Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-06
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Favorable Conditions of the
Summer Market.
SEARCH FOR BARGAINS
IMPORTANCE OF THE PROPOSED
HIGHWAY BRIDGE.
Development on the Virginia Side Of
the River and It's Probable
Future Increase.

The real estate market is not free from
the idea which is associated with practi-
cally every department of activity where
money is to be made, that during the sum-
mer season there are chances to get hold
of bargains. 1t is believed, with more or
less positiveness, that there are signs on
property just as there are in the shop win
dows during the warm season announcing
that prices have been reduced. OF course,
such announcements in regard to property
are not literally believed to be attached to
boards displayed on or in the vicinity Of the
property for sale. Whether such reductions
are publicly posted along with the sign
boards on property, or whether they are
wholly mental, is not of much Importance.
1t Is enough to know there are such things
as bargains in real estate, and reductions in
prices for one reason and another. 1t Is less
welcome to know that the general test-
mony of those who are most familiar with
the market is that there are not enough
bargains to go around. 1t is the experience
of veteran real estate brokers that what
ever the season of the year there Is no
difficulty in finding customers for property
which is really cheap and which offers a
good chance for an investment of money,
or, what is more commonly looked for, an
opportunity to make quick turn.
Some Market Conditions
This year is no exception to the rule
Buyers of that description are known in
every real estate office. There is also re-
ported to be good demand for houses that
can be sold at moderate price. In fact.
property of this description is salable at
any time of the year. The demand for
houses where the price is in the neighbor-
hood Of ten thousand dollars, or, say, eight
or nine thousand dollars comes next in ex-
tent, but the market is not quite so active,
nor does it continue throughout the year
with equal volume. These however, are
conditions which for the most part usually
prevail here, and may be described as nor
NAL. In spite of the fact that this is the
year of the presidential election, and ac-
cording to the received idea, a period of a
dull market, business here in the realty line
has been good and promises to continue so.
Ihes extent of 1t has not been what was
hoped 1t would be or what q great many
would like 1t to be. yet it is much better
than might have been anticipated. Ger
tainly the rental market costumes firm
with houses In splendid demand and at an
advanced scale Of rents. Unimproved prop
erty Is not extensively dealt in for the rea-
son that building operations, owing to va
rlous causes has been checked. The spec
ulat1ve value of such property lies mainly
In improving It, House buyers are in the
market, and that fact, together with better
rents, Is likely to lead to the enlarged buiId
ing Undertakings In the coming fall and
spring.
New Highway Bridge.
Rapid progress is being made in the con-
struction of the railroad bridge over the
Potomac, which is to take the place of the
Long bridge, and, while that structure will
be an important part of the steam railroad
terminal improvements in this city what is
known as the highway bridge Is perhaps of
more consequence to the average citizen
A beginning has been made In the erection
OF this structure, but 1t is not expected
that IL Will be ready for use until about the
opening of the year 1906. 1t will be placed
ABOUT loOo feet north of the railroad bridge
and Its general design will harmonize with
that structure The main body of the
bridge Will span the river at the distance
ABOVE mentioned north of the other bridge
put Its approaches both on this side and
on the Virginia side will end at the same
general point where the railroad tracks are
located. For example, the approaches on
the Washington side will be by means Of an
which will extend across Po-
tomac Park and ending at Maryland avenue
ana l4th street, where the road over the
Long bridge now comes in. The approach
to the bridge from the Virginia side will
also turn to the south and terminate at
the highway. BY this ARRANGEMENT it will
not be necessary to make changes in the
virginia In that particular section.
A Valuable Improvement.
The new bridge is going to be wide enough
TO accommodate two electric railroad tracks
and two sidewalks and two carriage roads.
and as the surface will be covered with
asphalt 1t will afford easy going, as the
phrase has it. The bridge will of course.
De free, and even the tracks for the cleo
ric cars will be available for the use of
III street railroads chartered or that NAV
hereafter be chartered by Congress. This
Improvement will cost over a million dol
ars' put over and beyond any consideration
Is to the first cost is the probable advan-
age winch such facilities will be to this
'ity 1t Is hard to appreciate exactly what
me new bridge will mean in the material
lev eioplaent OF the city, but that it will
prove to have an important influence no
me doubts who has given any attention to
he subject. ~ |
On that side of the river, and dependent
IN 'ne orldge as the only means of reach |
ng this market, is the center of the Iarg
'st manufacturing interest of the CITY.
namely, the making Of bricks In the
of one hundred millions Of
'ricks are turned out each year from the |
ards that are located on the Virginia side. |
md they are hauled over the bridge to This
,ity where the exclusive market is found |
n addition, this is the direct means of |
WILL alexandra. and he |
liver itself and Alexandria is now taking
IN an Importance which promises to bring
'ack much of the oldtme prosperity. hut
n other forms. The advantages of that /
'lrg1nla town as manufacturing point
ave been noted, and there has been a
increase in the number of such
Establishments, as well as in the outnnt
The population has grown and n is
bought that the attractions as a place Of
esidence will result in bringing more peo-
lie there each year whose business inter
SITS are either in Alexandria or in the i'm
Mediate vicinity.
Extensive Freight Terminal.
Just outside Of the town, and, in fact.
BEGINNING at the municipal limits on this
ide and stretching all the way to Four
dile run and along the river front back to
he railroad track is to be the location of
Extensive freight yards. They will form a
art of the terminal plan of the steam
aflroads in this city, and on these hum
red or more of acres Of water front which
he railroads have acquired are to be To-
ated the freight yards for the southern
Dads which make this city the end Of their
ines |
With these prospects there is reason to
elieve that the development which has |
a faa nF Jrio l