Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-18

pie order by November 1. in ample time
for the winter business. The addition.
when completed, will make the hotel one
of the most attractive buildings In the city.
A feature of the annex in connection with
the main building will be series Of mag
nificent drawing rooms and an orchestra
balcony. When the annex is completed the
house will be very roOmy and characteristic
of the luxury upon which habitues Of latter
day hotels insist.
Signs of Activity.
Along street there are already signs of
the approaching activity in the business
world. When Washington shoppers return
from the mountain and seashore they will
find considerable improvement in several
of the shops that are already noted for
their artistic windows and appropriate fur
nishing. The property owned by Stilson
Hutchins Nos. 932-926, is being improved at
an expense of about $4,000 The three
stores 932 934 and 936, occupied respec-
lively, by Rosenthal. the haberdasher, the
Hudson Variety Store and the Imperial
Tailors, will all have very handsome and
ornate new fronts in time for the fall busi-
ness. The ceilings are to be raised and
ornamental stone windows and light brick
used in the finishing of the front in order
to make the building In keeping with other
new structures in the Immediate vicinity
snyder hl0Q at LII r street are put.
ting in a new front which they say will
compare with any on the street and follow
out their original purpose of furnishing
their entire establishment and finishing
their windows in the latest mission styles.
Farther up the street atk 1913 Arthur Burt,
who formerly had his shoe establishment
at 1911. is also erecting a handsome struc-
ture. The front will be Of a plain but
chaste finish that. it is said. will have a
distinct architectural character, of its own.
Other shopkeepers along the thoroughfare
are cleaning UP and refurnfshing SO that
the new wrinkles of their neighbors will
not show to their disadvantage.
In the financial district there is the same
hurry and scurry in getting ready for the
new buildings. At least 200 workmen were
engaged in pulling down the old structures
to make way for the new buildings during
the week. 1t was difficult to imagine that
there was even a strike talked of amid
such scenes of activity as those to be OBJ
served all through the district in question
A Washington Realty Exchange.
why has Washington no real estate ex-
changer"
This is a question that is no doubt very
frequently asked and the logical answer
is not on the surface. There are just about
800 real estate firms in this city. and the
volume of business which they handle is
enormous The members of these firms to
no small extent represent the very rank and
file of the capitals business men. A major
portion of them are men that stand high
in the commercial life of the city. and
real estate exchange organized on modern
lines. 1t Is suggested, would greatly facili-
tate all business except that of private
character which has to do with the local
realty world.
The members of several firms with whom
the matter has been discussed were inclined
not only to regard the proposition with ia
yor hut In one or two instances with down.
right enthusiasm.
Dealers familiar with the rules that gov
ern exchanges in other cities do not fear
any disagreeable conditions contingent upon
the strenuous rivalry which. of course, ex-
lists here where such enormous interests
are at stake. On the contrary. they say
that every firm would in the end be greatly
benefited and much time and labor saved
AS a matter of fact, the modern exchange
Is but little more or less clearing house
for the realty interests of the city where
it Is situated, and the convenience to be had
from such an institution to all members
and would-be purchasers is not easily over
estimated
A Convenience to Purchasers.
The convenience to members and would
be purchasers Of an exchange run on broad
lines is easily appreciated. AS matters now
stand manufacturer or a wealthy man
wanting to buy a handsome property for
the round of the real estate offices. and
he is put to a great deal Of trouble that
might be easily avoided by the medium of
the exchange.
1t Is also suggested that in all matters
of public improvement the recommends
lions of the members of such an exchange
would be of great value. This Is true Of
all exchanges, but especially true of this
city. because of political conditions here.
There is no city in the country with a
real estate market with greater possibili-
ties than those that govern at the capital.
Thousands of people of every walk in life
are being attracted to the capital as a
place Of residence, and 1t seems to be
only a question of time when they will be
attracted here for manufacturing and other
business purposes. That an exchange Gre
ated on the proper lines would be OF great
benefit to dealer and purchaser alike seems
to be foregone conclusion.
No Advance In Rents.
Real estate agents say that there will be
no material advance in the rentals of busi-
ness properties this fall For nearly every
year past for the last ten years there has
been some advance in the rentals of prop
critics along and G streets and In other
business sections of the city. The increase
has been a steady one until now, when
some of the dealers say that they have
reached figure that will not stand an
other bost. Then, again, there is dis
position on the part of many property own
ers to meet the efforts of the Jobbers and
Shippers Association half. way and give
that organization a fair chance to attract
other business interests. 1t Is, of course,
readily understood that nothing could act
as greater handicap in this regard than
exorbitant rents. The agents assert that
business rents are not exorbitant, consider
Ing the results that all fashionable bust
ness concerns are able to attain here in
the season. The owners of valuable busi-
ness properties who are insisting on year
" advance no matter what the condi-
lions are, only injure their property, 1t Is
said, as a business man is not going to
hold on to his store or shop when the high
rent destroys his chance for anything like