The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-01
OUTLOOK IS BRIGHT
FOR GROWTH OF CITY

larger number of fine residences have
been built than ever before, showing the
increasing influx of refined and
wealthy class which has selected the
National Capital for its permanent
home. or its winter residence. VI small
er dwellings, also, for families OF mod
crate means an unusually large number
has been added, and II Is remarkable
Ia ct that Notwithstanding all this build
ing. only a comparatively small number
of houses are without tenants, showing
that the demand for this class or struc-
turts is still active and that. in all prob
new year. Scientific and historical socie-
ties also have chosen Washington as
their permanent headquarters. and sew
e1al buildings have been erected, and
more will be required for housing these
"A number of office buildings have
been erected in the course of the past
year and tenants were found for all Of
them even before they were completed.
A striking feature of last years business
was the construction OF large number
of apartment houses, in which gener-
allv all suites were rented long before
the buildings were completed, thus
showing the popularity OF this compare
| lively new mode Of living in Washing
ton. The smaller apartment houses. too.
which have been built in different parts
of the city have proved most successful,
and the great demand for larger num-
Der of this class Of structures warrants
| the assumption that Il considerable
amount of capital Will be invested IN
them within the next twelve months.
OF the typical two-story apartments
also many were erected, and are cOnsld-
cred good investments.
Prospect Encouraging.
although il is rather quiet in the
architects offices at present, the pros
poets for the coming year are extremely
/ encoura ging. As labor troubles promise
/ to come to a settlement. building opera
tons will go on. and we shall have,
/ think a most prosperous new year OF
! the large public buildings contemplated
/ the new Union Station takes first place.
! Although Washington architects were
/ not fortunate enough 10 carry off this
plum. the change which this improve
ment will make near the Capitol will
! indirectly create q demand Tor hotels
and other buildings in the vicinity OF
! the station. and Will give local talent
] an opportunity to improve this, until
( now, much neglected section of the city.
other large public buildings TO be
/ undertaken in the immediate future are
the municipal building, the new National
2 Museum. the Hall OF Records, the new
building for the Department of Agri-
/ culture, and the new once building for
the House of Representatives. The con-
| struction of these edifices viii involve an
outlay of about $50 OOO, 100. and will go
Tar toward making Washington what IL
| ought to be-the greatest and most
In. the Building Trades.
/ Notwithstanding the high price of Ia
Dor and material now prevailing, and
concerning which but little abatement is
TO be expected in the near future, those
engaged in the building trades in the
District appear to think that, on the
whole. the prospect for the New Year is
promising.
The past year" said James L. Par,
I sons, a well-knOwn contractor and
builder has been an unusually pros
porous one for all engaged in building
! operations, the only drawback TO the
generally satisfactory, conditions having
Deen those complications which arose
from labor troubles. There Is reason for
believing that these difficulties will be
adjusted in one way or another, or, al
least ameliorated in the course OF the
coming months This applies to the Dis
1 trict OF Columbia no less than to other
sections OF the country.
cWithin the last three or four months
plans have been made for a number OF
private enterprises and bids nave beer
received for operations, the execution oi
which. however, has been suspended OF
the part Of the investors OWING TO th'
increased cost Of such operations. This
increased cost is a natural result OF III
unprecedented prosperity OF the las
few years. The country having hat
. such prosperous conditions, naturally
great deal Of money has been invested
! in buildings of every description In TIT
! cities small towns and country dis
! tricts This made labor and material I.
some extent inadequate to the demand
/ and labor, therefore. has insisted upoI
1 an increased wage, which Is natura
| result OF the law OF supply and demand
In my opinion the present halt in build
. ing operations will only be temporary
for the reason that there are no cause
FOR a reversal OF the prosperity which
has existed for the last few years
There IS no overproduction and the III
creased cost of building operations Will
course will have to be brought aDou
BY Increased rentals, which NATURAL j,
r result from the increased cost OF build
ings and from the continued deman
for housing accommodations.
The prospects for the coming seaso
J in the District are. in my opinion, fun
as bright as anyone reasonably mas IN
-fc,r IN