Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-12

-. ttstoric mansions IN Washing
ton and commit the government 10 tHe IdL
ing of three other plocks, an -. which
tain historic buildings and around WiIIn
cIuster famous incidents connected with TIC
storv NJ the republic from the time when
Madison was President.
Buildings to Be Sacrificed.
Among the buildings which would De
taken under this plan is the residence OF
tho wife of the late Admiral 3. r Lee,
which has been famous as the scene Oh
historic incidents for seventy-hVe years
Also would be taken the residence OF Wooo-
bury and Gist Blair, In which Gen. Sher
man was married and which was the nome
of cabinet ministers for quarter ot
century and the rendezvous of Benton, Van
buren, Levi Woodbury. and Silas wright
In the parlor of this house Gen. Robert Z.
Lee was informed of President Lincoln
request that he assume command OF the
limited States army at the outbreak of the
civil war Other houses in this same DOCK
are the former residence of the great naval
hero Commodore Decatur, and the homes
of half a dozen widows of eminent naval
officers.
Other buildings which would be destroyed
eventually in carrying out the scheme Is
the famous Corcoran house. once occupied
by Daniel Webster and John Randolph OF
Roanoke, and in the garden of which the
Earl of Lytton wrote "Lucile;" st. Johns
Protestant Episcopal Church, which is
known as 1.-The church of the President,
and the house which was formerly occupied
by Dolly Madison.
The property on which Senator Fairbanks
and his staff of architects have their eyes
is the most valuable in Washington. To
carry out the improvement would cost the
government between SIS 100000 and S15,000,
600 for real estate alone.
1t is urged that a much more desirable
location for the proposed new department
building can be found on the south side of
Pennsylvania avenue In quarter where
the government already owns the land.
This suggestion has been made by Senator
Hale, and the cause of the old Washington
residents and patriotic bodies who want the
landmarks preserved is being ably cham
pioned by Senators Allison Lodge German
and Kean. The Daughters of the American
Revolution have made an earnest protest.
II is freely predicted that even If Senatr
Fairbanks should succeed in carrying his
project through the Senate it will be killed
in the House without ceremony or discus
sion.
Building Summary.
The summary of building for the mast
thirty days ending March is:
Brick dwellings, bS. s214, 700; frame dwell
ing, l. s14,825; brick repairs, 80, S2O,O31;
frame repairs, 81, $3.057; hospital, I, $47, 600:
store and dwelling. 1, IS, 500; stores. 2, $500;
apartment house. 1. $1,000; elevators, s,
$23. 100; heating boilers. 2, $1,000: electric
motors. 2, 1852: water tank, 1, 5000; stable,
brick. 2. So 900; stable, frame. l. $50; shed,
brick, l. $1,000; sheds, frame 16, 81 ,445 To-
tai, 146 $3.50, $50.
The following summary will show the dis
tribution of improvements in the different
sections OF the District and the value Of
same:
Buildings-County, s17I, s75; northwest,
S126.212; southwest, $40, 600; southeast, $14,-
600; northeast, 81, 260 Total, S334,3
Repairs-Northwest, $15,gS1; northeast,
s.. 40; county, $2,152; southwest, 81, 135;
southeast, S695. Total $50, 433
The American Security and Trust Com
pany's plans for the new building at the
corner of 18th street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. have been redrawn, SO as to conform
to the building line. and are now awaiting
the approval of the building inspector
Improving Back Yards
An old gardener gave Star reporter to-
day some ideas about improving back
yards which are timely at this season Of
the year. So
Have you back yard? Grow some
thing in 1t. See something grow which
you have planted with your own hands No
back yard Is so small that 1t may not be
made to grow something for the table.
and II 1t happens to be vacant lot you
Will be surprised at the quantities 1t may
be made to yield under little daily atten-
don and some nightly planning. II your
back yard consists of only a few square
yards, that fact need not deter you from
entering upon the joys of the gardener.