The Washington herald., 1907-04-14
WESLEY PARK GROWS
Lies in Line of Massachu-
settS Avenue Extended.
CITY MOVING IN THAT WAY
Plans Described for Opening Traf-
lie 60 American UnfVersity-sesyer
Improvement Coming from the
south-Water from the NOrth-Car
Line Question of Near Future.

a. b. Omwake. of TAFT. Omwake & Co,
is optimistic about the growth OF the
suburban section along the line Of Mas
sachusetts avenue west of Wisconsin
avenue With maps of that portion of
the District and plats of the subdivision
of Wesley Park he showed to a Herald
reporter yesterday some of the advan-
tages which that section offers IN the
way Of sites for suburban homes.
You know, said MIR omwake, that
Massachusetts avenue IS gradually be-
ing extended westward TO the District
line We have heard much and seen
much Of the development Of the subdi-
visions along Connecticut avenue, but not
so much about the growth of the great
central portion OF the west side Of the
District beyond the Tennallytown road.
Yet that section viii be Ia a few years
the center OF a large population The
land vacant now will be filed with houses.
Country homes will dot the hfIlsldes. and
there will be built up around the grounds
of the American University suburb
as picturesque and as representative of
the best population Of the District as any
portion of the unoccupied part OF the
District of Columbia.
Avenue Reaches Cathedral.
Last faH," Mr. Omwake continued,
''Massae ehusetts- avenue was opened TO
Winconsin avenue. II passes across Rock
Creek valley near the Cathedral grounds,
and has opened one more avenue of
travel 20 and from the city and the far
northwest portion of the District The
hast Congress appropriated Sl5,050. which
viii be available after July /. TO continue
work upon the extension OF MsssaChu-
setts avenue west of Wisconsin avenue.
This viii carry the avenue well up toward
the American University. and a subse-
quent Appropriation viii finish it to the
District Iue. do not expect that it VIII
be more than two years at the furthest
until the carriage and automobile will be
running over the entire length Of this
a=orue.
"Car service Will naturally follow the
opening up of this suburban territory. II
cannot be determined now, Of course.
which one Of the lines Will operate out TO
the American University 1t has been
pany would extend a branch line from
Connecticut avenue ont McComb street.
with a large loop around the university
campus. This is one of the possibilities.
Then the Washington Railway and Eiec-
trio Company could enter this territory
from its Wisconsin avenue line and AFFORD
street car facilities.
Large Estates Near BY.
For some distance west of Wisconsin
avenue the territory is taken up with the
country homes Of John R. Mclean and
c. C. Glover. But good portion Of the
way on the south side Of Massachusetts
avenue the ground IS available for sub
division and occupation for small hold
ings. When we reach the university
grounds there lies "A tract of more than
100 acres. on which the university Is put
ting up It's fine buildings preparatory 10
the institution of its great seat of learn
ing Beyond this lies uuoccupied territory
on the south side Of the avenue
Lying west Of the C.. G. Glover estate
are the subdivisions OF Wesley Park ana
University Park. These are on the east
side of Massachusetts avenue. The for
mer has one corner reaching down 20 the
university grounds 1t contains fOrty-dye
acres. IL has been subdividad into lots
on both sides OF Forty-sixth, Forty-sev-
entii, and Forty-eighth streets. These
streets have been for the most part
graded, and We are waiting for the ap-
proach Of the sewer now building from
the south 70 afford drainage 20 the entire
subdivision. a large appropriation is
available for the purpose, and before the
close of the present year il viii prob
ably be within the boundaries of Wesley
Park. As soon as sewer facilities are pro-
vided tire water mains will be run In from
the north, and Wesley Park will then be
ready for the erection of as many homes
as the owners of lots may desire to erect
You see an these city advantages are at
the door out there in the country. where
the grass is as green and the cir as pure
as anywhere in the whole world.
Electric Light Available.
I'VE already have electric light avail
able for the subdivision, and the gas
mains will be laid as soon as there may
De use for them. The lots In Wesley
Park have twenty-five foot frontage, by
90 TO 100 in depth. containing in round
numbers 2.00J square feet each. We usual
ly sell them in pairs. giving each holder a
50-foot frontage by 90, a lot large enough
to afford room for the house with con-
siderable space around it, The prices FOR
this land range from 13 to Is cents a
square foot.
As showing the effect upon prices ot
the extension of Massachusetts avenue,
the values in the subdivisions to the east
ward, where the avenue is now accessible
10 travel. have advanced more than l00
naY cent 1 believe tbis will he tha his
tory of the subdivisions beyond. and it is
safe to say that land which can be pur-
chased now for Is cents "a foot will COM
mand from so to 50 cents within five
years. SO that the land itself IS a good
investment. independent of any improve
ments that may be put upon IT,
All this region west of Wisconsin ave
nue. Is bound to advance rapidly within
the next few years. 1t is the highest