Evening star., 1903-08-01
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Attention Paid to Home Sur
roundings.
GARDENS AND LAWNS
FAVORABLE MARKET CONDITIONS
FOR THE SUMMER SEASON.
Encouraging Prospects for Activity in
Fall Business and the Rea-
sons for It.

of Mr.. Alexander Graham Bell shall let
the water out, unless through the channel
prepared for such a purpose How to pro-
vide body Of water in place which was
not selected by nature for such pur-
pose is the problem which the architect
Mr.. Totten. is solving with the aid of the
builder, Mr.. Langley. In a certain sense
every bath tub Is an artificial body OF
water, but for such a use receptacles are
provided which are entirely water-tight
This result is easily accomplished where
provision Is to be made for small quantities
of water
In this case, however, the inventor OF the
telephone wants a sheet Of water attached
to his city residence. 1t is to occupy the
basement of two-story addition, which
is being built and which will occupy the
rear portion OF the lawn that extends be-
tween his home and that of his cousin
Mr.. Charles J. Bell A water-ught place
Is being secured by surrounding the
Of rough brick laid in cement, which will
be the outer shell % his large bath tub.
Against the brick calls will be placed
two or three layers oi water proof felting,
and upon this white enamel face brick,
which will form the interior Of the pool.
1t Is not believed that any portion Of the
contents of the basement will be able to
find its way through this triple wall
Mr.. Walsh's Brick Fence.
The rear Of the lawn which extends along
the east side of the large house which Mr..
Ihos. A. Walsh has about completed at the
southeast corner of Massachusetts avenue
and 21st street is to be screened on the
south side, where 1t is overlooked by houses
which front on street by a high brick
wall This pile of brick is to measure about
nine feet in height from the ground. and
I,oo {i,.fn hor ainQf he W
dows of the first stories of the abutting
houses, and will also conceal the lawn from
observation from that side.
A portion of the property fronting on
street is owned by Mr. Walsh, and is still
unimproved. but it is understood he has had
ans prepared for the erection Of a row of
buses, which will complete the building up
CT the frontage on that side of the block
as far east as the grounds in the rear of
the residence which Mr. Samuel Spencer,
the president of the Southern railroad. has
bought Like the adjoining property Of
Miss Grace DEMO Litchfleld. his lot ex-
tends all the way through from MasSachu-
setts avenue to street.
Beauty Of the Lawn.
The space utilized by Mr.. Walsh as a
lawn for his new home formed a part of
the lot which ran through the block, but
he has cut off the rear part and marked the
line of separation by the brick wall.
Inc material uSeC IN tne CONSTRUCTOR VI
the wall is light brick, and it's appear
ance from the lawn and from Massachu-
setts avenue will be ornamental rather than
otherwise. A rustic summer house has
been erected and stone seats placed about
on the grass and stone vases for flowers.
Beds of foliage plants and flowers. together
with the green of the velvety lawn, will
make this spot one of great beauty.
Its adornment will be quite elaborate
as that of the ample lawn space about the
nfN Nrg Cnnt To nn1 hJphi
high praise. for there is not in this locality
a garden or lawn that receives more intelli-
gent and artistic care than that of Mrs.
Townsend. AS a study in the possible ef-
fects that can be produced by the care of
grounds even about a city house that prop
erty is worthy of attention.
Adding to Architectural Effect
1t is likely as the private residences in the
city increase in point of elaborateness that
more and more attention will be paid to the
surroundings The fine house which is be-
ing built on Massachusetts avenue opposite
the home of Mrs. Townsend is to have its
rear yard transformed into a handsome
garden of the formal type, with the view
of enhancing the architectural features of
the house and at the same time affording
an attractive outlook.
Another good example of what can be ac-
complished in this way may be found in the
grounds about the Letter house, which
though limited in area contribute in ma
terial sense to the dignity of the structure,
and at the same time takes away the bare
appearance which close proximity to the
streets is apt to give to city houses.
Benefit Of the Rear Ground.
The pioneer in this sort Of external archi-
lecture, to speak, the garden effects
about private residences. is the home of
Mr.. Tuckerman. at the southwest corner Of
10th and streets The street front Of the
lot is to the north. while on the south is a
fine lawn and garden. extending to the
home of Secretary Hay. Instead, there
fore Of following the conventional plan
and regulating the interior arrangement by
the accident of the street line, the archi-
tects, Messrs. HornblOwer and Marshall,
treated the street front as the inferior ex-
domestic department and the servants
staircase. which extends up the I street
front to the top Of the house. Along this
front Is also the main staircase. which Is
lighted by windows all the way up. There
Is also the house entrance on this front.
All the principal rooms have the fine ex-
posure to the south and the outlook upon
the garden.
Mr.. Richards Home.
1ne home Of Mr.. Francis E. Richards, on
New Jersey avenue southeast, has been
bought by the railroad company in secur-
ing the necessary land for the entrance to
the proposed tunnel under Capitol Hill to
the union station. which is to be built to
the north of the Capitol building Mr.
Richards has bought house No. 315 New
Jersey avenue. on the square Immediately
to the north of the one where his former
home is located. and he intends to remodel
and improve 1t for as his residence.
The plans for the contemplated changes
have been made by Mr.. B. Stanley Sim
mons. architect, and when the work on
the house is completed there will be not
much left Of the original building save the
two side walls. 1t is a three-story house
with basement. and It is the purpose
to put In an entire new front and add a
three-story back building. All the interior
finish is to be new, and the arrangement
of the rooms will be changed
The front Is to be of brown mottled brick
with light stone trimmings. On the first
floor there will be a parlor. reception hall.
dining room and kitchen. On the two up-
per floors there will be six bed rooms and