Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-20
COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
Construction Work Continues in All
Sections of Town.
FAMILIAR LANDMARKS GOING
One Who Has Been Away From Dis
trict Few Years Finds Improve
ments Surprising.

"onorous changes have been wrought
In Washington within the past decade 1t
Is as II the nations capital was undergoing
rehabilitation. Many millions of dollars
nave been spent in construction work with
IN that period. and from all indications
many more will be expended before there
Is halt In the march Of improvements.
To one who has been absent from Wash
ington these past few years it Is a revela-
ton to note the Transformation which has
taken place here. In fact there would be
many surprises for those who have not
been away from the city If they made
tour OF the District. Not all Of the citizens
Of the capital comprehend the full extent
or what has been done or what Is in con-
temptation. Visit a section Of the city that
you have not been in for even a year and
you Will find that new buildings have risen
on the site of old familiar landmarks to
your surprise.
Rearing loftily above the old time struc-
lures are new office buildings new banking
houses. modern apartment houses and ho-
tells. while rows of tenement and fat houses
have sprung up in every direction Five
new public buildings ordered built by Con-
gress are nearing completion. also four
million-doliar railway station. all of which
VIII lend a wealth of beauty to the ma
TONS capital.
The vast amount Of building that has
been done was begun as If by preconcerted
action. but one need not ponder long for
an explanation as to what brought about
the erection of so many costly structures
and so vast number of dwelling houses.
Washington affords an attractive field for
investment for indiv .dualS. and advantage
is being taken of this fact to the fullest
extent. Notwithstanding the very great
number of new homes that have been pro-
vided here, the demand for them has grown
apace. There could be no better evidence
than that of a greatly increased popula-
hoe hn ot,nr of fhnon
who pass season at the seat of govern
ment increases each year.
Modern Methods.
The field for the business man has ex-
banded proportionatey. Not only have new
ington merchants have modernized their
business houses The oId-fashioned fronts
have been torn out and replaced with new
ones with a lavish use Of plate glass that
their wares may be the better and more
attractively displayed. More than this.
dwellings innumerable have been converted
into business houses.
AS an instance. this attention might be
called to 18th street, where business has
been extended as far north as New York
few years ago were residential are now
business thoroUghfares.
Probably the most notable among the
changes that have been wrought have been
in the homes Of banking and financial
institutions. The new buildings that have
been put up by banks and trust companies
are OF the most imposing order. and beau
tiful to behold. Their very outward an
pearance gives a suggestion of vast wealth
within their walls Much may be said,
too. in the same line of the new office
buildings and hotels which have gone up
within the period of which these lines
treat.
Moreover it can he said that in but
few cities are the newspapers housed in
edifices more costly or imposing than here.
In all directions there Is an air of sOlidity
and tone Of progressiveness and pros
perity az a result of the improvements al
luded to here. But, most of all, Washing
ton. originally beautiful and designed to be
one Of the beauty spots of America. has
had her beauty enhanced many fold. This
will be still more marked when the new
public buildings are completed. These
are the new Office buildings for the Senate
and House. occupying commanding posi-
tons on the brow Of Capitol Hill and on
either side of the Capitol building; the new
home for the Agricultural building and the
new National Museum in the Mall. and
the new Municipal building on the avenue.
Buildings which a few years ago were
pointed to as objects of interest and which
revealed all that was known to architecture
at the time of their construction have been
overshadowed and even dwarfed by their
new neighbors.
Handsome Homes.
SbHe VI the nOSl features OI CN0
city's wonderful growth is the enormity of
the number of dwelling houses that have
been erected. Row after row of modern
residences have been built Both small and
large have been constructed to accommo
date the different incomes of the tenants,
and far into what but comparatively a
short while ago was the country houses
have sprung up. streets have been iaid out,
and by the extension of the city's streets
these newly built-up additions form but a
continuation of the residential sections. To
go into the country now one must travel
considerably further than was necessary a
few years ago.
The adoption of Washington as their
home by considerable number of million
aires has resulted in the erection of some
costly and attractive mansions in that sec
tion of the city where dwels the smart set.
Many Westinghouse also have erected
handsome new homes which are objects of
admiration.
If the growth of the city is maintained at
the present rate Rock Creek Park soon
will be surrounded on all sides by blocks
of dwellings, and will no longer stand as
isolated spot as of yOre.
Parks and Bridges.
And. speaking of Rock Creek Park, atten-
ton is called to the massive bridge that is
being built at the Connecticut avenue cross
ing over Rock creek. Then there is the
new highway bridge across the Potomac
which has replaced the historic old Long
bridge This. too. calls attention to what
has been accomplished in the making of
Potomac Park Where but short while
ago patches of unsightly weeds abounded
about the basin, vast stretches of green
sward, dotted here and there with Towering
shrubbery, are to be seen. A boulevard
winding gracefully around the basin and
through the park affords not only a drive
way to attract the automobilist and the
owners of driving horses, but pedestrians
as well. since they have been provided for
When the workmen have completed what
has been projected for the park 1t will be-,
come popular place for a drive or Sun
day promenade. The Identification OF that
section of the city Is marked one. To
write exclusively, and to go into a de-
tailed story of the improvements that have
been made in and about the National cap
ital within the past ten years would require
vast amount of space.
Each of the last ten years has seen a
greater amount of work than during the
preceding year. Where will 1t stop. It has
become common thing to read in the
newspapers that this 0r that prominent
corner has been purchased, and that a
modern structure will rise on the site of
the old. At each succeeding Congress now
an attempt Is made to acquire the entire
south side of Pennsylvania avenue from
the Capitol to the Treasury. with a view,
ultimately. to occupying the entire space
for governmental buildings as they may be
needed AS the volume of the depart