Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-04
REAL ESTl1 GOSSIP
Improvements in Progress in
Various Sections.
CONCRETE 1NIBUILDING
METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION IN
UNION RAIERoAD DEPOT.
Market for Houses Continues to Be
Good and the Presence Of Cash
Buyers IL Noted.
CONCRETE 1NIBUILDING

Buyers IL Noted.
On the site of the old structure which has
stood for so many years at the northeast
corner OF 9Th and D streets northwest is to
be erected a. modern warehouse building
which will correspond in a greater degree
to the style Of modern buildings On the
other corners than did the former struc-
ture. It is to be erected by the Hooper
estate OF Baltimore for the use of s. Kann,
Sons & Co., the street entrance of whose
establishment Is on the opposite side Of the
street. The new building is to be five
stories in height, and will cover an area of
sixty-hve feet on D street and seventy-f1ve
feet on 9Th street. The contractors are
Richardson & Burgess.
A Proposed Residence.
A lot on Lanier avenue near Adams Mill
road has been sold by Miss Mann, and
plans are being prepared by Appleton P.
to be erected there which will cost in the
neighborhood of $4,000.
Cost Of Building Materials.
There has beer little change noted thus
far In the season in the prices for building
materials. The scale remains about the
same as at the commencement Of the build
Ing year. and while there is a probability
of change. at least by the beginning of
the next season, there is no certainty on
this point In the minds of those who are
supposed to be well. informed. It rs difficult
10 know exactly about the prices of iron as
compared with last year, as the scale of
grades is more elaborate 1t is, however,
noted that orders are sought for now,
which Is quite different from the experience
OF few months back, when supplies of
this sort could only be procured by spe-
gal favor or after long wait. In general
II is thought the prices of iron for building
are less than were those OF last year
Brick is also cheaper, about SO cents on the
thousand, while lumber is reported to be
higher.
Large Building Details.
The extensive area which is to be the site
OF the new union station is beginning to
take on something of the suggestion that
1t is to be used as the location of a great
building. The extent of the ground which
Is still occupied in partdby railroad tracks,
as well as the character of the preparatory
work. gives the locality a rather confused
ana m1Xed-up appearance to the average
iay eye. A change is gradually taking place
under the energetic efforts of the contract.
ors, the Thompson4StaFrett COMPANY who
are under contracttto build the station.
1t Is estimated that one-fourth of the
Ia
ana now the derrfcks aare to be removed
larther TO the west and the foundations of
the great piers are to be laid which will
carry the Orders that will support the bar
rel OF the arch of the roof over the wait
Ing room of the depot Some idea of the
Vastness of the proportions of the new
structure may be had from some of the di-
menslons that are now engaging the atten-
ioh OF the men carrying on the work The
four big piers upon which viii rest the
weight of the. roof over the waiting room
Will each be 40, feet by $50 feet. and the
IRON >trusses viii have span of $50 feet.
In Place Of Hands.
AS an indication Of the change which is
taking place in the use of materials r. is
noted that these piers are not masonry Int
concrete. The walls of the tunnel which
Will enter beneath the main depot are to
ne OF the same material In fact. the use Of
concrete is on such an extensive scale that
perhaps the most elaborate feature ~ A.
apparatus employed for doing tho NJ,
Is that which is used for handling the STONE
sahu, water and cement used in forming
ane concrete and also in placing 1t when
mace In the place where 1t is needed '
Inc entire process of bringing the mate
Iiais together and mixing them as well &C
ueiiVerlng 1t where 1t is to be used. is done
py machinery From the time the male
rial is brought on the ground in railroad
cars run on temporary tracks to the d,,r,n
ing or the concrete into the frames nv
molds, human hands are NOT brought ~
5 5y INTO use, All the processes of ham
uing the material and fixing 1t and taking II
to where 1t is to be used are by macbinarr
A Modern Wonder.
Inc broken stone and sand are emptfed
from cars on an elevated track into large
buckets which are swung on high by great
cranes ana Drought directly over an iron
pan. as 1t is called, but really a sort of
ayyfn
let. This cone-like end fits into .anotbar
similar pan, forming vessel shanad IiLa
an hour glass. The stone and sand and
cement and water are poured into tbasa
s rec es ana, flowing through the hour
ing out OF the vessel, fall into a large buck
et winch Is carried up by derrick and
swung directly over the place In the wall
or the pier which is ready for n ~
In this way the work is rapidlv nusbed
anead so that the contractors are practi-
cally up to the stage which thew anticinatad
they would reach when they entered upon
the undertaking. About one-fourth OF the
foundations is now completed ana u tS
expected the entire contract will he finished
by the 1st OF next July. At the beginninp
OF next year, 1t is thought, If everything
soes "eii' the depot Will be ready for use.
For the Elevated Tracks.
North of the depot site which is at Massa-
chusetts avenue and Delaware avenue the
contractors for the viaduct which is To car
ry the railroad tracks through the civ 70
the new depot are making good progress. AS
is well known. this viaduct for the ele
waited tracks is to consist mainly of con-
crete walls upon which the iron beams will
rest that will carry the tracks. The con-
tractors for this portion of the work.
Messrs McMullett and MeDermott, are be-
ginning to make evident even to the cas,,al
eye the line of the viad,iet which is to mark
the new construction from the Commence
ment at the north through the CITY tn the
depot As stated, the sides of this elevated
track will be formed of.concrete walls and
the excavation Of the earth needed for the
foundations. as well as. the mixing and ham
ding of the concrete, is being done NV tgna
most approved methods of modern ma
ehinery.
Sanitary Homes for the Poor.
large block Of iandshas been purchased
by the Sanitary Housing Company on Van
street. in the square bounded by M and N
streets and ~ and Sd streets southwest
where will be erected "a row Of seventeen
two-story flats, which are intended to pro-