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

risen to such height as to show what a
beautiful addition to this section it VIII be.
Remain Within the Area.
There has been no tendency for the great
commercial houses of the city to seek
homes outside of this area. The feeling
has been strong that even though prices
may be much greater than might be secured
further north, yet the advantages of being
in this restricted area have been so great
as to prevent any general exodus to cheaper
sites.
Pennsylvania avenue has in many re-
spects shown which development, not only
as a great boulevard which is still the
scene of historic pageants. but also as
place for business Senator Hepburn sue
ceeded last winter in having passed by the
Senate his bill appropriating S10,OOO0 900 for
the purchase of the land on the south
side of Pennsylvania avenue in order to
provide the national government with sites
for public buildings. The measure received
a great deal of approval in the House of
Representatives. but going to that body
very late in the session the appropriation
1t carried was so large as to deter the
committee on appropriations from adding
this to the already large budget provided
for the expenses of the government. The
project for the purchase of land between
18th and 18th streets and from the Mall
to PENNSYLVANIA avenue. in order to provide
buildings for the State Department. De-
partment of Commerce and Labor and for
the Department of Justice. was in way
almost universally approved. but also met
the fate of other new projects which re-
quired large appropriations. The idea is
well fixed in Congress that the government
must in the near future expend very con-
siderable amount of money for additional
buildings. and no plan has been brought
forward that has met any considerable ap
prevail to interfere with the well-dehned
policy that has guided Congress for many
years involving the placing of all build
inss of this kind along the south side of
Pennsylvania avenue.
Delay in Putting Project Through.
The delay. however. which has been met
in putting this project through seems to
have invited difficulties which can only
be met by prompt action on the part of
Congress. The substantial prices that are
secured for land north of the avenue and
within the business section, and the very
low prices III comparison for which sites
south of the avenue can be secured. have
done much to direct some enterprises to
that section. WEich has the great advantage
of being accessible to the most prominent
business streets of the city. Thirteenth
street below Pennsylvania avenue has now
assumed the appearance OF thriving bust
ness thoroughfare. and new business houses
are constantly being added in that section.
This tendency to enhance the value of
property between the avenue and the Mall
has not Yet gone 50 far to greatly af-
IttL prices Jlttlt, nut III the eSllnlallOn Oh
many shrewd real estate brokers a contin-
uance Of this tendency will in the next
few years have very marked effect upon
prices
Several years ago an estimate was made
giving sI.G0D,o0o the value of all this
land not row owned by the government
but that figure has now been exceeded, SO
that Senator Hepburn, although combining
his estimate to conservative figures, was
Obliged to increase the amount to S1O,
OG0,O00, and there We're some people who
questioned whether the land could be
cured at that price unless the most prompt
action should be taken. These arguments
have been laid before Congress as reasons
why no further delay should be counte-
nanced in the acquisition by the general
government of necessary sites for public
buildings. Compared with the prices of
land within few hundred yards these
estimates are still very low, and Senator
Hepburn proposes to use every effort to
induce Congress to take advantage of pres
ent opportunities.
Demand for Stores
One may walk through the business sec
ton of this city without being able to find
a single vacant place in which to establish
new business. The demand for stores
and office rooms has been so great that
the rather unusual sight is now frequently
met of very extensive and substantial bust
ness enterprises, which would ordinarily
demand a ground floor. being located in
the second story of buildings, and In some
cases going to floors much higher than
that. In office buildings of the type that
have been erected In recent years the mat
ter of advantage in being on particular
floor has been largely overcome and in
this way the concentration of important
business concerns within the downtown Sec
ton has been Very greatly increased. Those
lines OF business that it is generally sup