The Washington times., 1905-01-01
RECORD OF YEAR
IN REAL ESTATE
Large Investments From
Abroad Attracted.
BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED
Increase IN Value Ten Millions in Ten
Yeats-Duty of Congress te
Aid Growth of City.


prepared for The Washington Times by
Louis z. Shoeraaker.D
Real property has become the princi-
pal factor for the production Of revenue
not only for corporate and individual
municipal maintenance Real estate and
real estate security, directly or Indirect
", supports and sustains every bank,
every trust company, and almost every
individual of large credit and stability.
Its interests are therefore near 10 every
member of the community
Washington with a population OF 81. COZ
perhaps unfortunateiy-does not pos
sesS commerce t>ade- and factories to
differs from other cities of its size
throughout the country and aiso from
many Of the capital cities OF the world
Revenue From Realty.
MunicinaI revenue through the medium
of taxation for the fiscal year ended
June 3e 1904. accruing from real estate.
eral contributions, spayabIe by about
so 900 land owners
In an article intended for publication
in The Washington Times, which reach
munity, II will not be necessary 10
dwell upon the record or 1904. or to refer
TO those things which have been accom-
plished through the medium OF munich
pal action or as a result of private and
corporate enterprises, evidenced some-
what By our numerous apartment
houses. which, like many other good
things in the world. have their adVant-
ages, as well as disadvantages.
They give evidence however. Of STA
bility of the city; convince everyone Of
the disposition of many 10 Invest large
amounts in such enterprises at the Ma
tional Capital This condition. practical
as rule, men have made large invest
ments where. large investments have
proved a success. and cities other than
Washington have heretofore dtIracted
their attention
Increase of investments.
Now. however. after the :iucc esSful eX-
perience of many during The year 1904
not only with apartment houses. bur
with thousands of dwellings in the old
city. and beyond throughout the Dis
trict OF Columbia generally. sucsl action
on the part OF investors IS 10 longer an
experiment It has been demonstrated
TO be profita BILE
With a judiciouS administration Of
! the affairs of the District II Columbia
on the part of Congress. the large or
small investment of money either in I'M
proved or unimproyed real estate must
continue 10 be a success.
Building Operations in Decade.
I am favored by our capable Inspector
OF Buildings. Snowden Ashford, with the
following list Of the number Of permits
issued since 1895 10 the end of the fiscal
year, June 80 1904: In 1898. 4.2Z7 permits !;
cost of improvements. s4.2o3. .620- In
1859. 4G10 permits; cost of improve
nents. s.. .5e5. .525 In 1900. 4.S61 permits
cost of improvements. Sc. 795 S54. In 1901.
5,lS9 permits; cost of improvements,
SC. .I94, ,OS0 In 1902 6.S21 permits: cost Of
improvements, $. s.3le,2i0- IN lsus, 5,s4i
permits; cost of improvements. 1884,
603 In 1854 6.773 permits: cost OF lm-
proyements $l3.0I7,515. Union Station.
s.. .001.0oo. am also informed that We
have 1T school buildings, Involving an
actual cost of s., ,4l00o0
Time and space do not permit a de-
tailed reference to all that has been ac-
complished or TO that which undoubted-
iy could and would have been accom-
olished but for the absence OF public
advantages necessary 70 encourage prt-
vate development and. IN some IN
stances. necessary TO make il possible
This much briefly for 1904
Looking to 1905.
What can be said OF 1905? The District
of Columbia, and not merely the city OF
Washington. is the home of the United
States Government, and the legislator or
citizen wIo is not broad enough to ex-
tend his vision and TO lend his influence
TO the public and private development
and Improvement of the entire District.
Is narrow indeed. and wanting in pa
triotism, for we find concentrated IN