Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-12
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
improvements in Various Sec
lions of the District.
APARTMENT HOUSES
IDEAS ABOUT THoRoUGHFAREs
LEADING INTO THE COUNTRY.
District Financiers Are Throwing
Light on the Material Progress
That is Going On.
APARTMENT HOUSES

In the extreme northwest section Of the
city where the old boundaries until quite
recently marked the end of the city streets
and the beginning of the country roads as
unpaved streets might be termed, it Is be-
ginning to be noticed that the country is
farther out than formerly was the case.
Instead of field and unpaved streets on the
heights north of the original limits of the
city, there are now rows of houses, asphalt
pavements and car lines. AS a result the
country region has been pushed farther out,
or to speak more accurately, the conditions
of city life have been extended to the re-
gion farther to the north.
Those who walk and those who like to
ride horseback or in carriages-in fact, all
who care to go out into the country-are
learning that the interval Of paved streets
to go over from their homes before reach
ing the outskirts is considerably greater.
If they ride horseback and show proper re-
gard for the animals, they are Obliged TO
walk them over the asphalt pavement and
do not allow freer gait until the country
roads are reached.
Dirt Roadway Instead of Asphalt.
This condition has led to the suggestion
that 1t might be a good feature to re-
serve one of the thoroughfares leading out
from the city from the full extent of mod
ern improvements, and instead of putting
down asphalt pavements retain the dirt
roadway or, perhaps, macadamize 1t. For
example, Massachusetts avenue, where the
improvements have not advanced as Tar
out as is the case with some of the main
arteries of travel, has an asphalt pavement
only as far west as Sheridan Circle, about
two blocks west from Florida avenue.
The idea of those who have such scheme
in mind is not to continue the asphalt any
further, but to confine the Improvement of
that avenue to a macadamiZed roadway.
After the bridge across Rock creek at Con-
necticut avenue is completed that thorough
fare, 1t is suggested, might be treated In
the same fashion, but the city pavement is
now almost up to tie east slue OF the pro
posed bridge. The improvement of 18th
street has not only reached the top OF the
hill, but has gone beyond to Columbia road
Fourteenth street is now paved beyond
Whitney avenue and the 7th street road to
beyond the top of the rise leaolng out OF
the city, and so it goes.
A Question Of Dust and Dirt.
When list street northwest, which is one
Of the approaches to the Soldiers Home,
was improved, several years ago, it was
evidently then thought that the asphalt
pavement was the proper thing, and 30 on
that street it is continued right up to the
in its extension is still in the garb of ma
ture, and SO is Pennsylvania avenue east
of the Eastern branch bridge. and, for that
matter, for some distance west Of that
structure.
No doubt in considering this plan the
views of property holders would have some
weight, and there is no question that at
tention would be called on Their part to the
daily nuisance of the dust and dirt that
comes from an earth or macadamiZed road
way. However, il the parking commission
plans are carried out, driveway of this
character will be provided that VIII extend
from the heart of the city to Rock Creek
Park and the country in that locality. AS
it will be recalled. this proposed driveway
il to pass along the border of Rock creek.
The opening of what is known as the speed
way extending from the Long bridge to
18th and B streets. covers portion or THIS
proposed road. connecting the mall with
the parking system outs de of the old city
limits.
What the District Budget Shows.
The development of the material interests
of the District Is we'll illustrated in the re-
port just submitted to Congress by the
Commissioners giving the estimates for the
current expenses of the next fiscal year.
This Is shown not so much In the total sum
asked for, as that does not exceed former
estimates, at least in late years. but rather
in the division of the expenditures into two
broad classes that brings out the progress
that is being made by a modern munich
pality.
OF the nearly $4,000. 600 that the Com
miSsioners estimate will be needed In car
rying on the affairs of the District for the
fiscal year 1904-O0. about one-third. or four
and three-quarters of million dollars, In
round numbers, are for what are termed
extraordinary expenditures. In this class
the Commissioners place the continuance of
the work of completing the sewer system of
the District. the establishment of q filtra-
ton plant. beginning to be made in the
improvement of the Anacostia flats, the
erection of a District building and a munich
pal hospital building, and the building Of
two bridges, one over Rock creek at Con-
necticut avenue and the other over the
Eastern branch
Floating Debt Incurred.
AS the District Commissioners point out
in other cities this class Of expenditures
which they have placed under the heading
of extraordinary. are provided for by a
bond issue, and In this way the cost Is dis
tributed over a series Of years. Here how
ever, owing in part. no doubt, to the econo-
my in the expenditures of money available
for current needs, and the freedom from
methods in local administration which
would divert the public money from legiti-
mate purposes, such expenses have, up to
recent time, been met from the current
revenues For the past year or two money
from that source has been found to be in
adequate. and the only wonder Is that 1t
has been sufficient for such a length of time
as It has.
On account of the divergence between the
| needs OF the District municipality and its
income for two or three years past there
has come to be what is known as a floating
Indebtedness. which means simply that the
deficit in the revenues Of the District as
compared with current expenditures. has
been supplied by advances from the United
States treasury, upon which an interest
charge Is paid by the District. This meth
cd has all the effect Of bond issue. and
means merely that the United States gov
eminent Is issuing bonds and taking the en-
tire issue and allowing the District to use
| the proceeds collecting q fair interest.
Rapid Growth Of City.
In this connection 1t Is interesting to note
that during the thirty years that have
elapsed since the bulk of the bonded debt
| Of the District was incurred there has been
a steady decrease under the operations of
ha No 40 that nnru II flo< -