Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-08
VALUES IN SUBURBS
Correspond to the Material De-
velopment of City.
ADVANCE IN POPULATION
Strong Motives for People to Choose
Country Homes.
MANY POPULAR NEARBY TOWNS
Farm Sections Improved Under Vital
izing Touch Of Humanity-Erec-
ton of Modern Residences.

development of the capital city In the past
decade and the relative advance in property
values here. the worth of suburban realty
In Maryland. Virginia and the District OF
Columbia has steadily increased. Without
abatement the development of real estate
interests In the country districts has kept
pace with the constant appreciation OF city
property. In fact the rate of the advance
OF suburban property has been If anything.
more rapid than that of the city real estate
in the past few years.
In practically every direction there has
been a constant advance in population
handsome modern residences have been
erected IN rapid succession in ali of the out
lyihS sections until the whole face of the
country has been studded with comfortable
convenient and in great many cases pala-
tial homes.
Suburban settlements have been develope.l
ana peautined until they have been Earned
INTO miniature municipalities where the
residents enjoy all the comforts and con-
Venieuces of city life. combined with the
treasures and attractions of the country
o,eh mas been the extension of the popula-
tion that scarcely any considerable section
or the country immediately surroundiro
washington. both on the Maryland and the
virginia side of the river has been ne
elected. Those parts most favored by ma
tare, the commanding eminences and The
Pheasant valleys, have naturally received
iirst attention. but the less desirable sec
=
proved Under the transforming vitaifzne-
touch OF humanity even THE desert has
blossomed as a rose"
The fondness OF the people Of this city for
NE at least part of the year in the coun-
try has been stimulated rather than dlITleI
by the Increase OF wealth and luxury A
growing appreciation of the pleasures and
benefits Of existence in the country. vheT
such can be had without Interference with
business pursuits II, the city has been nm
mistakably manifested IN the past few
years.
Invoked Great Human Law.
In its expression 1t has invoked the great
human law of demand and supply, for in
order to satisfy the desires of a very con-
siderable number of the city's population
country towns have been laid out along the
lines followed by the moss modern and pro-
sressiVe cities. These. towns have been
supplied with police and fire departments
with modern lighting and sewerage systems
ana With all other municipal ADVANTAGES
Added TO these conditions is the Ill impor-
tane facility for rapid transportation BY
means OF the many suburban railway lines
which permeate the outlying country and
ramify through almost every suburban sec
tlon the people having homes there have
easy ana rapid access to the city. IL Is
generally merely matter of few minutes
ride. All of these conditions have been pro
vtded IN order to make possible the natural
ana normal craving for pure air. plenty Of
plenty of room around il.
A strong motive leading rlany people to
choose life in country home near this
city Is the desire to rear their children
among the most advantageous surround
ings. People love not only to live in the
country themselves, but to afford the pleas,
ures and benefits of country life to their
children 1t Is often the desire of supplying
@ yard or a garden where the growing bows
and girls may play that moves residents to
purchase suburban homes These reasons
In part explain the existence today of the
many charming and beautiful towns and
smaller settlements by which Washington
Is surrounded, not only in the District but
also in Maryland and Virginia and these
facts also explain the remarkable advance
in suburban real estate values eoincident
with the development of the city.
In a Beautiful Country.
One of the most popular suburban towns
lying to the north of the city Is Chevy
Chase, situated in a beautiful country con-
sisting In the main of a rolling plateau. but
diversified here and there with pleasant
hills and charming valleys. The whole of
the town, large part of which lies In
Maryland, enjoys the privilege of the sim
gle fare on the electric line. Chevy Chase
has become community of urlmistakable
culture and refinement. The policies gov
erning the development Of the place have
not encouraged it's settlement by persons
desiring cheap suburban residences In
most instances the newcomers who have
purchased property in Chevy Chase with q
view of making their permanent home there
are persons of either moderate means or
wealth. The place has gradually acquired
an aristocratic, distinctive air, which has
made 1t highly desirable as a select locality
Real estate in Chevy Chase is considered
twice as valuable today its was ten years
ago. The average price of land there now
is from twenty to thirty cents per square
foot. Among those who have recently ac-
qufred homes in Chevy Chase are Mrs II
M. Drum Olfphant, whose house and lot
Is considered to be worth $40 900: Mrs Anna
M. Kingen, formerly of Pittsburg. Pa
whose property is estimated at S1S COO; Mrs
ii. Z. Taylor. widow of Admiral Taylor u
> N, whose property is valued at SIT. 800;
Mrs, Vorthtngton c. Ford, whose home is
also estimated at the same figure: Mrs
Anna Green Mactier formerly of PhiIadel-
Ihia, Pa, whose property Is estimated at
$1,000 and Mr.. Eugene E. Steven, whose
property is estimated at S20, 900
Takoma Park, another town through
which the District line runs, is rapidly
forging ahead in real estate values The
value of realty in Takoma Park will be
greatly enhanced by the extensive improve
ments in the shape of buildings devoted to
religious purposes, which the Seventh Day
Aoventsts VIII erect at a cost of at least
$loo,ooo IN the center of the town. This
area was sold by Messrs. John Paul E,arnest
and Andrew A. Lipscomb, who, as trustees
or the Old Thornton tract controlled the
principal part of the subdivision Real as
tdte AZ idkofla HarK mas greatly increa sej
IN value In the past ten years The prom
erty ten years ago could scarcely be given
away, whereas now it's best portions are
bringing six and seven cents a foot, while
less desirable sections are being sold for
four or five cents. The town now has no
ice and fire protection, telephone ex-
change. new public school and good street
car and steam railway service to the city.
West of Georgetown.
Relative to the section of the District
suburbs to the west OF Georgetown and
the Georgetown University comprised in
the various subdivisions along the Conduit
read, one has only to go back TO the early
nineties to see a practically rural com
munity, dotted with farms, with here and
there the original homestead Then the
syndicate came along and bought Up all the
available acreage from Georgetown Univer-
sity to the Government Reservoir Park of
100 acres at the district line, paraIleIing
the Conduit road and the Potomac river.
Various subdivisions were Immediately laid
on In accordance with The street extension
plans of the District. and the erection Of
residences has gone steadily and substan-
TALLY forward ever since, save, probably,
q slight setback from 'a3 to 90, where the
general District advancement suffered from
the depressed conditions Of the whole coun-