Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-12
MILLIONS IN BRICK
Prosperity of This City During
the Past Few Years.
HOUSES AND APARTMENTS
How the Demand for Such Buildings
Has Been Met.
DECREASE IN NUMBER OF FLATS
Residence Building Received Only
Slight Check During the Past
Calendar Year.
HOUSES AND APARTMENTS
DECREASE IN NUMBER OF FLATS

The amount of money that has been
spent in this city during the past calen-
dar year in brick and mortar and also
in wood. reaches large proportions, wheth-
er looked at from the point of view of the
year that Is passed or in comparison with
former years. Nearly twelve millions and
q half is the value placed on the various
operations for which during the twelve
months that have just closed 1t was neces-
sary to secure permits from the District
authorities.
In that sum are included, Of course, not
alone the new dwellings and apartment
houses and office buildings and various
structures erected for business purposes
and for religious and other uses. but also
repairs of all kinds from the building Of
a back fence to the practical reconstruc-
ton Of a large building. 1t does not al
ways happen that those who take out
permits for building mention the entire
cost and 1t Is not expected that SUCH
should be done, for the permit Is only to
cover the construction details. and has
nothing to do with interior decorations
and other features of modern house
which cost a good deal of money.
To Meet the Demand.
1t is quite evident that the total of moro
than twelve millions of dollars does not
represents with exactness the entire out
lay for such purposes that was made In
the District during the past year This
rate of over a million of dollars per month
gives some idea, however, of the volume
OF business in practically all lines OF
activity for II Is, of course, understood
that ali the money would not be spent
for new buildings or for improvements In
existing buildings unless there was some
demand.
II Is not regarded as necessary in the
face of such data to argue the question,
for example, as to whether the population
of the city has increased during the past
year or to look at another phase OF tne
question whether the community gener-
ally has been prosperous. These millions
of dollars spent to provide additionai
houses and apartments. and TO furnlSh IA
tell the story of the past year In those
material aspects quite as wildly as any
form OF statistics that can be devised.
Not a Spasmodic Movement.
The year before had also figures of the
sort of much significance, and which told
about the same story. only there were mora
dollars spent in the year 1908 for such pur-
poses than was the case In the past year.
In other words. year of much prosperity
has followed another similar period. ana
that adds additional interest to the history
of a city's development, for 1t Is not merely
the spasmodic movement OF one year, put
another period in progress that is really
Impressive as record of municipal devel-
Opment. .
A comparison OF what has taken place In
the past two calendar years as given montn
nv month in the records of the office of the
building inspector is not without interest
The totals represent the high water marx
In this respect, although the preceding cal
endar year quite up to the level IL Is
evident that the past few years have been
periods of much activity in building opera
lions in this city and therefore time OF
growth and expansion. However. the hg-
ures can speak for themselves, and the
fnotinps nm of each column give the total
OF the entire outlay called for by the build
ing permits.