Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-29

Now that the Jobbers and Shippers Asso-
citation is an assured factor in the progress
of Washington all eyes are turned upon it's
earnest efforts in behalf of the welfare and
advancement of the city. Especially is this
true of the real estate agents, of which
there is a small army doing business here
Outside of any consideration of pecuniary
benefit many of these dealers are citizens in
the front ranks of Washington's business
men, admirably imbued with the proper
civic pride and who seem anxious and
earnest in their efforts to do everything pos
sible to advance commercial and Industrial
interests here
That the question of establishing manu-
features here is an absolutely new one.
however may best be Illustrated by citing
the fact that several real estate men who
were visited yesterday did not have any
property on their books for this purpose. In
> general way the dealers discuss the sub
ject. but few of them in a position to
point out sites and shipping facilities from
a tethnicaI viewpoint.
AS, one dealer put it. until the Jobbers and
Shippers Association got under way recent
ly, there were not a bakers dozen of agents
in town who seriously regarded the ques-
ton of establishing manufactures here as
feasible. The subject as a matter of the
city's welfare and progress has been
only in hazy, misty fashion, with moth
ing tangible to grasp upon.
The Stars Suggestions.
Now that the association is assuming
definite character The Star makes the sug-
gestion that it might be well for the real
estate dealers to send to the Jobbers and
Shippers Association a list of properties
which they deem available for manufact-
uring and jobbing sites and purposes; the
inducements they are in position to Offer
power facilities and residence attributes.
Some of the realty agents are going into
this matter deeply, and 1t will not be at all
surprising If number of specialists crop
up among them in the near future. The
promotion of factory sites, the question of
adjacent properties in healthful localities
for homes for the factory workers, contin-
gent amusements and supplies, schools
churches and transportation facilities are
all matters of specially In the realty mar
ket which the dealers here have had moth
ing to do with in the past and which but
very few of them are familiar with at this
stage of the proceedings.
One phase of the conditions the dealers
are in POSITION to outline with what APP
pears to be strong logic, is all-import-
ant one. Successful manufacturers famii-
lar with all the conditions that attain
In regard to the profitable conduct of their
business, say that after finding the market
for their wares the most difficult problem
that confronts them has to do with attract
ing skilled workmen.
What the Workman Wants.
The average American skilled workman,
whose income is limited is very much I'M
like the Englishman or Frenchman In the
same walk in life. The latter class is ap-
parently willing to put up with almost any
thing as long as he Is near cafe or grog-
gerry and places of amusement. 1t Is next
to impossible, however, to attract an Amer
lean workman to cities where there are
no schools, churches and healthfui and
pleasant environments and the all-import-
ant factors-cheap markets and cheap rents
The demand for skilled labor in the
United States today Is so great that the
workman is in a position to pick and
choose his place of abode at Will.
Washingtons Advantages.
In this respect there are few cities in
the United States, the real estate men say
that compare with the capital The
general impression is that rents are very
high in Washington and the agents say
that so far as the fashionable residence
section OF the city Is concerned this may
be true. But they claim that there is no
city In the country where small and very
attractive houses can be rented more cheap
ly than here, considering the situation OF
these houses, nearly all OF which ha We
yards and, what is dear to the heart Of
every workman, bit OF green lawn in
front, clean street handsomely paved
| splendid sewerage, and practically perfect
hygfentc and sanitary arrangements of
every description. The dealers declare that
there is not a city IN the country that can
offer for the same money the same induce
menss found in the nations capital There
being no congestion of traffic on any of
Washington's wide streets, the transport
tation facilities are excellent, and liberal
amusement for the workman who likes his
| theater and summer resort. There are in
| Vulnerable churches of every description,
| library facilities and a school system that
| is not surpassed anywhere In this or any
other country.
Rents Cheaper Here.
But how do the rents compare with those
1 OF other cities" was the query propounded
to one prominent real estate dealer.
They don't compare at ALL was the
prompt reply. There is no comparison TO
| make. No other city in the United States
has the Inducements for educational. relig-
/ ious. amusement and home purposes gen
1 orally that Washington has to offer. / say
| that without hesitHncy. To begin with no
/ other city can offer the general environ
1 ment that Washington can. Take our near