Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-18
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Labor Disputes and the Building
Market.
AS TO VOLUME OF BUSINESS
Bearing on the question of Too Many
Houses.
SOME NEW WORK IN PROGRESS
Matters of Interest in Various Sec
lions of the City-Buying and
Building of Houses.
As TO VOLUME OF BUSINESS
SOME NEW WORK IN PROGRESS

Is not at any time a welcome prospect to
those engaged either directly or indirectly
in those activities. At the same time there
are periods when such an interruption to
the current business would be looked upon
as more unfortunate than at others. Just
now. when there is not much being done
in the way of building and with the pros
pect that the season which has just opened
does not promise great deal in that d.
rection. anything which would tend to stop
the tide of business might not be regarded
as of much consequence, owing to the lack
of volume.
The failing off in the amount of building
In this city began last year and appears to
continue to the present year. There is not
as much being done in the way Of provid-
ing for private needs as distinguished from
public as was the case last year. and to a
much greater degree than was the case the
preceding year.
The Public Buildings
The large public buildings which were
begun several years ago are now nearing
completion, and the amount of money that
Is to be spent on them during the current
year is not large as compared with previous
seasons. The office buildings for the houses
of Congress and the National Museum
building and the one for the Agricultural
Department, all of which will rank with
the large public buildings of the city. are
pretty well along, and no new undertakings
OF a similar character have as yet been
authorized by the government. The amount
of money that will be spent here this year
for such purposes on the part of Uncle
Sam. while by no means small, yet does not
come Up to the record in that respect of
the two past years.
There has also been falling off in the
amount of the private building but In that
narticnlar WaAhiU gt0n does NOT stand alOfYd
among the cities of the country. The
shrinkage in the building activities has
been general, and 1t Is one that is not en-
urely unwelcome to those vino invest their
money in this way and to owners OF prop
erty The rate Of operation has been so
rapid that the fear has been expressed of
OVERRIDING the market and producing some
thing in the way of a decline in prices
Rents and Values.
Here the apprehension has been felt that
the city would be overbuilt, so rapid and
In such volume have the houses and apart
ments been put up The development of
the city in late years along these lines has
been without precedent, but, strange to
say. there has been no shrinkage either in
rents or in values.
1t Is not believed the city Is overbuIlt
but at the same time it is felt that condi-
tion could easily be attained, and hence 1t
Is that any influence which would have the
effect of checking the progress and activity
dlOuS THESE lines Is rather W6lCOmeQ llan
otherwise. However, it is not felt that any
thing in the nature of a strike or lockout
Is needed as conservative force in the
building market, for already operations had
been reduced. There was in the first place
halt called in the addition to the number
of apartment houses, and this Is the Sec
ond year that very little has been done in
that particular.
As to Houses.
This course, which was mainly dictated
by those who had money to lend, Is looked
upon as salutary in Its effect, for 1t has al
lowed time for the market to absorb what
has been done and to adapt itself to the
large additions to the accommoda tons of
this character. 1t is not held by those who
are familiar with the market that too many
houses have as yet been built
Stu it Is recognized there are in the city
goodly number of houses that are seek
Ing tenants. Generally speaking, such
houses belong to the class of those that
are somewhat neglected by their owners
and are not in as good shape as they
might be- They need repairs and probably
something to make them conform better
to modern ideas and to compete with new
houses.
Due to Lack Of Money.
At any rate, whether there are too MANY
houses or not, the condition Of the money
market serves this year as a check upon
extensive building operations. 1t Is not
easy to get money to build, not because of
any lack of confidence In the reality situa-
ton, but rather for the reason that It is in
conformity with the cautiousness of those
who control money and who elect to pro-
coed slowly until the general financial situ-
alton becomes more clearly developed.
In spite OF these things. there is quite
good deal OF building going on In various
portions of the city But it Is not of such
volume as to result in much loss in the
event there Is general cessation in work
Some men who are building large resi-
dences for their own use and have there
Tore, plenty Of money In their control are
going on with their plans but even with
mat class there Is not as much now under
way as AT one time seemed likely during
the present season.
AT the same time, the volume of business
tnat Is being done Is by no means small
and when falling of is spoken of 1t is in
relative sense entirely that the term Ia
used. There Is enough to furnish work for
the season.
City and Country Property.
The property 140s 10th street. where
w. A. Johnson carried on business for
q number of years. has been disposed of
by MIR. Johnson, who has retired from
active commercial life in this city and
has gone to live in the country. The
property. which consists of three-story
pulluins with store on the first floor
and the upper floors used as apartments.
ne 'idued 10 . "A. Dfury for the latter'S
country place near Dickerson Station on
the Metropolitan branch of the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad
In addition to the dwelling house the
place contains forty-five acres of ground.
The city property has a frontage of
twenty-five and a half feet and a depth
OF ninety feet with alleys both on the side
ana az the rear. The price paid for the
property was $4,000. George Y Worth
lngton, real estate broker. negotiated the
deal.
New Rental idea.
A new idea in this city along the line of
facilitating the renting of office rooms has
been put into operation by the A. f. Fox
Company, which has charge of the renting
of the ofilce-roon portion of the new build
Ing which the Metropolitan National Bank
has erected on 18th street on the.site of the
building which II occupied for so many
years.
Securing the corporation OF W. B. Moses
and Sons, two Office rooms have been fully
furnished and equipped and ready for use.
One OF the rooms is furnished in mahogany
and the other in oak, so that there is q
pleasing variety and at the same time the
capabilities OF the quarters for comfort
and for the facilities for doing business are
brought out in this manner In more
graphic fashion than could be done in any
other way.