The Washington times., 1905-10-15
HOUSING PEOPLE
IN THE DISTRICT
Problem Being Solved by
Apartment Houses.
NO LET-UP IN BUILDIHsss
Two Large Warehouses to Be Erected
In West Washington
Heights Residences.

IL Is less than n quarter of century
ago mat the question of housing people
IN the District comfortably. vet chez ..i.y
began to be agitated by those whose
business lay in the direction of build
ing and renting houses. Men gifted
with some degree of prescience found
no diff1cuity to reach the conclusion that
with the comparatively limited area of
the city and the prospectively great influx
OF people which was even then setting
IN, some other means of housing people
than that OF individual dwellings would
nave 10 be found. lest the price of
land should become prohibitive and
rentals mount TO such heights as to be-
come well nigh unbearable burdens IL.
persons of limited resources
The apartment house came as the saw
ing factor. The first enterprise in that
line was the Portland, but the arrange
ments OF this establishment were pitched
on 50 elaborate a scale as to immedi-
ately set IL apart az a resort for people
who could afford to pay literally for
anything they wanted.
Beginning of Revolution.
1t was the beginning, however. of
Inc revolution which Is now under full
way Gradually other apartment houses
HcAC tLttstu- AliOSl Oh lnem sui so
constructed and equipped as to exclude
the renter of moderate means Then
came tenements of Tess expensive con-
struction. and so the process has con-
tinued until the two-story fat suited
TO the purse of the man of small income,
has come into existence. 1t does not
crowd out its more pretentious fellows.
Tor there is room and demand for ALL
but, efor the present at least. IL serves
its excellent purpose
The time will come, no doubt, when
ii will be found that the price of land
has, become too high to admit of the
building of two-story structures. and
investors in this kind of property will
put houses of three and four stories OF
ground which now is utilized for struc-
lures of more modest height
Prediction Warranted.
This is not a -veEturesome prediction:
on the contrary. 1t is entirely warranted
by the statement OF every real estate
broker who has charge of the renting
of apartments of whatever description.
They furnish the authority for the decIa-
ration that the time is not in sight when
apartment houses will be drug In the
market either for the investor or the
fore pointed out, uphold this view of
the case. They are to be found chiefly
in the greater simplicity of domestic
arrangements offered by the fiat" the
relative cheapness of the accommoda-
tons furnished. and the ever-present
servant problem Increase of populations;
ssuch as the Capital of the nation has
every reason TO expect. will be another
powerful factor In this field. There are
many capitalists here who clearly recog-
nize this phase of the city's growth and
appreciate the opportunities 1t offers
The building Of apartment houses is
confined no longer 10 the more thickIy
populated portions of the city Steadily
II advances toward the suburban terri
tory. and recent enterprises and others
already in contemplation indicate the
invasion of that region