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


| dictions are being fully realized These
great improvements have come without at
| tracing as much attention as might be ex-
pected, because they have for many
| years been looked forward to as one of
| the certaintes in the development of the
| city. They have not been accompanied by
! any boom in real estate values. They are
| regarded as the natural heritage of the
| people of the whole country. and among the
| thousands Of visitors who come here yearly
| to view their capital there is never heard
| criticism Of extravaganza. but merely APP
| proval and expressions of qualification.
Development Along Ideal Lines.
| If the real estate values of this city ever
| needed any influence to give them stability,
| this development along ideal lines has pro-
vided all that is necessary. 1t Is also en-
phaszing this city as an ideal place for
| the establishment of homes by men who
have accumulated wealth and now wish to
select a home that combines as many at
tractive features as possible. These people
have added many splendid mansions to
those that already existed here. Long
streets and avenues of splendid houses have
in this way been increased in number.
In addition to the buildings for men who
have recently adopted the city as their
own, foreign governments have during re-
cent years shown constantly growing
inclination to erect embassies and legation
buildings here in order to effectually pro-
vide a fitting place in which their rep
resentatives may live and entertain, That
government that does not provide its own
building Is getting to be the exception
rather than the rule among the first-class
powers. This tendency on the part of for
eign governments tells Its own story. 1t
speaks of the stability of the capital, and
the influence of such tendencies cannot fail
to be felt in the future development of
the city.
Increasing Value of Real Estate.
1t is this broad development of Washing
ton that gives assurances to the increasing
value of all real estate in the District of
Columbia. The conditions that relate to
the best sections. SO far as material pros
perity Is concerned, are regarded by shrewd
real estate men as bound to spread to every
part of the city. They declare that if
there is one spot in the United States that
is destined to become ideal as a place for
refined homes and for general interest 1t
Is Washington. The District Is small
that the improvement of the entire area
to high standard Is not regarded as a
serious matter and the rapid strides that
are being made In carrying the best facil-
ties to every portion of the District are de-
clared to be an evidence of this tendency.
Real estate men look upon the absence OF
any boom in prices in the District as one
of the most promising features of this de-
velopment. Desirable sites they say are
available to an immense number at very
favorable prices, whether the prospective
owner of Washington real estate has in
view the establishment of home in one
of the fashionable sections. an investment
in downtown or residential property
the location of a factory or workshop in
convenient place. They say that, COM
pared with many other cities of less i'm
portance, 1t is surprising how cheaply de-
sirable real estate can be secured here.
They do not regard prices as at all inflated,
and the best evidence of the sincerity of
their statements is the fact that in a very
large number of cases they themselves
hold for investment much real property,
both improved and unimproved.
Forged Into Adjoining States.
The development has been so pronounced
that in almost every direction 1t has jumped
the boundaries of the District and has
forged ahead both in Maryland and in
Virginia. Chevy Chase one of the hand
soonest Of the surrounding suburban de-
velopments, has been held up to an ex-
ceptional standard, and several miles be-
yond that place and as far as Kensington
the face of the country is being dotted
with beautiful homes that seem to contra
dict the old idea that suburban develop
ment is not practical here. The entire
north and northwest shows the same prog
ress, and with the constant extension of
the city's sewerage system. the gas mains, |
electric light service and Potomac water
the popularity of the suburban sections is
increasing. The time has passed when a |
home in the suburbs means any curtailment
of conveniences The same house that |
could be built only within the city itself |
a few years ago in order to supply all |
modern conveniences may be constructed in |
almost any direction north. northwest. and |
even to the east and northeast, beyond the |
old boundary lines of the city far toward |
the limits Of the District.
Become Smaller and Smaller.
Every year the Determinations in the |
matter of conveniences become smaller and
smaller. With the improvement of SUBJ
urban electric lines real estate dealers ex-
pect to see the suburbs continue to in
crease in desirability. not only within the
District. but far beyond.
The development along the southern shore
of the Potomac river and for a good many
miles into Virginia during the past few
years has been very pronounced. The
building of the electric road along the
Virginia side Of the river far the
Great Falls has brought into the market
a large amount of desirable real estate. so
that there are more and more settlements
on that side Of the river to come into COM
petition with suburban development that
has reached out into Maryland ON the north.