Evening star., 1903-08-15

FORT RENO.
year extends from Florida avenue to I'd
street northwest and supplies another as
phalt roadway to the thickly settled part
of the city known as Bloomingdale. The
phenomenal growth of that particular To-
calty has perhaps never before been equal
ed in this vicinity the development of Co
lumbia Heights affording the only parallel.
At any rate. where there was stretch of
vacant field both sides of 1st street
northwest there are now many houses
Some of the other streets that come with
in this class and are to be paved with as
phalt this year are lexington place. from
Florida avenue nearly to Q street, border
ing the site of the great freight depot
which the Baltimore and Ohio railroad is
preparing to erect on the ground to the
east on 22d street from r street to De-
catur street. street from Florida ave
nue. to Massachusetts avenue; California
avenue from Columbia road to Phelps place
and 10Th street from Columbia road to
kalorama avenue.
Still in Spring Attire.
There is but little to suggest the early
approach of autumn in the appearance of
the city. Vegetation is as fresh and green
and in it's many phases of natural beauty
the city is as attractive as il was earlier
in the season. The trees are still crowned
with a profuSe foliage that shows none of
the usual effects of the hot summer sun,
while the lawns whether in parks or about
residences, stretch out in an expanSe of
velvety softness that forms fitting setting
to the luxuriant beauty of the trees and
of the beds of flowers and foliage plants.
The city is still embowered, as 1t were in
green, and the glory of the foliage that
lines the streets and closes in the long
vistas is like some rich framework that
brightens up and gives distinction to pic
ture that otherwise would not be as inter-
esting.
The season. with it's abundant rains and
cool temperatures, has lent its aid in pre-
serving the attractiveness of the spring at
tire of the city to this late date in the year
So eager has nature been that she has kept
those in charge of lawns and gardens busy
In preventing the rapid growth from over
leaping the limits of formal gardening. In
the parks the beds of coleus. with their
variegated colors, ranging from bronze to
a light yellow, give touch of color which
relieves the prevailing shades of the green
of the grass and flowers.
The flaming crowns of the beds of Gamma
are seen in their full glory. and the effect
of these brilliant blocks Of coloring is one of
the finest that has been produced by the
aid of Towering plants.
The massing of a single color instead of
having beds of variegated flowers, is the
feature of the gardening of the public
parks. and when one sees the brilliancy of
cluster of Gamma the attention is held
and the admiration elected. The beauty of
nature can be seen and enjoyed even by
those to whom it is not given to leave the
city, and its chief. charm, the trees that
line the streets. is enjoyed alike by the
rich and the poor, for they grow in their
loveliness without taking note of the
wealth or the poverty or the social condi-
tons of those who live in the houses
The Building Prospect.
According to the statistics of building
cities of the country, as collected
by Construction News, a falling off
in nineteen of such cities of II per cent
in point of cost is shown, as compared with
the corresponding month of last year. In
Washington, for example in the month
just past, permits for 81 buildings, to cost
StiS2 1JS, We're issued The record for the
same month last year shows an issue OF
2is permits, involving expenditure OF
81 .o49. .1GG an increase of 30 per cent over
in the same class with Washington, and so
are a number of other cities. The state
ment is made that 1t is somewhat difficult
to account for the falling off but it is be-
leved that it is due to the temporary
stringency in the money market and the
apprehension of just what the future has
in store. 1t is now believed, however that
the sky is now practically clear and opera
tions will go ahead upon a much larger
scale. Investors, manufacturers and build
ers now feel assured that no serious calam-
lty is In prospect and that the situation
will be on the mend from this on. Reports
of the trustworthy commercial agencies
have assurance of continued prosperity in
mercantile lines and people who are COM
petent to judge believe that building will
soon be resumed upon extensive scale
Some of the large cities, which have dur
ing the past few years. shown remarkable
gains show considerable falling off. In
the list of cities showing increase is In
dianapolis, with an increase over the same
month year ago of 251 per cent: Atlanta.
GA per cent; Cleveland. GO; Cincinnati. %;
st. Paul, %: Detroit 27: Brooklyn %; AL
per cent; Denver, 5 per cent The
list of cities showing loss include Seattle,
~ per cent; Philadelphia. IL; Minneapolis
and Washington. 30; New York city. 80;
Memphis. %; Buffalo, 10; Milwaukee, 8;
Chicago, per cent"