
In thar period Florida avenue was known
as Boundary street. Now, however, since
there is but one form of government for
the entire District and but one police force
and fire department and school system
there Is no special significance in the words
county and city eX tept they are found
in official records, where they are still used
forms
1t thus happens in the distribution of the
annual appropriations for street improve
ments that the funds for county roads, as
they are officially termed, applied to
streets that are just beyond the old
nicipal limits. but which are now owing to
the growth of the population, thor
oughly part of the city that there is no
external difference.
County and City.
An example in point is 14th street which
is officially separated by the northern line
of Florida avenue but which continues for
mile to the north, lined on each side with
rows of houses and differing in no par
ucular from the southern section of that
thoroughfare. In the division of the work
that comes under the street department
which is in charge of Mr.. C. 3 Hunt the
county roads. which are assigned to the
superintendence of Mr.. Morris Hacker in
clude city streets we'll as county roads
The continuation of the paved section of
10th street marks the beginning of a series
of improvements which will eventually re-
suit in the extension of that magnificent
thoroughfare all the way to the District
line. so that there will be a boulevard one
hundred and sixty feet wide stretching
from the White House to the Maryland
boundary. AT present the asphalt portion
of this street continues north from Florida
avenue nearly to the top of the hill
Improvement of 10th Street.
1t is proposed during the current
year to expend some $4,000 In lay
ing an asphalt pavement from the
end of the present pavement at Morris
street north to Columbia road. A similar
is TO be spent In grazing. curbing and
macadamiZing 10th street from Columbia
road to Oak street, which is the last north
erly street in the subdivision of Mount
Pleasant and nearly up to Spring road.
ne ToduWdy on Wndt may De termed the
new section of this street is to be the same
width as is the portion within the city.
fifty feet. The material employed in ma
cadamiZing the roadbed will be the same
is used on all the roads in the District
and is considered by the District officials
to be superior material for such use. 1t
is what is known trap and comes from
the stone quarries owned and operated by
the District at Dickerson. Nd. The re-
suits obtained regarded more salts
factory than with any other material that
has been used in this District for such d
purpose.
Other Street Improvements.
Another important thoroughfare which
comes under the official designation of
country road is Rhode Island avenue The
particular section upon which money is to
be expended by the district authorities this