The Washington times., 1905-12-17
HON. JOHN F. R|XEY
BUYS GROUND HERE
Virginian Trades Farm for
Big City Tract.
OTHER PERSONS INTERESTED
Property Is on Meridian Hill and Con-
tains 95,5oo Square Feet-Will
Probably Build Small Houses.

Representative John F. Rixey of vir-
gtnia, and others, through w. III.
Baker. OF the Smith Thompson, jr..
real estate corporation, closed a deal
last week for the purchase of $50 feet
frontage on Ontario street and Cham
plain avenue. Meridian Hill. The
property includes $500 square feet and
the purchase price was figured on a
basis Of 10 cents per foot
The tile was placed in Mr.. Rixey's S
name and he and his associates will
hold the property as an investment.
1t is probable that in the near future
a considerable portion OF it will be i'm
proved with either Ss.50o residences or
two-fanily apartment houses to be sold
at about 5000.
The price is considered unusually
cheap. rs other land in the same block
Is held at So cents TO s1.25 per foot The
transfer was made by the National
Safe Deposit. Savings and Trust Com
pany. which. with oat-of-town parties,
held the title
Level With Housetops.
The site is one square from Sixteenth
street and a like distance from u and
Eighteenth streets. and part of it
Champlain avenue to Eighteenth street
The south end of the ground is ON a
level with the tops of the houses on
L street nearby, and a plan has been
suggested to terrace up TO the summit
OF the hill instead of grading and
thereby destroying much OF the beauty
OF the tract
The plan has been successfully carried
local architect and builder, at his
Dumbarton avenue home in George
town. By this means Mr.. Kennedy
greatly enhanced the beauty and value
OF his property. and the Meridian Hill
location acquired by Mr.. Rixey is said
10 be even more susceptible to improve
ment by terracing.
In connection with the deal Mr. Rixey
transferred his 2,0o0-acre farm which is
located about a mile and a half from
Manassas station. Va.
Farm On Bull Run.
The farm lies in both Prince William
and Fairfax counties and is intersected
by Bull run. the historic stream
after which two of The great battles of
the civil war were named. Ii lies in close
proximity to the battle field. the main
points OF which can be seen from it.
The property Is known as the Camp
bell estate and formerly belonged to a
noted family OF the Old Dominion. A
colonial mansion stands about in the
center of the farm and years ago was
The scene OF festivities and social gath
erings OF the section 1t was built in
the eighteenth century, and despite the
troublous periods through which it has
passed, is still in an excellent state of
preservation.
The walls are several feet thick and
were constructed Of solid masonry
which bids fair 10 remain intact for an
other century unless it goes down be-
fore the sweep of modern DEVELOPMENT.
which is rapidly going on in that direc-
ton.
Has Great Future.
The electric car line which runs from
Washington to Fairfax Courthouse
will. when extended, pass within less
than a mile of the property. Work
will, 1t is expected, soon begin on the
extension and when the road is com
pleted it viii give an impetus to val
ues throughout the entire neighbor-
hood.
The Campbell farm adjoins the es-
tate Of Robert Portner, of this city,
and is said to be enc Of the finest
stock farms in the State. Land in
the vicinity ranges in value all the
way from $25 TO 500 per acre
Mr.. Rixey has owned the Campbell
farm about eight years. during which
time he has held 1t as an investment.
He has another 2.O0o-acre piace-which
is his home-at Brandy Station. Va