Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-13
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Favorable Conditions Noted in
the Rental Market.
THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND
Some of the Reasons for the Present
Conditions
LARGE SUMS IN CIRCULATION
Additions to the Number of Bridges OF
the City is n Notable
Achievement.
THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND
.ARGE SUMS IN CIRCULATION

The demand from people who want
houses and flats hasn't eased, and N
the brokers' offices this department of the
business still continues to be the most
active. There are some weeks of the season
yet to come, in the opinion of the dealers.
and when that Is over it is thought the
supply will be much smaller than is
the case at present There is no complaint
about the demand thus far. Both houses
and flats are renting freely and are being
taken with rapidly that is surprising.
1t is noted, however. that there are now
more suites in apartment houses on hand
than houses. The list of the unrented
houses in the hands of agents is less at
this tine than that of fats. 1t is not sur
prisng that this should be the case, for
the reason there has been more apartment
houses erected than houses for rent. A
large proportion of the new houses are not
placed on the rental market at ALL They
are kept exclusively for the sale market.
No Change in Rentals.
While the supply of flats is greater than
that of houses in the rental field, its extent
Is not of such a character as to affect the
market to the extent of bringing about re-
ductlon of rents or anything of that sort. AS
TO the rental rate. there has been no change
in this respect as far as known. There
are cases where "a scale of rentals for
apartments was fixed early in the year and
IT having been demonstrated by experience
that the scale too high reduction
has taken place.
1t is reported, however, that there has
been no general movement of this sort and
that the range of prices for apartments re-
mains about the same. Naturally owing to
the supply any tendency toward higher
figures would be checked, but otherwise the
situation remains about the same it was
last season.
Good Business Conditions.
1t is not surprising that business con-
ditons. especially in real estate should con-
tinue to be good, although it is only what
has characterized the market here for some
months now. There is nothing strange or
abnormal In the situation. In the first
place this city is sharing in the general
prosperity of the country which is so re-
markable in all its phases. While eventual
ly this city gets the benefit of any unusual
general business activity, for as the entire
country prospers and grows the national
city proSpers and grows, it does not always
happen that Washington gets in promptly
Gu every business tide Of success that
affects the people generally.
At this time there were special asons
why this city would be right in at the head
OF the procession, for in the first place the
extensive work of the steam railroads in
improving the terminals were undertaken.
The expenditure OF the large sums OF
money which their undertaking required
has had stimulating effect the local
market and more particularly on the realty
market, for the reason that a good deal OF
ixnd rad To be acquired for railroad uses
AID in the shifting of homes which this
brought about the demand for property
naturally increased.
Large Sums in Circulation.
4 somewhat similar result followed the
acquisition OF the two squares on each side
O. the Capitol park, the people whose
homes We're taken used the money which
they received in payment in buying new
homes in other sections of the city. In the
meanwhile the needs of the government
service for additional buildings had become
20 pressing that the erection of the splendid
series of public structures now under way
were started. representing expenditure
o. some 50. 0G0.OO0. OF course. this immense
sum of money is not being paid out all at
once hut is being distributed over num-
Der Of years. but the yearly output IS con-
siderable and gives employment not only
te labor but forms an important factor in
tse material market.
Prosperity Noted.
In the meanwhile the population Of the
VIZ nos ''S! biONihS' "i4Cl IdS CIedteu
o demand for houses and apartments, with
Tie result that in the past few years the
bVlding activity has never been greater,
scd the market for the sale of houses has
reached proportions which it never at
tslurd before.
n v.cw o. the circumstances it is not sur
Jfl-irg that business is good in the city and
uat all lines of activity seem to be shar-
f-s in the general good fortune.
Bridge Building
Tho present year is a notable one in the
kstory % bridge building in this District
1Ae number of these necessary and impor-
TINT structures that are being erected and
the addition they will make to the facilities
O! transportation are of such an unusual
character as to deserve more than pass
Ing notice. In fact, as marker of the
pyDgreS5 of the District in various directions
there i probably nothing quite so signif-
cant Is this Development in the bridge ia
URitteS OF the city
The two fine structures that have taken
tfe place or the old Long bridge the prin-
cipai means Of communication between this
CITY and the great south, are part OF
The general scheme for the improvement OF
tsss terminals Of the steam railroads in this
Cay. At the same time. better means OF
crossing the river were much needed in
orSer tn accommodate the daily travel and
this arose not only from the growth of the
besneSs OF the railroads, but because
Washington was growing and there were
n7rc people coming and going between the
CD aud the section of Virginia. and espe-
enliy Alexandria. which relies upon the
bldg az this point.
A Manufacturing Center.
a. the Virginia side OF the river at the
eeS Of the bridge is Brickhaven, where
snast ~ the bricks used in the city and
eesEborhood are made. This thriving CEN
tn OF one OF the chief manufacturing in
oetrios OF the city Is nearer TO the city
tAnu ever before owing 10 the construction
n the Highway bridge and the improves
sreats made In the approaches On both sides
~ the river.
another bridge which il in course OF CON-
plsRctiou II the one over the Eastern
eEsnch connecting Anacostia with the city.
u VII take the place OF the structure that
hAs become inadequate for the growing
ecnands. For, while the population within
tfa original limits OF the city has increased.
theTe has also been growth on the other
a gf and hA II