Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-30
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Building Enterprises to Be
Carried Out.
OF MODERATE SIZE
CHARACTER OF THE HOUSE THAT
Is BEINU BUILT.
Spring Attire Of the City Streets
Apartment Houses Still Feature
Of the Market.

OF the Market.
Some forty building lots in the southeast
srn section Of the city fronting on Penn
sylvania avenue. Georgia avenue, 18th and
14th streets have been bought by Thos. II.
Pickford and Clarence B. Blight, through
Joseph I Weller, real estate broker. from
Rchert I. Mahorney. It Is the intention Of
tina owners to improve this ground by the
erection of forty two-story houses and
four two-story apartment houses. The pur-
chssers were represented by Ellerson &
Wemple, real estate brokers. Mr.. Blight is
a resident of Baltimore who Is largely in
terested in real estate enterprises in that
city and has now begun to invest in prop
erty here.
An apartment house. four stories in
height, is to be built by Kennedy & Davis
on the south side Of Roanoke street be-
tween 18th and 18th streets, from plans
prepared by B. Stanley Simmons, architect.
The same firm will also erect row OF
three-story houses on 18th street between
Yale and Roanoke streets.
A four-story apartment house Is to be
built by Martha Melton at the southeast
corner OF New York avenue and 4th street
northwest. The frontage on one street will
be seventy feet and on the other ninety
feet.
Four two-story apartment houses are to
be built by F. p. Dodge on the south side
of North Carolina avenue, just east OF
Lincoln Park. Three Of them viii have d
the corner of North Carolina avenue and
street will have frontage OF thirty-s1x
feet 1t Is contemplated by Mr.. Dodge to
make similar improvements in other prop
erty he owns on North Carolina avenue.
Realty a Auction.
An estate in real property Of considerable
size has just been disposed Of at auction
by Mr. James W. Radcliffe, auctioneer. act
Ing for julius Mather, trustee. He sold the
following properties: A four-story fiat build
ing, Is New York avenue northwest, for
s24, 500; three-story brick house. III New
York avenue, 1920; same, 119 New YORK
street northwest. 5000; same, 124
street, 81, 900; same, 1924 Kirby street. s.. 100
Mr. Radcliffe also sold the three-story
brick residence, 917 r street northwest,
5000. In order to accommodate his custom
ers and others Mr.. Radcliffe has on hand
for distribution the printed forms OF deeds
of trust, which need only to be filled out
to be in shape to be recorded. Such forms
are in general use and the Idea of Mr.. Rat
cliffe in supplying the demand is one that
is proving popular.
Coming of the Foliage.
About the bare limbs of the trees that
line the streets of the city 1t Is noticed
about this time by those who have their
eyes atSall open to the things about them
a sort of haze, thin vapor Is gathering
and in some cases tt has become so well
defined that a slight greenish color is no.
ticeable. AS one of the early indications OF
approaching spring this appearance of the
fro ie,f hd M
is soon to- cover, with its glory, the naked
branches.
1t is little late for this latitude, as
usually the period for such change in the
trees is much earlier than the latter part Of
April. While this faint promise OF the
coming foliage does not appeal to the eye
as much as the luxuriant beauty OF the
full leaves, still as the graceful forms OF
the tree tops are thus family outlined and
then more clearly and distinctly. and the
delicate shade of this first attire which
nature gives to the trees Is noted, 1t Is
recognized that this preliminary stage in
the development has a charm and beauty
of it's own.
A Splendid Spectacle.
In some cases, especially where the trees
are in sheltered places. much greater prog
ress is noted and the foliage has almost
fully come out. The freshness Of this new
attire has an attraction which appeals to
the most insensible Of observers Of nature
and when In the progress Of the season all
the trees are thus clad the city streets are
transformed and lined for miles and miles
by splendid trees, become atsles Of green
cry.
AS the season advances and, indeed, until
the foliage begins to show signs of the
waning year to enjoy fully this spectacle
of the trees which is the distinguishing
beauty of this city one ought to use the
center of the street as much as practicable.
1t is impossible to enjoy the full effect of
this display unless one gets in position
where his eyes can wander up and down
the fine vistas thus formed.
It is Free to All.
Those who ride In the street cars or use
any other vehicle that takes them into the
center of the thoroughfares can witness
this sight, which now that the trees have
reached their present size is unequaled
probably In the world. Certainly there is
no city on this or any other continent where
1t is possible to ride literally for miles and
miles through streets which are uncovered
in greenery as is the case here
The branches reaching out toward each
other in some instances form an arch over
the street, and where there is double row
of trees on each side of the sidewalk can
opy is formed Of the delicate tracery Of the
leaves. The annual tree display in this city
is one that can be enjoyed without expense,
except SO far as all residents contribute in
the way of taxes to this item of municipal
expense. But as a show it is absolutely
free to all. There are no private boxes or
reserved seats and the admission is the
same to the rich and the poor. All that is
needed are the eyes to see and the mind to
appreciate, and then this splendid display is
open to any one.
A Substitute for Grass.
Some of the householders in the city are
evidently in despair of being able to sue
coed in raising grass or rather in having
good lawn on the spaces in front of their
houses. 1t is noticed this year that in some
cases the effort has been abandoned, and
the space has been covered with ivy and
perhaps a massing of shrubbery. 1t is GER
tainly true that the green leaves of the ivy
look better than bare or weed-covered
places which are found In a poor lawn.
There is, however, another aspect Of the
case.
1t seems 1t would be better to try
to find out how to maintain a crop of grass.