Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-28
REAL ESKE GOSSIP
Large Demand for Building
Materials.
CURRENT LAND PRICES
SOME OF THE STRUCTURES NOW
GOING UP.
Favorable Conditions Which Indicate
Prosperous Times Ahead-A Con-
servative Tendency Noted.

John simpson d Sons IN CieVeianu TdIh
for the company. Seven of them are
located on Newark street. They are
of the cottage type, and are on
lots which have sufficient width to allow
lawn spaces on all sides, so that the struc-
lures stand detached. They are two stories
in height, with attics and Easements, and
and roomy porches.
+ The same builders are erecting for H. ..
Hine on Highland avenue Cleveland Park,
a cottage, which will have frontage OF
twenty-seven feet and depth Of forty feet.
At the west end of Newark street the
same builders are putting up for Mrs. L. B.,
Chan dier and her. brother q twin house,
which will be forty by forty feet.
This firm has started a house which IS to
be the home of Clifford Howard, at Chevy
Chase, and has also begun the erection OF
a house for Mrs. EARL in the subdivision or
Otterburn, opposite the Chevy Chase Inn
An addition is also being built TO the resi-
dence of Mr.. Brooke in the same Subdi-
vision, and on it's completion the size of the
house will be more than doubled.
Col. Denny's Purchase.
Col. Frank L. Denny has bought from the
Gherardi heirs a lot 40x95 feet on the north
side lef o street between Doth and Hopkins
streets. The price paid was $3.50 per
square foot. It Is said to be the intention
Eof the purchaser to erect house on this
site for his own use. S@a - m 80.
Big Demand for Brick.
If the promise of the opening of the sea-
son is maintained the coming months are
to witness what will perhaps be the most
active year in building this city has had
in good many years. 1t is by no means
that he record 0f the in
point of number of new buildings is going
ahead Of that of previous years, and it is
quite possible that when li.e winter comes
it will be found that this year will not be
the banner year in this particular. More
than likely however, the totals in other
columns will show larger figures, as, for
example, where the amount Of building ma
terial used is set down and also where the
cost is recorded.
Mr.. T. L. Holbreoke. who is regarded as
being more familiar with the brick market
than is any one else, us of the opinion that
during the coming months more brick will
be used in this district than even in the
banner year, which, according to Mr. Ho!-
brooke's figures, wa s TN 1880, when the con-
sumption of brick in the District amounted
to 120O0O0OO.
Will Beat the Record
It is estimated thatsthe total capacity of
the brickmaking plants that furnish the
the District is about 40 100000 per year.
From the orders already Inland at this
season of the yearthose are mainly on
count of what is now known as private
work, as distinguished from public or gov
eminent ,work-it is eevident that the con-
sumption of this material this season will
exceed that of $780,. 81
This Judgment Ia based, as stated, on the
orders for brick already received, and as
the contracts for the government work are
not given out until after the opening of the
fiscal year in July all work Of that de-
scription will come into the market later
on. and will furnish a source of activity
which will be felt through the fall months.
The large amount of work that is already
planned to be carried out during the COM
ing year is regarded as unprecedented, and
shows that prosperous times are to be en-
joyed in the building trades.
Erection of Large Buildings.
It Is further significant of current condi-
lions that a considerable percentage of the
orders for brick thus far received are to
supply large buildings, mostly apartment
houses. When it is considered that the
larger type of such structures require from
100000 to 100000 Of brick each. it can
be readily appreciated that the erection of
any great number would consume a great
quantity of material, even though the num-
Der of buildings of the smaller type was
not a special feature. Last year the
amount of brick required for this market
was only S0O00,000. This year, it is esti-
mated the increase will amount to so per
cent
The activity which is thus assured is by
no means looked upon either spaSmodic
or speculative. The prospect for next year
seems to be still more assured, as then the
public buildings authorized by Congress at
it's last session will be fully under way.
These undertakings are of such magnitude
fIa will md
over two or three years, so that the condi-
tons of the building market for several
years at least are clearly Indicated
Apartment House Problem.
In addition to the expansion of the
population of the city, due to the natu-
raj growth of the general government, it
is also noted that there are other causes
of growth so that the conditions must be
Judged with these facts in mind The ques-
ton is now and has been for some time,
considered as to whether apartment house
building is not being overdone in this
city. It must be acknowledged that there
is no evidence that this stage has yet been
reached Building is going along on con-
seryatiye lines and those who have money
to invest in such enterprises, as well as
those who have money to lend, look care
fully into the situation before going ahead.
It is safe to say that with a knowledge of
the facts about the continued growth Of the
CITY. and the absence of the wild specula-
tive feeling that leads to imitation, there is
small danger that the line of safety will be
passed.
Mrs. James M. Green's Home.
A handsome addition to the number Of
fine private residences in the square on
Massa chusetts avenue between 18th and
18th street is to be made by Mrs. James M.
Green. The old br'ick1house which stood at
1877 Maasa chusetts avenue. is now being re-
moved. and on this site is to be erected, by
Mrs. Green, her future home. According to
the plans which ere, drawn by Appleton
P. Clark, IT., arcfriteet, the new structure
is to occupy the gwhGie Of the frontage of
the lot. which is thirty-one feet seven
inches. It will be four stories in, height.
AS a type Of French renaissance in archi-
lecture the 'front.' of stone of light shade
and gray brick, xurmpunted with a high
roof covered with red tile, will be
richly decorated with carvings in stone.
From the stone porch there will be access
to the main entrances which will be pro-
tected at the vestibule by an ornamental
grille, while the entrance door will be of
the same style.
The entrance hall will have. the unusual
width for a city house of eleven feet and
viii lead to the staircase hail. On the right
of the entrance hall will be the drawing room