The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-12-15
BEAUTIFY THE CITY
AND BUILDING AT
WASHINGTON.
All Sorts OF Improvements Noted in
the Various Sections-Ante-Bel-
ium Structures Are Rapidly
Disappearinu,

There is one form Of city improve,
ment going on here which, when con-
sidered in the aggregate, constitutes
an element which is generally over.
looked, or not considered, though it
has very important bearing upon
| the structural makeup of the city at
large" said a gentleman actively en-
gagged in building operations in
Washington.
Il refer to the very gratifying ac-
tivity on the part of owners and
builders in the remodeling of old
/ buildings in the various sections of
the city, but more particularly in the
northwest and in the business Sec
ton. These individual instances of
remodeling are scarcely noticed when
compared with the great and larger
Improvements in the way Of entirely
new and modern buildings, but it is
astonishing how certain blocks and
sections have been and are being i'm.
proved.
with this thought in mind in my
rides over the city have some men
|
of the city improvement might be
called to notice, as it will serve as
an incentive to other owners to like
wise improve their holdings, as in.
dlvidual improvements like these
will go a great way in the develop
ment of the greater city we are striv-
Ing for. 1t is possible for small
owner to allow the main walls of his
building to stand, and with the ex-
lpenditure of comparatively small
sum transform it into building
which will be a credit to the particu-
lar neighborhood. In the business
Ibection these improvements invite
rentals which could not otherwise be
obtained, yet the individual owner,
who often cannot afford the expense
bf an entirely new building, contrib
utes his share to the rebuilding OF
the city.
! Old Buildings Torn Out.
aAn0thers Improvement. in the build.
ing nne #n1e3 Tpasses unnoticed in
isolated cases, Z but counts to a re-
markable degree when tabulated and
considered' in the aggregate, is the
demolition of old frame houses and
stores, many Of them eyesores by rea-
son of age and lack of repair, and the
erection of brick dwellings, apart
ment houses of the smaller class and
smaller business places in their stead
Citizens interested in civic improve.
| ri ho
throughout the city, should observe
this style of improvement with ip-
terest.
II have also observed in this con-
inection that several of the few re-
naming old frame ante-bellum build
ings on the south side of Pennsyl-
vania avenue have recently been
razed and new foundations dug prep
aratory to the erection of entirely
new brick structures. There are but
two or three of these old frames left
on this side of our historic main thor.
1oughfare in the upper business Sec
ton, and now that some of them
have gone the way of old lumber, it is
to be hoped that those left will short
ly be consigned for sale as old mate
rial.
Property owners also seem to have
been more liberal than in past sea-
sons in having their holdings repaint-
ed, and this is particularly true in
sections of town where frame dwell
ings abound. The infection seems to
have spread from owner to owner on
some squares, with the result that
this method of minor Improvement
has given fresh and new appear
ance to heretofore dingy blocks. In
sections of the city where owners
usually give their property regular
attention in this respect the many
newly painted buildings are also no.
iceable. Altogether these minor i'm
orovements are worthy of more than