Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-21
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Some of the Activities of Spring
Season
IN CITY AND IN SUBURBS
Beauties of Nature Seen Along Paved
Streets.
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE EAST
The Situation in Regard to the Supply
of Apartment Houses - Other
Matters of Interest
AVENUE EAST

The condition OF the country roads about
the city is a matter of some general inter-
est Just at this time they come into more
general use as the spring advances. Riding
and walking. especially out in the country,
Is a diversion and recreation that is
highly popular, and perhaps according to
the Views of some, it would be much better
for the general health of the community If
both were more practiced.
At any rate. whatever the proportion to
the entire population of the users of the
pleasure drives and walks in which the
suburbs Of the city abound, there is no
question that they are more in use at this
time OF the year than any other. For this
reason there is more interest taken in their
condition, and more desire to know what
is going to be done during the coming
season in the way of farther improvements
than In many other forms of spending the
money OF the public.
Will Prove Valuable Dirt.
According to the District officials who
have direct charge OF such matters the
macadamized roadways about the city are
not as a whole in as good a condition as
usual for the reason that during the past
year there has been good deal OF hauling
done over them Of dirt taken from excava-
tons and grading done on the subdivisions
of land. 1t Is the opinion of men who are
familiar with the wear and tear on roads
of this character that more injury Is done
by the dirt carts and their constant drip
pings than is done by any sort Of heavy
hauling.
Ii is explained that this is occasioned by
the shifting in the stones that forms the
surface of the nacadam by particles OF
sticky clay adhering and carrying the
stones along. Al the same time while the
roads are suffering the entire city Is being
benefited, as the opening and laying out OF
farm lands into building lots and the i'm
prOyement Of these lots by the erection OF
houses indicate a growth of the population
and a general prosperity which Is gradually
building up the entire area of the District.
As Money Makers.
II is apparent that the damage done to
the roads IN this way can be repaired from
the increased funds arising from the taxa
ton on enhanced valuations of the land In
the meantime the drtveways about the city
may not be In as good a condition as is
desired. but that Is only temporary and
does not affect all the roads, and of course
not those that lead through Rock Creek
Park.
Untn the new appropriation bill becomes
@ law there will not be much done in the
way of the Improvement of country roads
for the reason the funds made available
by the appropriation bill for the year that
VIII close at the end OF June are about
nearly all used up. Last year the session
OF Congress was a short one and the pro-
vision for local needs was made at rather
early period In the year The result was
that II was possible to begin work on the
roads early. In addition to that. the past
winter was so mild that operations were
go on at a rather later date than usual,
so that altogether there Is not much money
left at this time.
Roads to Be Improved
There are two important pieces of work.
however. that were not completed during
the past season. one was the macadamiz-
Ing OF the extension OF 18th street from
Whitney avenue north to the old 14th street
road at point opposite the old race track
There has been some delay In getting the
iron needed by the street railway company
IN order to install the underground system,
and In consequence nothing could be done
IN the way OF improving the roadway.
II Is expected that the railway will be
completed In a short time. at least as FAR
as the installation OF the underground IRON
work is concerned, and then the District
authorities will proceed with the surface
roadway from the end of the asphalt ali
the way out to the old race track.
macadsm pavement is also to be LAID
along Nichols avenue from the end OF the
present granite pavement to the top of the
hill at the entrance TO the grounds of the
st. Elizabeth Asylum.
Spring Beauty in the City.
The coming poet. especially IL he happens
10 be the one that is going to produce the
next great or popular poem. on spring, will
Est his Inspiration from living In this city
II seems an anomaly to say that the COM
Ing OF spring In Its most gracious and at
traetive form Is to be seen in a city rather
than In the ~country but such Is the case
at least for those SO fortunate as to live in
Washington
The reason 10 apparent. for the city In