Evening star., 1907-11-09
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Remarkable Progress in River
Front improvements.
NOT FOR BUSINESS USES
Great Park for the Recreation of the
People
CURRENT PROPERTY VALUES
Recent Sale of Corner on 9th
Street-other Matters of
Interest
CURRENT PROPERTY VALUES

Some day IL will be possible for Ell zens
Of Washington to enjoy a water front
two or three miles in extent AT present
there is only about mile of IT available
for use In addition to the pleasure and
enjoyment to be derived from getting
down TO the banks OF such large river
as the Potomac there is also grati1cation
due, 70 the beauty Of the approach to this
riverside driveway.
II is of course. not meant hy this de
scription to refer TO what after a while
will be. perhaps the principal entrance,
and that is at the foot of 26th street where
It intersects with B street northwest.
The latter thoroughfsre, as is we'll known.
forms the northern boundary OF that large
tract of land lying west of nth street
and extending practically from the Mon
ument TO the river.
Neglected Locality.
Several years ago all this region WAS
known as the Potomac flats or the Kid
we'll bottoms and il was allowed in the
course OF nature 10 emerge from A
swampy condition into waste place. A
dense mass Of underbush and vegetation
of all kinds a region Stunned by most
people. a neglected loca iity. shiftless and
forlorn. If some agency with the power
attributed to magicians in fairy stories
had waved wand over this scene or
desoletion with the view Of making II
place for the resort Of the prince and
princess whom it was designed TO be
happy for the remainder Of their lives,
no more astonishing or more attractive
change could have zen made than has
taken place.
Instead Of the desolation of neglect and
almost the abomination of desolation.
there is now an orderly and beautiful set
ting of the -ounds. with trim stretches o.
lawns and foliage plants and trees. ana
wide, handsome driveways and walks.
The driveway along the river is not en-
tirely completed, especially If approach IS
from the north, and on the south side IL
is interrupted by the inlet from the river
to the tidal basin. But still the gap in
the thoroughfare Is not to be a perma-
nent one. It is expected provision Will
be made for the erection Of b-idse
When that is done there will be a drive
along the edge of the river from B street
south to the steam railway bridge.
To the Railroad Bridge.
At present and especially from a dis
tance, it looks to one passing through the
park from the north that the embankment
of the Highway bridge forms the south
ern end Of the park. Howeve-, a nearer
approach shows that the driveway leads
under the Highway bridge and that it con-
tnues south to the other bridge. THIS
section of the park between the two
public buildings and grounds as propa-
eating ga rden. where the plants and
shrubs and flowers and trees that adoru
the city parks grown.
Just now, in addition to completing the
river driveway leading from b street
south to the inlet of the tidal basin. the
tidal basin is being dredged and deepened.
and the material that Is taken from the
bottom of that body of water is being
pumped into the old bathing beach pond.
The surface covered by the latter Is to be
turned into park space. and so-is the old
canal sewer. which is still open way.
but which soon is to disappear, thus fol-
lowing the fate of the ancient waterway
known as the Washington City canal.
which formerly stretched along street
| and on south to the Eastern branch.
River Drive.
The new bathing beach pond and tidal
basin will remain the only water in the
stretch of the park as far as the bridges,
but a the driveway, both from 17th street
and from street reaches the river bank.
there is no lack Of water effects. In fact.
the river drive is now and will continue
to be in an increasing degree one Of the
| most charming of the places IN and about
the city; .or It is not only easy drive
fo- horses, but all the surroundings are
SO pleasant and delightful that it is a rec
| reation to go there in addition to the ben
eft from the fresh air.
1t is difficult to realize that this place
was once desolate and forlorn in ap-
pearance. 1t now contains about every
feature that Is demanded for good land
scape effects. excepting. of course. the
contrasts afforded by elevations. It is
big enough to have dignity in its mere
scope. and the combination of water and
park is specially fitted for this climate
where the winters are neither long nor
severe.
Park in a City.
AS continuation or an extension OF
the wooded stretches of the Mall. it
makes even more notable this feature Of
the city which stands almost without
parallel in the adorRnent of cities. There
are other places where there are stretches
of park occurring in the midst of the
closely butlt-up sections. but there -
in no city with such an area lying within
a stones throw OF the principal avenue.
The new park is like the Monument
which overlooks il. the biggest thing OF
the sort in municipal experience. But for
tunateiy for the enjoyment of the public,
mere size is not its only claim - dis
tinction. Even now in an unfinished
state it shows what 1t is capable of be
coming
Now For Street Cars.
People who drive already have found
out what an attractive resort lies at their
very doors. and every day carriages of all
while the occupants are enjoying the
fresh air and the surroundings. The
latter make an appeal to almost every
taste. for those who do not care either
about landscapes or watersCapes Will find
in the easy. comfortable roads theme
for favorable comment.
1t now remains for scheme to be de-
Vised for bringing the street cars some
what nearer the river front In the section
In question than they are at present
This is capable of being peoples park.
as. in fact, all such public reservation
are intended to be. and therefore. II is
argued, provision ought to be made for
facilities for getting there.
Ninth Street Property Prices
The sale the past week at auction of
the property at the northwest corner OF
9th and f streets northwest for little
more than nineteen dollars per square foot
attracted cons!dera bic attention among
those interested in realty matters. As
tIat figure was secured at auction and
not at private sale. il was looked upon as
Indicating the basis of value In the local
ity.
Owing to the size OF the lot and the
further fact that ii Is on corner there is
no waste space. The dimensions are
20xalla. In January of last year the
opposite corner the one at the north
east corner of 9th and + streets
was sold for SD per square foot The
dimensions of this lot are 100 feet on 9Th
street and 81 on street.
The northwest corner Of gth street and
nj Sn1I