Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-08
IN PAST AND FUTURE
Survey of the Local Real Estate
Field.
THE GROWTH EXCEPTIONAL
Solid Valuation Basis Has Been Es-
tabhShed.
THE GROWTH EXCEPTIONAL
ASSISTANT ASSESSORS FIGURES
Government Clerks and Others Buy
ing Homes-Suburbs Booming
Real Estate Dealers Busy.

THE steady and healthy growth of real es-
tate values il the District of Columbia in
Jre past ton years or more has been
marked feature of realty transactions here.
grr srurrs and spasms OF the downtown
market have been absent except in a few
rare instances This tendency has estab-
Nshed O solid basis OF valuation in Wash
ingtou and its suburbs which has been APP
preached bE but few American municipal
flies
Up to the time Alexander r. Shepherd be
gan the vast system Of Identification ana
Improvement OF Washington real estate
values here were in what was known as the
Gaphazlrd stage, and property was with
out any degree of fixed value. being sold a
scattering figures to suit the purse Of the
purchaser In those days before the march
% local improvements the real estate mar
ket was often conducted on the bargain
counter plaza The improved localities
were. OF course. The favcred ones, and
property Iu such zones was always in active
demand
But In this year. 1906. the spirit of the
twentieth century adva uCcment Is abroad
and IT'S benefcenr influence has been
spread over the District. Improved areas
are no longer the exception but the rule,
and broad couCreted thOroughfares now ra-
date from central Washington to all points
fA tt.'' t'LfltHL-- sI4-IEtU ~ lblS IONS VI
stately shade trees and made picturesque by
beautiful buildings and pretty parks.
Changing Popularity.
Hence the popularity Of locations has had
fl sHfty tendency and areas that a few
years ago We're grlss-growu and weed-rid-
der now TEEN with the handsome residences
and their sites command substantial prices
lu the real estate mart.
The lpbuiIdlnE OF Washington and its en-
virous is I'm its progressive stage. The city
Is expanding into It's suburban places Ven
cradle and obsolete Observation-Disclosures
OF old Westinghouse giving away to the
more beautiful Commodlous and comfort
able eGttees that mark the twentieth cen
fury advancement here and IN a few more
years. it IS predicted. the transformation
will Doe complete and modern Washing on
VIII Doe the garden spot Of the world, in
fact the residence place of all lovers OF the
hnauttgt n art ana nature.
Exceptional Growth.
Ir seems almost Incredible that less than
e.ghu-Gve years alo a corn patch and duck
puddle nnlosed ay homely picket fence,
tEe truck zarde. VI an original Washing
t7H'an. long since dead occupied a space
on 10Th street between II street and New
York avenue. within "a stones throw of the
Whit. House Yet Il Is said TO be a fact
The home Of the President OF the United
States was then surrounded by hills and
lg'I1ws. and much Of the territory now oc-
gup.ea Hy the aIistocrauc west end. con
t.EsaGz 90 the White House was used as
Iasturius places for cows and goats
no doubt tae citizen who conducted his
l--- truck farm ON 10Th street would have
been 0Ferloyed TO have received an offer,
% - cents square foot for his property
iA5 eyes would fairly bulge from their
N1-- we're be- alive now 90 know that bat
recently the soil ira which be once propa-
gated .a-u and potatoes cabbage and beans
bad ..s valuation rated at $50 a foot. Yet