The Washington times., 1905-04-23
BUILDING RECORDS
SHOW PROSPERITY
Unprecedented Progress in
Current Twelve Months.
WILL REACH S10,000,000
Comparison of Real Estate Increases
in Years of Police Census
Since 1885.

The prosperity and advancement OF
community. is reflected nowhere more
accurately than in the statistics of the
office OF tie building inspector.
The sure and steady growth of Wash
ington Is made evident by glance at
the figures showing the extent of real
estate improvements from year to year
Realty values have been wonderfully en-
hanced in Washington by the construc-
ton of buildings in every part of the
city, as well as in the county
The building statistics kept by Build
ing inspector Ashford are true guide
posts by which to follow Washingtons S
upward course The steady increase in
building has but barely kept pace with
the continual increase in population, and
a study of the building reports will
make this clear in the light of the re-
suits of the recent police census.
Comparative Figures.
To better indicate this fact, the
amount and value OF building and re-
pairs in the District for eaei, of the
fiscal years in which police census
has been taken by Major Sylvester and
the police department, have been ascer-
tanned for the benefit of Times readers
This carries the story of the Dis
trlct's growth back twenty years. The
figures are interesting. too, because they
reveal a steady increase after each
lapse of years until certain point is
reached, when there is a falling off
quite startling-a reminder of the panic
that came and went, leaving financial
ruin and painful memories in it's wake.
This sudden cessation in the building
business appears in tho report for the
year 1894 The next census was taken
three years later when tie total value
of building operations was even less.
Phenomenal Increase.
But from that day until this the num-
Der of permits issued for construction
of various kinds has increased from day
TO day andsethe values have doubled
from month to month and year to year,
until during the month of March. 1905.
the total real estate improvements in
the District were valued at 5000. 900, or
twice the value of the building done In
the same month OF the previous year
The building record for the fiscal year
ending in June will eclipse all previous
records. There is every reason to be-
ieve that the years work will have
amounted to over $40. .000, ,0Oo The nearest
approach to this was in 1892 " hen the
permits were estimated to value over
S9,000.00o. There has been nothing like it
since
The cost OF buildings erected under
permits issued during the first nine
months of the present fiscal year was
s6.59S,7T. And the busiest season OF
the year in the building line is Just be-
ginning. At the same rate OF increase
over 1904 shown last month, the total
cost of building for the year will easily
reach the 100000 mark.
Many Dwellings Built.
AS showing the near relation of this
work TO the increase in population II is
to be observed that a large share 81
the permits are issued for dwellings.
There are many large apartment houses
added each year. but the number of
private dwellings is materially increased
from yearito year. 1t is estimated that
nearly half of the permits for the pres
ent year will be for dwellings,
1t must be remembered that in these
figures there is no account taken of the
vast amount of public building con-
tinuaiIy under way in the District The
building statistics include private work
only The Federal Government yearly
spends millions in this line, and the
District government alone adds $500. 900
annually to the sum total of Washing
ton improvements.
Twenty Years Record.