Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-08
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
increase in the Number of
Large Residences.
LARGE INVESTMENTS MADE
Influence of the Public on the Charac-
ter of Building.
SOME RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Ample Provision for Servants One Of
the Features of Mod IN City
Dwellings,.
LARGE INVESTMENTS MADE
SOME RECENT TRANSACTIONS


p of 18th and / streets northwest has attract
ed more attention than ia usually given to
such transaction. for the reason that the
consideration was greater than is common
in the sale of residence property The
price mentioned is s2JO.OG0 The Inference
should not be drawn from the above state
ment that there are no residences in this
city of such value. 1t is merely to he I'M
derstood that ii is not usuaf for such a sum
of money to be paid for residence here.
There are a number of houses which have
cost the owners sum equal to the one
mentioned, and a good deal more. but such
expenditures have been made by those who
had the money and they have not taken the
results of the money outlay of some one
else. At the present time it is said of enc
of the latset additions to the list of large
private houses in this city that the owner
is willing to part with 1t and that his price
is S10o0,U00. The house and ground alone,
1t is estimated, cost at least SJocJo.
Some Large Figures.
This is not the only private residence in
this city that properly belongs in such a
class. although there is no other about
which such large figures as to cost can be
used with reason. Still there are quite a
number on which the owners have spent in
the neighborhood OF S501.09. In some cases
the cost has been increased, owing TO the
character of the constr uction. The use of
steel in buildings OF this class is not I'M
known and also terra Gotta flooring and
other devices which supposed to be
foun0 only in buildir that are designed to
be fireproOf.
In some of the best examples of such
houses, all the money has not been spent
in mere show and ornamentation. but a
good part has gone in subs tantial construc-
ton. In this particular some of these
houses compare favorably with the best of
business buildings.
Sale of Residence.
J. V. n. and 7. B. Huyck. real estate
brokers have sold TO Mr.. Gardiner Sherman
of New York and Bar Harbor the residence
of Mrs. Gushing, widow of DIR. Clinton
Cushing. 1901 l street northwest. The
house. which adjoins the home of the
Misses Riggs, is of individual style the
interior being especially attractive and
spacious. The lot has a frontage of over
forty-seven feet by an average depth of
over 100 feet abutting a wide alley and
containing about 1850 square feet. 1t is the
intention of the rev owner to make extern
sive alterations, for which plans are being
prepared, and upon completion Of the i'm
provements Mr.. and Mrs. Sherman will
make their permanent N.nter residence in
Washington. The price paid for the prop
erty was $4,000.
AS TO tlTe w aSte.
Some recent statistics have brought out
the rather startling fact that the loss from
fire in this country is greater than in most
of the European countries. The large sum
- of money that goes up each year in smoke
and flame is impressive just because of its
proportions. and when the real significance
Of the waste of these thousands of dollars
is considered it will be conceded that the
subject is well worthy of the careful atten-
ton of all classes of citizens who have TO
do with property
OF course, in the case of individual loss
it is said the insurance policy covers it, and
that is true; but at the same time it must
be taken into account that large sums of
money are paid into the insurance COM
panes by property holders. and what the
tax which this item is in the cost of hold
ing property means in the course of the
year should also be considered. The fact
is. that this almost wholesale destruction
of property by fire contributes to the cost
OF insurance, and if the percentage of loss
were reduced there would be a correspond
ing falling on in the insurance rates.
Power of the Property Holder.
II is evident that the fire loss. as well as
the Insurance rates. are largely within the
power of the property holder to regulate;
or. in other words, If the character of build
irgs is improved from the standpoint of fire
situation in both the particulars mentioned.
II is a well-known circumstance, and one
that is recognized by the very provisions of
the insurance underwriters rules govern
ing the fixing of rates. that proximity to
a poorly built structure increases the in
surance rate on the adjoining buildings
The principal of neighborlness comes in
here, for unless there is cooperation in the
line of better buildings then it is impossible
to accomplish very much. There is not
much to be effected in the way of reducing
insurance charges by one man putting up
a good building long as his neighbor
disregards all the rules of good construction
The owner OF the well-built building prop
ably secures somewhat lower rates but
nothing in proportion to what his building
warrants and what it would receive if the
adjoining structures were erected with
greater care. In this regard therefore, it
will be seen that an Improvement in the
character OF the building in a city depends
somewhat on the general acquiescence of
the citizens.
A Saving of Money.
Substantial building is more expensive
than fimsy construction. and for that rea-
son. II for no other, any advocacy of a
change from the latter to the former would
seem just now rather ill-timed, as the ex-
pense of building is already looked upon as
reaching a stage where 1t is regarded as
almost prohibitory by some on account of
the additional cost arising from the ad-
vance In wages and in the prices of mate
rtats. Nevertheless. from another point of
view such change would be In line with
household economy. entirely independent of
Insurance cost. which in the case of houses
In This city is about as low as 1t ever will
be.
II the walls OF a house were well built
and tight and due attention were paid to
the fitting of window frames and of doors
there would result an annual saving in
fuel which would reach considerable proper
lions In the course of years Here lies an
important argument for good building.
Such houses are more comfortable and it
costs less To live in them. The latter is a
circumstance that is not given due consid-
Grafton by those who build nor by those
witD buy.
What is on the Surface.
IL is a question whether such a consider
alton would outweigh In the minds OF the
average house buyer such details as the
merely ornamental features of the modern
house which have such allurement for the
hoRsekeeper. Certainly a tiled bath room
and tiled vcstibule and plate glass storm
doors and stone in the front of the house
and cabinet mantels and the details now
familiar to the modern buyer. even to one
OF moderate means, are more apparent
than are well-laid brick walls, strong floor
JotSts. well-seaSoned wood in the partitions
and carefully finished openings and roof
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