Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-14


people and business buildings enlarged and
erected in order to provide for the greater
needs of the community
But all this activity was not confined to
the northwest section of the city. The en-
tire area expanded with practical equality:
Capitol Hill has grown east and north ana
south, and In all directions-has gone be-
yond the old boundary lines Of Washington.
and farm lands are now the centers OF
fourishing portions of the city, having been
taken up by Their ush of the population.
Main Course Westward.
At the same time it is true the main
course of the city's growth has continued
to be in the westward direction. In the
vast changes which the years have wit
messed in the general conditions In TINS
city, particularly as to its size, 1t still re-
mains a fact that the western section is
the principal one in area, as well as Delng
the center of the main business interests
of the city and of the larger residences:
But such have been the modincations ano
the alterations in the surroundings that
the sectional question which formerly
played such large part in civic tnought
well in action has to large extent
lost its significance.
The spread OF improvements. such as
paving and water and lighting and the
location of schools, and more especially
the planting of trees, has resulted not
only. in an equality in the diffusion OF the
comforts of living. but also in attractive
ness in the surroundings. In this latter
respect there are no sections" in this
city, but the entire municipal area is avail
able to choose from on the part OF those
who want to locate homes. 1t Is on &C
count of this latter consideration mainly
that there Is no congested residence 10
cality here, no restricted section where
one must have his home If he wants to be
in the swim.
There are fine homes in all portions Of
the city, and as the setting which Is sup
piled by trim streets and well-kept lawns
versaI, the home seeker, even If he wants
to be in what is known as society. has
wide scope In the northwest section of
the city. where the fashionable residence
quarter Is located there Is no one street
for which special pre-emi1ence can be
claimed as compared with, other streets.
Massachusetts avenue is valued as an at
tractive thoroughfare for residences, and
nue. and Connecticut avenue and X street,
and 1 street. and also r and streets,
besides others that might be mentioned.
Attracts People Of Wealth.
Ali this indicates somewhat the course
of things during the past few years. The
city then began to attract more and more
the wealthy class-those who had money
and leisure and wanted to enjoy life in
social way. They have come here and built
houses. and now this phase of life at the
national capital has become generally rec
ogniZed. Society at the capital, always
varied and representative and interesting.
now includes what is known as the smart
set. The elaborate houses adapted for the
sort of life which Is led by tie ultra fash
ionables have been built here, and others
will be added to the number.
Large building sites are in demand. and
in some instances not only Is city nome
wanted for the winter months, but when
cv,rip tc Gil n
and enjoy the delights of this climate at
that season, to say nothing of the unusual
display of foliage and color, as shown by
the trees and shrubbery along the streets
and in the parks Hence it IS that houses
in the suburbs of the city are sought. and
the winter season Is prolonged by adding
to 1t portions not only from the spring, but
also from the fall.
Another detail of modern living which
has had its influence upon the material
growth of the city is the custom Of living
in apartment houses. To meet this want
great buildings have been put up In the
northwest section, and owing to their height
they have become prominent parts of the
landscape. The increase in the number OF
these mammoth structures is one of the
marvels of the last few years Of the his.
tory of this city.
1t Is not meant to be inferred that they
are confined to the northwest; but per-
in such groups-impressive at least on
account of their size. IL not for archi-
tectural beauty. These buildings are of
all known types, and are designed for all
grades Of living, from one Of two or three
rooms and a bath to suites containing
twelve or fourteen rooms and occupying an
entire floor in one of the large buildings.
Recent Additions.
The additions, SO to speak, made in re-
cent years to the territory Of the north
west section have been numerous and large
in extent At the present time the four
northern thoroughfares beyond the origi-
nal bounds Of the city-the 7th street road
or Brightwood avenue 14th street Con-
nectlcut avenue and the Tenleytown road
or Wisconsin avenue-are, with the excep
ton of 14th street. opened up all the way
to the District line Street cars run out
from the city along these routes to the
end, and in the case Of the 14th street line
that means to Brightwood
To considerable extent these arteries of
travel have also become centers of popula-
ton, and people have located their homes
along them. series of communities has
sprung up in various portions throughout
this territory, and 1t Is evident 1t is only
a matter of time when the intervals be-
tween them will be filled up and the coun-
try area will be covered with a continuous
succession Of houses. In other words the
process that was followed In the city Is
now going on in the outlying suburbs.
1t used to be said of Washington that it
was merely collection of communities.
beginning with little group of houses
about the navy yard and including
around what is now known as the War Col
lege, and then coming to the cluster about
the Capitol to the vicinity Of Pennsyl-
vania avenue and 7th street; the region
about the White House, and then toward
Georgetown. Owing to the distances and
the lack of communication these little GEN.
tiers of population had some of the char
acteristics of separate communities. Some
thing Of the same sort is going on at the
present day throughout the District and
in the outlying portions Of the states OF
Maryland and Virginia-except, of course,
there are not found the traces of an iso-
lated community.
The trolley makes such a thing as being
cut off from large centers practically i'm
possible, and today Laurel and Rockville
and the Great Falls Of the Potomac in
Maryland, to say nothing of Fairfax Court
i, XirRinia yuithin easy