Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Trading Premises Activity
With Opening Of Spring.
MR.. HARPER TO BUILD
WILL ERECT HANDSOME RESI-
RENEE ON SIXTEENTH STREET.
Big Demand for Houses by Renters
Such Property Scarce and
Growing Scarcer.
MR.. HARPER TO BUILD

according TO the calendar spring mas
come and with 1t there has come renewed
signs of the promised activity in the local
real estate market. There have been trades
of more than ordinary moment the past
week. and from talks with the brokers it
appears that spring trading is to become
much more lively. There is quite an in
quiry for investment properties as well as
from home seekers. With good weather
the builders will be getting busy Brick
manufacturers say they have on hand large
orders for brick, both for the local field
and for Baltimore, where the local build
ers and architects have entered with
determination to do a large part of the
building up of the burned district Sew
eraI Washington architects have opened
up offices in Baltimore, and one or two OF
the large building contractors have an eye
open for this business with a fair chance
o. securing all they can attend to. In
Washington there is to be a great deal
of building just as soon az the weather
opens up and remains so.
Probably the largest trade In local realty
within the past several months was the
purchase by the trustees of the Warder
estate of the house and lot near the cor
ner of 18th and X streets, which has been
occupied by Representative Hit. 1t has
for some time been the desire of the trus-
tees of the Warder estate to increase their
realty holdings in the District, and this pur-
chase was made to this end. The trans
action was arranged through the American
Security and Trust Company.
Mr.. Harper to Build.
President Robert N. Harper of the Amer
lean National Bank, who has within the
past several days purchased lot at the
corner of 10th and Madison streets, will
shortly commence the erection of a hand
some residence on the site. The property
has frontage of 478 feet onf18th street by
a depth of 100 feet. Mr.. Harper's house will
occupy a frontage of 25.6 feet, and the re-
mainder of the lot will be utilized for a side
yard.
The architect will be B. Stanley Simmons
Mr.. Harper will have handsome mahog-
any-finished dining room, 10 by % feet in
extent. A large private stable VIII occupy
the rear of the lot President Harper has
just sold his house, 20 B reetkporthwest,
through Stone & Fairfax. the ZEAL estate
brokers.
Mrs. Stockton Buys a Home.
Stone & Fairfax have sold to Mrs. Marion
W. Stockton widow of Frank Stockton, the
author, house and lot known as 140S 31st
street northwest, which she will use for a
Washington residence. The firm has also
sold to Mr.. William j. Hoffman residence
Gil Florida avenue northwest. and house,
ser, for $500.
Stone & Fairfax say the activity in rent
ing is greater this spring than 1t has been
in many years. This Indicates. they say.
that there is a big demand for houses, with
an insufficient supply. Heretofore renters
have waited until fall to look for houses,
but under the changed conditions they are
renting now In order to have the houses in
the fall, and are willing to pay rent all sum-
mer in order to do this.
Houses Very Scarce.
Houses for rent are very scarce and the
population is growing so rapidly that the
demand is constantly on the increase. Local
property In the northwest is so high now,
and there is really SO little available on
the market, that builders are unable to pur-
chase land and put up houses for sale or
rent at a profit. The consequence is that
such houses as are to be built will be erected
by the owners Of the property
There have been several trades in 10th
street property lately which indicates to
realty brokers that there Is a strong de-
mand on this street which is apt to have
the effect of increasing values to quite a
considerable extent.
Cross-Town Railway.
The Commissioners expect to send their
report on the proposed route of the new
cross-town railway to Congress within a
few days. They have made an official in
spect.on of the route.
The following table of street widths along
the M street route has been prepared by
the engineer department it having been
found that M street gives a somewhat
wider space between curbs along part of
the route than do other streets;
Between