Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-16

other cities, there is a wide and radical
difference between the values of property
on the north side from those which preNah
the other side.
Differences in Values.
This condition is brought about mainly
by the unusual width of the street. which
stretches 100 feet from building line to
building line. at least three times the width
of Broadway. New York. or of Washing
ion street Boston, or of State street, Chi
cago.
Owing to that and other circumstances
which have marked conditions along that
avenue from almost the earliest days to the
present time. that thCroughfare has in re-
atty been two streets. and the improve.
ments on the one side have been those of
a prosperous section, while on the oppo-
site side the conditions of business on the
average city back street have to conSlu-
cradle extent prevailed. and, of course.
have affected the income to be derived from
property, and naturally also the character
of the improvements.
Washington Not the Only One.
But generally speaking, in what city in
this country does uniformity in appearance
or harmonious architectural effects char
aeterize the thoroughfares, whether in the
business or the resident sections. There
are still frame buildings to be seen on
story structures nestle beside the great
modern buildings. The sky line that is
talked about and so much stress is laid
upon by those who look at Pennsylvania
avenue does not seem to disturb their crit
ical eyes when they go to other cities.
If there was an autocratic city govern
ment here, as there is in Paris or in Ber-
lin. then 1t might be possible to improve
Pennsy lvania avenue to suit the taste of
those who evidently want Washington to
look handsomer than any other city in
this country. The ambition is a worthy
one, and public and private enterprise are
doing much in these days to realize 1t.
Talking in Superlatives.
A good deal of the current comment about
Washington seems to be expressed in SUI
perlatives. 1t does not appear to make
any difference whether what is said is eu-
logistic or depreciatory, there seems to be
no other mode of expression. Washington
is the most beautiful city in the world.
Washington is an overgrown village Life
is delightful in Washington. The slums of
Washington are worse than those of New
York. Washington society is vulgar and
commercial The society of Washington is
the most refined and cultured OF any place
in the country and is the one place where
money does not count.
The foregoing is the tone of great deal
that Is written about the capital city, and
so 1t must be rather difficult to get any
thing like accurate ideas of the city and the
CoIlultOnS mere unless one comes and uses
his eyes and his ears, to say nothing of
good sense.
Views Of the Market
]. Louis Willige. president Of the real es-
tate corporation of willige. Gibbs & Dan
lei. in speaking of the situation expressed
genuine satisfaction with the condition of
the real estate market during the midwn-
ter season. Not only has there been
steady and continuously increa sing demand
for business properties in the downtown
section, he states, but apartment houses
showing good revenues have been salable
without difficulty.
Mr. Willge comments on the fact that,
sngularly enough. there has been a de-
cded falling off in the demand for resden-
tial properties of large proportions. This
is directly at variance, he says, with what
would be expected during the winter sea-
son, when large numbers of investors in
such properties are generally in town. and
when there has during the same season in
past years been steady sale of such prop
critics to persons desiring them for their
own occupancy.
Demand for Houses.
Il refer" he added. especially to dwell
ings ranging in value from $1,000 to $4,000.
withstanding the fact that we happen
to have on sale at this particular moment
an unusually attractive assortment of high
class properties within these values, located
most desirably in the best portions of Co
lumbla Heights and Washington Heights.
as well as In the older residential quarter
in the vicinity of Thomas Circle and Du-
pont Circle. and Notwithstanding the cir
cumstance that we have given unusual at
tention to exploiting the attractive features
of these properties in the daily press. 1t has
been the experience of our. company that
there has been an absolute lack of demand
for such houses.
This condition of things does not neces-
sarily indicate that the market for such
properties has been satisfied for the time
being. but probably affords another illus
tration of a peculiar phenomenon in the
real estate business-namey, a spasmodic
lull in the sale Of properties of particular