The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-18
DEALS OF WEEK FEW
Dizziness of Midsummer Hits
Real Estate Market.
QUARRY COMPANY FORMED
James VI. Baker Buys Residence for
$4,000 and Edgnr ID. shaw Pays
Annual House MISUNDERSTANDING
Operations Are Very Slow

" ME Ast4AAH4tAAlAti NAtAl4ES1 Has AAidA
acterlzed the real estate market for the
week, fair amount Of business has been
completed and gone 70 record There has
been little Of the spectacular trading
which usually gets into the newspapers,
but the brokers state that their forces
have been active, making some sales and
attending 10 inquiries for property. which
have been on the increase for the past
seven days.
The deal Of largest proportions reported
was the sale OF the Potomac quarries 10
the Columbia Granite and Dredging Com
pany for about $4,000. This company.
which was incorporated last week for the
purpose Of supplying building material in
large or small quantities TO contractors.
also took over the plant and wharf OF
the Columbia National Sand Dredging
Company, the quarry property and wharf
of the Potomac Stone Company. and the
plant and property Of Charles G. Smith
Sons. The consolidation Of interests
into the new company makes virtually a
monopoly Of the business of furnishing
building material from the shores Of the
Potomac above Georgetown, and with the
infusion of new capital and the systema-
tizing Of facilities which will follow the
new venture, building material VIII prob
ably be furnished with greater promptness
and under more satisfactory conditions
than in the past
Residence Brings $4,000.
Early & Hampton have sold for George
b. Mcdonald the large brick and stone
residence at 1863 Mintwood Place north
west. for $4,000. The house is three sto-
ries high. and handsomely designed, being
one OF the best residences IN that vicin-
lily. The purchaser is James N Baker.
assistant librarian al the Library Of Con
gress, who Is about 10 move his family
from South Carolina. He will make the
new house his permanent home.
Edgar d. Shaw. manager Of the Wash
ington Times. has purchased for his home
one OF the new houses in the Waggaman
& Ridoute subdivision, fronting on Con-
necticut avenue extended. The house is
built in the Louis XIV style Of brick
and stone. II is four stories high, con
tains fourteen rooms. and Is equipped
with the modern Improvements. One Of
the handsome features Of the house IS the
staircase, which Is a spiral. handsomely
carved and finished In a highly ornate
manner.
The deal for the property is said %
have been direct between tho owner and
purchaser and the price paid is under
stood 70 have been about $1,000
Mr.. Shaw, who Is On his vacation in New
England. will occupy the house as his
home about the middle Of September.
Another interesting sale of property was
that of the controlling interest in the
Frazee-Potomac Laundry TO Charles ia
c0bsen. Leon Tobriner. and Louis Levy.
by John d. Frazee. \ new company has
been formed 10 operate the plant. and
the business will so forward without ma
teTial change Ia the management.
Renters Now House Hunting.
Brokers talked with yesterday stated
that the inquiry for houses 10 be occu-
pied by renters In the fall has begun in
earnest Several said the bookings for
houses OF the smaller variety were larger
than is usually the case so early in che
season. Some Of the brokers showed their
lists, which contain many names, all Of
70 establish their families during the
coming fall and winter. It was stated that
the call for apartments does not in the
least subside, though a number of new
houses have been added TO the output OF
these buildings since the rental period he
gan. a year ago 1t was limited that the
call for this class Of habitatiOn would
be. as usual. bigger than the supply
The call for six-rOom houses is much
like that for apartmeRts-it is impossi-
be 10 supply 1t with desirable houses. no
matter how many new houses are built.
One broker expressed the opinion yester-
day that 800 houses OF this class had been
erected within one year. and either sold
TO families who are NOW occupying them
or have been rented TO families which
lived in other houses in the city Not
withstanding this addition 20 the supply,
the call seems as great as ever. and by
the middle Of next month this broker
thought il would be difficult to find good
houses in desirable localities that renters
would take.
Rents Tend Upward.
The tendency Of rents is upward in al
most all sections Of the city. The major
ity Of the owners Of rental property have
learned that It pays to put their houses
in good condition before inviting pros
pective tenants to look at them. AS a
consequence there is much Improvement
and remodeling Of property going on.
When these improvements have been
made the landlord seeks to tack on a
little higher rent to get back within a few
months part OF the money laid out in
fixing uD the prOpertv
Building activity, so far as starting new
houses is concerned. has received a severe
setback on account of the strike, which
has been in progress for several weeks.
The building department in its report for
July shows a falling off Of more than
SS2S,000 in value for that month, which is
usually one of the active months of the
year IN the offices Of the Inspector Of
buildings. During the first two weeks of
August the decrease seems more marked
and signs of the settlement of the build
ers strike is welcomed on all sides. as
there is much building waiting a clearing
up OF the situation.
Large Buildings Go Forward.
The construction work upon the large