The Washington herald., 1907-10-20
BUSINESS IS ACTIVE
Real Estate Brokers Report
Good Sales for Week.
T0PHAM BUYS FACTORY SITE
Trunk Maker VIII Erect New Plant
in West lexington Near Freight
tiOn as Future warehouse District.
Firm 10 Build Bungalows.

The real estate market during the week
das been moderately active along the
zines which have been most prominent in
property deals this year. Several sales
5of smaller business properties have been
announced. and the sale OF residences
and suburban lots has gone on at the
usual rate Most of the brokers inter
viewed yesterday were busy, and said
they We're doing a good business.
The fair weather of the week was an
important factor in the rental business
and in closing - some Of the sales that
have been under negotiation. II was a
delight any day last week TO set out from
home, and the dealers say their inquiries
for property and the showing Of pros
pective purchasers or renters around oc-
cupied all their time and kept their We
hicles running
Records Show Activity,
Judged by the official records of real
restate cOnveyances. as published daily
from the Office Of the recorder of deeds.
business has been as good as usual for
the season OF the year. The property
most on record is the residence OF mod
erate cost, and the list Of these going
TO record last week was long one.
This is the final proof of activity in the
real estate market. and while 1t is not
customary for the official records to show
the cost Of the property, it is not difficult
for a person somewhat skilled in values
10 estimate pretty closely TO the consld-
.erations In any given case.
Among the more recent purchases of
suburban property is that OF James s.
Topham. the well-known manufacturer OF
trunks and leather goods of four lots in
West lexington from D. d. Cameron
through the Harrison Realty Company
These lots contain about 1000 square feet
of ground They are adjacent 10 the new
Baltimore and Ohio freight terminal in
lexington. and il is Mr. TOpham's in
tention to erect a new factory for the
manufacture of trunks and leather goods
on the site. IL is understood that tho
factory, when completed, will have cost
about $4,000,
Warehouse District Needed.
The purchase of this ground for the
purpose stated shows how the drift OF
warehouses and factories toward the
new railroad district has begun. Sew
eral new warehouses have been erect
ed out beyond Florida avenue, in addi-
tion to the shops and storage facilities
established there by the railroads II
IS inevitable that the freight handling
facilities Of the future for Washington
should go northward. When the Sixth
street terminal for the Pennsylvania
Railroad Is abandoned few months
hence, what has been the wholesale
district of the city will be a remote
quarter from the railroad stations.
Moreover. II is In the air that the
government will. within a few years
occupy the ground south OF Peunsyl-
vania avenue for public purposes This
will require new place for the whole
sale market and the various kinds OF
5obbing business which have grown UT
tn Washington. There Is hardly room
for them I'm South Washington, and II
there was. that is not the way the city
is growing and IN a few years they
would be only farther remote from the
center and business than II they re-
mained in the vicinity of Pennsylvania
avenue
Wholesale merchants and others who
have given the subject study are OF the
opinion that the wholesale business Of the
city. the commission business in produce
as well as the iobbing houses. will follow
the lne OF the railroad to the northward
Chamber of Commerce Moving.
A movement to this end has been start
ed in the committee on wholesale trade