St. Tammany farmer., 1906-11-24
BEAUTlFY THE CITY
REMoDELINGs AND BUILDING AT
WASHINGTON.
All Sorts Of improvements Noted In
the Various Sections-Ante-Bei-
lum Structures Are Rapidly
s.R{ Disappearino. r

"There is one form of city improve
ment going ON here which, when con-
sidered in the aggregate, constitutes
an element which is generally over
looked, or not considered, though it
has very important bearing upon
the structural makeup of the city at
large" said gentleman actively en-
gagged in building operations In
Washington.
Il refer to the very gratifying &C
tivity on the part OF owners and
builders in the remodeling Of old
buildings in the various sections OF
the city, but more particularly in the
northwest and in the business sec
ton. These individual instances of
remodeling are scarcely noticed when
compared with the great and larger
improvements in the way of entirely
new and modern buildings, but It is
astonishing how certain blocks and
sections have been and are being i'm
proved
with this thought In mind In my
rides over the city have some men.
tai notes to the end that this method
of the city Improvement might be
called to notice, as it will serve as
an incentive to other owners to like
wise improve their holdings, as in
dividual Improvements like these
will 60 great way in the develop
ment of the greater city we are striv-
ing for. It is possible for a small
owner to allow the main walls of his
building to stand, and with the ex-
penditure of a comparatively small
sum transform it into a building
which will be credit to the particu-
lar neighborhood. In the business
section these improvements invite
rentals which could not otherwise be
obtained, yet the individual owner,
who often cannot afford the expense
of an entirely new building, contrib.
utes his share to the rebuilding OF
the city. se5$
Old Buildings Torn Out.
another Improvement in the build.
ing line which passes unnoticed In
isolated cases, but counts to re-
markable degree when tabulated and
considered in the aggregate, is the
demolition of old frame houses and
stores, many of them eyesores by rea.
son of age and lack of repair, and the
erection of brick dwellings. apart
ment houses of the smaller class and
smaller business places in their stead
Citizens interested in civic improve
ment, when riding on the cars
throughout the city, should observe
this style Of improvement with In
terest. x.-s4
II have also observed In this CON
nection that several OF the few re
naming old frame ante-bellum build
ings on the south side Of Pennsyl
vania avenue have recently beer
razed and new foundations dug prep
aratory to the erection of entirely
new brick structures. There are bm
two or three Of these old frames left
on this side of our historic main thor
oughfare in the upper business sec
ton, and now that some Of them
have gone the way Of old lumber, 1t Is
to be hoped that those left win short
" be consigned for sale as old mate
rial.
Property owners also seem to have
been more liberal than in past sea
sons in having their holdings repaint
ed, and this is particularly true In
sections of town where frame dwell
ings abound. The infection seems to
have spread from owner to owner OF
some squares, with the result that
this method of minor improvement
has given a fresh and new appear
ance to heretofore dingy blocks. In
sections of the city where owners
usually give their property regula,
attention in this respect the many
newly painted buildings are also no
ticeable. Altogether these minor i'm
provements are worthy Of more than
passing notice."