Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Effect of Electricity Upon Sec.
tons Development.
RAPID RAILWAY FACILITIES
Numerous Handsome Houses Being
Constructed in Suburbs.
REALTY HELD AS INVESTMENT
Fan-Shaped Area Extending From
Mount Rainier to Extreme North
western Boundary.
RAPID RAILWAY FACILITIES
REALTY HELD AS INVESTMENT

Mr.. j. Louis Will.se. president Of the
Willige. Gibbs & Daniel real estate corpo-
ration. expressed the following very IN
teresting views concerning the present de-
velopment of the northwest:
Not since the application OF electricity
to street car propulsion says he. has
there been such a decided and vigorous
transformation Of the mort hwest section
of the District as has occurred within the
past few months and is still In active
progress. Until the advent OF the electro
car lines considerations of time and space
restricted the residential area I'm It's north
ern perimeter practically to the old
boundary. now more dignifiedly known
as Florida avenue. Indeed. II is within
the recollection Of all when lie Drot
Park. Columbia Heights and Mount Pleas
ant were regarded as suburbs OF Wash
4ngton. and even Georgetown Heights WAS
viewed as an outlying section of the city.
THE introduction of electricity az rne
motive power for our street railways
brought within convenient reach OF the
government departments and the CONNER
cial centers of the city a large fan-shaped
area extending from Mount Rainier.
Brent wood. College Park and other SUBJ
urbs. westward beyond Holmead Manor.
Petworth. Brghtwood Park. Tskoma
Park. Saurs Addition. Argyle, Cleveland
Park, Connecticut Avenue Highlands.
Chevy Chase Somerset Heights. Drum
mond Bethesda. Reno and Tenleytown. to
the remotest northwestern corner OF the
District. where we find such desirabie
subdivisions as American University
Park. Fairview Heights. Wesley Heights
and American University Heights
Rows of Dwellings.
This fan-shaped area is developing
with rapidity. and row after row or new
dwellings. with most attractive exteriors
and most modern interiors. are being
erected and instantly sold. In many in
stances a whole group of these houses IL
sold to individual buyers. not only before
the houses are ready for occupancy. hut
even before the buildings themselves are
under roof So great has been the desire OF
patres familiae to own their homes. from
which they cannot be ousted at the mere
within of the landlord. and which they
may take a personal interest IN improving
and enhancing i'm attractiveness from year
10 wear that no one can foretell how long
II will be before this constant and legiu-
mate demand will be fully satisfied.
The most surprising fact Is thai TINS
development has constantly progressed
without regard to the general hnanciai
condition of the country. and at times In
the face of most unfavorable conditions
There could be no stronger testimony than
this to the solid substantial character
of this demand for modern attractive
homes
Change in Conditions.
There was a time. not long SINCE
when speculative building. so called was
confined to small rows OF tenements In
alleys. in the thickly populated portions
of the District This condition of affairs
no longer obtains. however, and houses
ranging in value from $1,000 to $4,000.
and even 10000. exclusive OF cost OF
ground, are now being constructed by
enterprsing builders and improvement
companies for purposes Of sale. A num- =
Der of so-called development companies r.
and realty companies have been incor-
porated during the past half decade fog
no other purpose than to construct high +,
priced residences suited to the tastes and
requirements of wealthy persons. who are b
more and more numerously establishing
their domiciles for the entire year tor, at
any rate, for the winter seasonD at the
nations capital This tendency on the
part Of the wealthy citizens of our coun-
try can be no better exemplified than by
an inspection of the magnificent devel-
opment and improvement. for example.
of the portion of Massach usetts avenue
extended in the neighborhood of Sheridan
Circle. where within the past year up
ward of s., OO0,O 900 has been expended In
palatial homes
so certain is it that the better devel-
opment of the residential suburbs must
be along these two important avenues OF
travel that whole subdivisions. such as
Argyle Park. which extends on both sides
of 18th street westward. facing the boun-
daries of the Rock Creek National Park.
have been sold out within few weeks
after being placed .. on the g., mark k;t
posing of this handsome tract within
seven weeks at prices ranging from 40
cents to 60 cents per square foot. and be-
fore it's exploitation in building lots had
even become generally known to. the
huyin0 DuhlfC."