The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-28
STREET RAILWAYS
AND THE SUBURBS
The First Has Mace the
Other Possible.
VALUES GO UP S50,ooo,ooo

The statement was made a short time
ago by a WeII-knOwn real estate man
loI Washington that the street railways
lof this city had enhanced suburban
property values $1,000 900. This is
conservative figure. Indeed. the street
railways have made suburban Washing
ton possible.
Every city's suburban section is de-
pendent primarily upon the facilities az
forded for coming TO and from the bus
mess section of the city. In this par
| ticular. few, or any, cities can compare
in advantages with Washington. Not
only are the cars comfortable, well ven
| tilatsd in summer. and satisfactorily
heated in winter. but the schedules com
pare favorably with those Of any other
street railway system in the country.
] The transfer system is satisfactory,
and while there are a few not altogether
acceptable features. the system is being
| improved.
Washington has several suburban
| electric railway Tires, besides the regu-
/ lar car lines. which reach out into the
more thinly settled sections Of the city
proper.
In the Open Country.
Before the electric railway came into
/ FNNA&N ~ was P4nEl4td4lE al llilNEEl-
biiity 70 live two, three, or four miles
from ones Office. Then the residential
/ section had to be more or less .cOincident
/ with the business center. It was i'm
possible TO live in the suburbs and en-
4 JOY the free suburban life and fresh air.
until sufficient fortune had been
| amassed 10 enable the resident 10 retire
| altogether from active business inter
ests. The whole situation has changed
/ now, aHd those in more modest eircum-
stances a.e daily purchasing homes in
/ the suburban sections, where real estate
1 is TO be had at a moderate price. and
where comfortable homes may be
erected, with ample grounds. and with
out being overshadowed by sky
lscrapers
/ The development OF suburban proper
~ should always be encouraged by the
city. and by the Feli-wishers OF the
community. for as these outlying sec
tons build up it shows that the people
lof the city are saving their earnings.
The small cottages which spring up ev-
erywhere are evidences. Of thrift and So
briefly. which argue well for the sub
lstantiality of a community citizeEry.
Not only this, but where a number OF
these unpretentiOus suburban homes are
10 be found, il is a never falling sign OF
icontentment among the IabOring classes.
Every man is much better by having
la home for which to care. and II this
home can be made picturesque and at
itractive by flowers and lawns, II draws
the owner away from the spirit OF COM
merclaltsm that is so rampant among
the American people today, and brings
him in touch with some Of the things
in life which are really worth while.
The Companies Helping.
In keeping the suburbs in touch with
the business center of the city. the
street railway companies may be look
ed upon as not merely enhancers of ma
terial property but as forces IN the up
building Of the general standard Of
citizenship.
Washington is known all over the
country as being one Of the most active
real estate markets in The East The
realty interests have OF recent years
been largely concerned in the develop
ment OF suburban sites. \ late map OF
the city and vicinity viii reveal the TacI
that wherever one turns there are sub
Idivisions being opened and parties who
are anxious 10 secure sites are always
Ito be found. This city has numbers OF
large real estate firms which have risen
to places Of eminence IN their line, not
by fOrciful and fraudulent exploiting OF
certain sections, but which have conduct
ed conservative business and have
been rewarded with large need OF
success.
Suburban Washington viii continue 10
grow with the extension OF car lines 10
lpOpuious and desirable sections
Big Station Will Help.
Leading figures in the real estate
world or Washington are of the opinion
that the completion OF the new Union
suburban realty values. It IS pointed
out that this has been the experience OF
all large cities. and the reasons for the
prediction are based upon sound princi-
pies.
The new passenger station VIII mean
much greater comforts for the general
| travelling public. and none viii receive
greater benefit from these comforts than
the commuter. Today. the lot of The
| suburbanite is more or less unpleasant
The terminals in Washington, especially
at the Baltimore and OHIO station, are
!, anything but inviting. The station is
, | inadequate both in its size and appoint
meuJs. and the same thing may be said
| with almost equal truth In the case OF
the Pennsylvania. The new station viii.
2 of course. change this condition or al
, fairs entirely. The man who will make
his daily trip 10 and from the city by
the railroads viii have all the comforts
OF the finest station in the country. Z
will be clean and attractive in every
, respect This Will create a traffic hitheT-
to untnought Of which will in turn JUS
tify . still better service from the roads
CIAtAii-S W aStiiiiG lbit-
Building Up Rapidly.
IN speaking of this matter Norton Lit
tie, of the firm of Terrell & Little. said
he anticipated an unusual advance in
the demand for suburban property along
tic line of the Baltimore and Ohio be-
tween Washington and Rockville. in
the vicinity OF Kensington. This sec
ton OF country is already building up
rapidly, and the service is good. Parties
living along this line are able To reach
the city in twenty minutes, thus en-
abling them 10 fare better than many
who live within the city limits. and who
have to make transfers before reaching
their Offices.
All of this section mentioned is de-
sirable from a typographical stand
point, being high and well drained.
There have already been number OF
subdivisions opened in this direction.
and the outlook is bright for growth
Rcll in keeping with the other subur
ban properties that have 2 longer stand
ing. and are held at more exclusive
prices.
There is no question bat that the new
passenger station viii have salutary