The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-07-29
FOREIGN CAPITAL
HELPS TO HASTEN
SUBURBS GROWTH
Surrounding Hills Dotted
With Thousands of
New Homes.
FINE In ARCHITECTURE
People of Moderate Means
Flock to Cottages in
Country.
FINE IN ARCHITECTURE

The suburban development of Wash
ington in the past few years and the re-
markable movement in the same dlrec-
ton this spring are giving some people
cause for wonder. yet the wonder Is thar
development did not come sooner.
No city In the country has moce beau
tifuI surroundings than Washington.
Yet il has taken some years for Wash
ingtOnians 10 properly realize fl and de
eide To enjoy IL as has been done in al
most every large city i'm the country.
Now there seems a rapid movement
toward getting out beyond the connnes
of the crowded city and securing a home
where the freedom OF living can hest be
enjoyed and where the pure air and
brighter surroundings serve to make the
home life one of unauOyed pleasure.
Fifteen years ago Washington had
practically no suburbs. TakOma Park
was yet in lis swaddling clothes; Chevy
Chase was a few scattered homes,
Cleveland Park had barely been sug-
eested and many other OF the suburban
places that are now so attractive had
not come into existence.
Number Increasing.
Today the number of pretty homes
that dot the uplands surrounding the
citv have grown into thousands and
each year sees the number largely IN
creased This year viii make "a record
i'm that respect that, judging from the
number or building permits issued In the
county. viii eclipse all others.
Most of the new dwellings are OF the
cottage type. They will be the future
homes Of families who have lived in the
CITY. A large part Of the population that
has moved into the pretty suburban
houses has left the crowded districts
for the more comfortable surroundings
of suburbs that have been brought into
close. contact by the extension OF the
rapid transit zone. The new houses
are scattered in all directions within
circle OF ten miles from the chief busi-
ness centers and the morning trains on
all lines are crowded with the incoming
of the large numbers whose business re-
quires them 10 be in the city.
The total number Of these suburban
homes reaches well up into the thou
sands and the numerous subdivisions
planned viii yet permit of a large extern
sion OF the suburban population. Much
of this exodus is caused by the rapidly
increasing values of ground within the
city limits. which has been prohibitive
OF building by people in moderate cir
Cumstances, while much of It has been
assisted by the careful manner in which
many Of the subdivisions have been
given all the conveniences so necessary
TO modern living
Taxable Growth.
one Of She great advantages 10 the
District has been in the vast increase Of
taxable property and further 10 the
encouragement of thrift i'm securing
m
be entirely dependent upon rentabe
properties Another advantage has been
the division Of many large tracts that
were formerly Of limited value into
smaller ones suitable for immediate i'm
provement Farms have been changed
into villa sites and the pTopoTtionate
value has been wonderfully increased
thereby.
Foreign capital has found advanta-
geous investment, and workmen Of all
classes have found a largely extended
field for their services. In fact. the la
Dor question has been the one serious
drawback 10 the greater improvement of
the outlying country. as the demand has
been so great that ii has been impossi-
bic often TO secure a sufficient number
Of wOrkmen of the various crafts to car
y on the intended projects.
In all the settlements that have grown
up, there has been displayed remark
able degree Of artistic excellence In the
houses constructed. IT has not been sut-
neient as in former times. 20 have
merely a shelter lacking in all the little
details OF architectural beauty, but the
vast majority Of the houses have been
designed by architects who have made
study OF the surroundings and adapted
the structures 10 them
mus have coma such beautiful suburbs